A jazzy treat from Ive Mendes

A jazzy treat from Ive Mendes SOUNDS FAMILIAR By Baby A. Gil Get set for an entrancing dose of Latin music of the jazzy Brazilian variety with Ive Mendes who flew in from the UK the other day. The sultry artist has been tapped to inaugurate Streetscape at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City tonight at 6. So those who marvelled at the sensual sound of her self-titled first international album will now get the chance to see and hear her perform live. The trendy younger set, who want their sounds coolly seductive, and who are expected to make Streetscape their favorite hangout, are quite taken with her music and are in for a giant treat tonight.

Ive, who looks as beautiful and as provacative as her songs, is of Spanish, French, Portuguese and Brazilian heritage. She was born in Ceres, Brazil and started singing as a young girl in church services on Sundays. Those stints led to formal piano lessons and other music courses. For some reason, her music career was sidetracked by the time she spent teaching Creative Arts. But she soon decided what she wanted to do most was to sing and determined to pursue her singing career, she relocated to London where she felt she had better opportunities to be heard.

The turning point in her life came when Ive was discovered by producer and guitarist Robin Millar. He convinced her to go international and spearhead the Nu-Brazil sound. This kind of languid jazz has recently become the rage among the trendy set in many parts of the world. Millar was responsible for Sade’s distinctive sound, which is now a dominant force in the field of World Music. He is also the producer of groups like Everything But the Girl and Fine Young Cannibals. In the case of Ive, Millar brought together the unique cosmopolitan charm of Sade with the easy pop-jazz sensibility of Everything But the Girl. Ive, of course, spiced the whole thing up with Jobim and Astrud Gilberto.

The result is the delightful concoction "Ive Mendes." As a concession to the non- Spanish or non-Portuguese speaking among us, Ive sings Chicago’s If You Leave Me Now and six other cuts in English in the album. Despite the language used, there is no mistaking the fact that a husky-toned seductress from the beaches of Brazil is singing the songs. The best cuts are Voce, Natural High, A Beira Mar, Lua and Night Night. The others included are Nao Vou Fugir, Blessed Love, Another Way, Mystery, Salto, Afternoon and Casticals.

So if you like Latin music, if you like jazz, if you like to be cool and seductive, "Ive Mendes" will provide the right sort of soundtrack for you. Better yet experience the magic of Ive live at the Streetscape of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall at 6 tonight.

Also performing will be the Pinacolada Band, bossa nova DJ’s and Pops Fernandez, who is the Mall’s celebrity endorser. Clowns, jugglers, face painters, henna tattoo and caricature artists will also be around to add to the fun. The show is invitational but shoppers will get the chance to watch the show by using their Mastercards. A single receipt of P2000 and multiple receipts in the amount of P3000 from any of the stores at Shang will entitle the shopper to one invitation. There is still time. If you will go to the Mall now, then you might just spend the evening with Ive Mendes.

Asin Older And Wiser

Asin is now 25 years old but the songs remain the same. As remaining members Pendong Aban and Lolita Carbon (Saro has already left for the great beyond) say in the letter they sent: "We have grown older and wiser but surprised (even ironically sad) that out music remains relevant in the face of present realities. Didn’t we notice in 1978 that kay dumi na ng hangin, pati na ang mga ilog natin and ecological devastation remains a global concern? And we sang a paean when we saw kapatid sa kapatid, laman sa laman, sila sila ay nagpapatayan…sa Timog Cotabato. We only need to watch the news and read the papers that Mindanao has yet to deliver its promise."

The songs of Asin indeed remain the same and they will celebrate 25 years of their music with a 25 city/province tour dubbed Ang Pambansang Konsyerto ng Pagkakaisa which will kick off today in Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Watch out for the dates of the gigs nearest you and join Asin in the celebration.