Krina makes dad Ryan proud

MANILA, Philippines - Ryan Cayabyab was a proud dad after his daughter Krina became the most recognized performer during the finals night of the first Boy Katindig Jazz Competition held recently at the Hard Rock Café in Makati City.

Krina, a member of the jazz group Bai Hannah, lived up to expectations being an obvious favorite among the finalists vying for three separate honors. Her group won the most coveted Best Jazz Band as she also bagged the Most Outstanding Instrumentalist plum.

“Win or lose, I’m proud of her,” Cayabyab said in a chat prior to the announcement of the winners. “This is all about her. The fact na mahirap ang genre na pinasok niya and her group has improved so much as performer make me prouder.”

Best Composition was given to the song Puso’t Pag-Ibig penned by Monet Silvestre, another well-applauded jazz figure who felt his first trophy in a songwriting contest “couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Eight groups battled it out at the competition spearheaded by jazz specialist Boy Katindig who pointed out that “the voice is also an instrument,” referring to Krina’s winning the top instrumentalist citation.

Bai Hannah, a troika of lady vocalists backed up by a band, garnered a high 94.3 percent rating from a stellar line-up of judges that included Rico J. Puno, violinist John Lesaca, TV director Bert de Leon, music industry veteran Mike Jamir and Katindig himself.

“I may have guided her a little pero siya ang gumusto ng jazz and she really worked hard for her to reach this point,” added Mr. C, who won the first-ever Metropop competition with his piece Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika.

That Krina is the daughter of someone as prominent as Mr. C made her an instant favorite. In the end she survived the pressure clashing with also-talented competitors like Tricia Garcia whose composition Fat Lady, was a fan favorite as well. “This is an awesome experience,” she said.

Bai Hannah sang Lupang Hinirang at the PBA Leo Awards last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, or less than 24 hours after its triumphant moment at the packed Hard Rock Café. They will join Katindig in the upcoming world jazzfest in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the first National Blues Competition for Filipino enthusiasts is being set this time around by the Philippine Blues Society headed by its president Eddie Boy Santos. The winner of which goes to Memphis, Tennessee next year to join the International Blues Challenge.

This was revealed by Eddie Boy during a recent press gathering at the Roadhouse Manila Bay to promote the Manila concert of Blues Rock star Joe Bonamassa. The show billed as An Evening with Joe Bonamassa: The Guitar Event of the Year is happening at One Esplanade on Sept. 25.

”This is a must-see for all blues lovers out there as Joe is the best in the world right now,” he likewise noted during that night where Pinoy Rock icons Pepe Smith and Ely Buendia performed together on stage the classic piece Titser’s Enemi No.1 by Juan dela Cruz Band.