Kiss The Bride: On the fast train to jazz & beyond

MANILA, Philippines - The honeymoon ain’t over.

Two years after the release of their debut album, the members of Kiss The Bride are still passionately nurturing their “storied romance” — an intense love af- fair with their brand of contemporary instrumental jazz.

With just as much ardor, Tony Razon, keyboardist/composer and de facto band leader, picks up from where Stories left off, spinning more imaginative musical yarns with their much-awaited follow-up album titled Subway, featuring compelling performances from band members Kings- ley delos Santos (bass), Otep Concepcion (drums), Uly Avante (percussion), Cecile Rodgers (second keyboards) and Joey Puyat (guitar).

The fruition of the band’s creative ef- forts wouldn’t have been possible without the overall supervision and mentorship of good friend and album producer Mari Lagdameo, who has been largely respon- sible for supporting the band’s initiatives in the local jazz circuit.

Just like the proverbial maze of trains plying the underground urban jungle with clockwork precision, Subway offers new sights (and sounds) around every bend, each destination opening doors to new musical vistas colored by a rich tapestry of moods and emotions.

As Tony explains, “Think about it. There you are, sitting in your bunk, and every time the doors open, you’re pre- sented with a new picture. If you could put all those moments in freeze-frame and set them to music, they would probably sound like this.”

Inspired in large part by Tony’s fre- quent travels abroad, Subway could aptly be called the soundtrack of a very personal travelogue, each song a fragment of a musical Rorschach inkblot that all ties up into a coherent whole.

While jazz pundits could easily pigeon- hole Kiss The Bride’s tunes as “smooth jazz,” a cursory listen to any of the new tracks reveals a smattering of influences and stylistic hallmarks borrowed from classical music, particularly the ample use of several movements to expound on any given melodic theme or motif.

Lush horn work adds even more depth and timbre to Kiss The Bride’s beefed-up arsenal, courtesy of Michael Guevarra, one of the most in-demand sax players in the live concert circuit these days, and US-based Andrew Dixon, whose short- lived tenure with the group proved to be a rewarding experience nonetheless.

For his part, fusion guitarist Joey Puyat takes pride in the creative aspect — streamlining the melodies and “mak- ing the jigsaw puzzle tighter.” He muses, “I like this music because when I listen to it, it gets me in the gut. I weave my own stories. Sometimes people tell us, ‘What- ever that music was, it was an experience, it was a journey.’”

Cecile Rodgers, band manager and second keyboardist, adds: “What makes the collaborative effort work even better is that these guys are all technically-gifted, respected and well-known in the industry, yet with Kiss The Bride, their modesty, humility and self-effacing wit and humor bring a certain level of maturity and depth to the overall musical equation.”

Unlike other jazz groups which high- light their soloists’ extensive and often indulgent solos, Kiss The Bride’s key players prefer shorter but meatier solos, and to let the song and the arrangement take centerstage, thereby putting more focus on synergy and interplay.

The recording process proved to be a learning experience for everyone. With the help of studio engineer/drummer Harald Huyssen (who also sits at the faculty of UST’s Jazz Department), the band members were each able to dial in a good tone, and find their respective spaces in the total mix. Of their newfound musical ally (who also played drums on two tracks), Joey remarks, “It’s different when you’re talking to the guy behind the console, and he’s a musician. He can almost second-guess you.”

Subway’s 11 tracks include The Awak- ening, Una Sonrisa Suave, Subway, Devil Darlings, Mickey and the Technorats, Morn- ings with Uncle Bob, If Only She Could Stay, Freddy-Come-Knockin’, Adios Carnaval, White Crosses and The Christmas Secret.

Guest vocalist Arla Concepcion shines in If Only She Could Stay, while Martin Nievera and Celine Fabie duet in The Christmas Secret.

In line with the album launch, Kiss The Bride will be holding a bar tour at Strumm’s Makati (Sept. 17), Raffles Ho- tel’s The Long Bar (Sept. 21) and Balete at Kamias (Sept. 25).