The song is titled Higher Degree. The noted session musician Noel Mendez plays lead guitar and it is, of course, very good. So is Don Bagatsing on the drums. But then that is only to be expected. Those two are among the so-called “señors” of the local music scene.
But then also very good is Mike Chan’s rhythm playing and his keyboards work in his own composition. The same goes for Joe Chan’s bass strumming. Truth to tell, these two guys are the big surprises in Higher Degree. Joe and Mike are not professional musicians but the music they create is very impressive.
Joe and Mike are the sons of the legendary singer and songwriter Jose Mari Chan. Everybody knows Jose Mari Chan. He is the guy behind Can We Just Stop and Talk A While, Refrain, Beautiful Girl, Constant Change, Please Be Careful With My Heart, A Love To Last A Lifetime and many other big sellers of the past 50 years, including the one that crowned him the uncontested king of our winters, Christmas In Our Hearts.
Joe and Mike are not making music to keep Jose Mari comfortable at this point of his life. In fact, Jose Mari is still in big demand for performances. Neither are these boys trying to compete with dad or are in some race to do him better. No one can stand on equal footing with a legend. Not even his sons.
Though both attractive and well-brought-up, Joe and Mike are also in no race with Unique or Juan Karlos Labajo for pop domination or to earn big money. Joe is vice president, while Mike is purchasing manager of the Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Central out there in Negros. But then they have music in their genes and it is only right for them to want the public to listen to their songs.
So, not to forget, here is the true reason. Every note and every word in this album were created because of love, a deep, all-encompassing love for the music in the hearts of Joe and Mike. They just had to bring it out.
Higher Degree, a light rocker which reminds me of the songs of Journey, is one of the cuts in Joe and Mike’s first recorded album, simply titled Joe & Mike Chan. They actually made their recording debut as members of a talented rock band called Generations a few years ago. The self-titled album was very good but I honestly prefer Joe and Mike in their lighter pop rock mode these days where they come across as very comfortable.
Mixed in London’s famed Abbey Road Studios, Joe & Mike Chan is an eclectic playlist of originals composed and sung by the brothers, who also played some musical instruments. Aside from Higher Degree, the album also includes Mike’s Meant To Be and Finding It Hard. Joe gives off with the jazzy instrumental If I Knew You Were Coming featuring Sampaguita’s son Kowboy Santos on guitars and The Waning Moon that he co-wrote with Rafael Alonso.
My prime choices though are Tell Her and With Me Tonight where Joe channels the ‘60s slow-drag era and where Mike plays the piano and keyboards, and Mike’s James Taylor-influenced From Now On. I see these as a reconciliation of sorts with the love songs they heard from Jose Mari while growing up. Then there are also Joe’s Seven Lakes Drive and Mike’s instrumental Fernandina, which bring up images of long, leisurely road trips with the sounds of Hugo Montenegro playing on the radio.
Judging from the writing, singing and playing assorted instruments, the variety of rhythms they presented, or all the work they turned out in the album, Joe and Mike are very gifted musicians deserving of the Abbey Road mix. Father Jose Mari, who if I remember right never did all those at the same time in his recordings, must feel not only pleased, but also very proud.
There is just one thing lacking. I have a feeling something like this has already happened during restful times at home for Jose Mari and his family. I would like to hear Jose Mari Chan himself singing the music of Joe and Mike Chan one of these days. From Now On and Tell Her would be perfect.