MANILA, Philippines - This year’s Philippine International Jazz and Arts Festival (P.I. Jazzfest), now in its sixth year, will continue to feature renowned jazz artists from the Philippines and abroad and gather them all in musical revelry.
Until Feb. 27, the P.I. Jazzfest Foundation will feature a diverse and progressive set of class jazz acts to various campuses, malls, bars, lounges and cultural hubs such as the Ayala Museum, the host for its culminating gala night on Feb. 28.
Participating artists include local jazz musicians such as Johnny Alegre, Richard Merk, Sitti, Nyko Maca, the A.M.P. Big Band, Guarana, the UP Jazz Ensemble, and over 60 more bands and individual performers such as balikbayan artists Mishka Adams, Carlos Zialcita, Boy Katindig, and international acts like Doug Little, Gong Myoung, Logic, Fourplay, Tierney Sutton and Hubert Laws.
The festival is also expected to not only reach enthusiasts residing in Manila, but also through its Island tours to Bacolod and Boracay from Feb. 12 to 19.
Apart from the impressive number of artists set to perform throughout the month-long festival, P.I.Jazzfest also provides a wide variety of activities that cater to Jazz aficionados.
There is “Jazz for Kids” featuring children ages 3 to 12 years old dancing to the tune of jazz. A campus tour is also part of the program, as well as workshops by foreign guest artists —Jon Irabagon & Doug Little (saxophone), Ric Ickard (guitar) and Tierney Sutton (vocals).
A jazz series at O’Lounge (Oxford Suites Makati) Salon de Ning (Manila Pen) and Charlie’s will showcase foreign acts, balikbayan artists and famed local talents. Greenbelt3 Park features foreign embassy bands of Israel, Mexico, USA, Korea, and Australia along with balikbayan artists as part of the festival.
Rosanna Gaerlan performs in Boracay, while the Bacolod Jazz Festival features the Australian jazz band Logic and other local names in jazz.
The festival ends on a high note with a series of concerts at Rockwell Tent featuring Fourplay, Tierney Sutton Band and Hubert Laws, as well as the International Jazz Gala Night at Ayala Museum, an event that will stage the foreign Embassy and balikbayan artists to aptly culminate the festival.
For information, call Sandra Lim-Viray at 890-2016, e-mail pijazz@gmail.com, or visit www.pijazzfest.com.
Regular tickets to main shows (P2,000) are available at Rockwell Tent, Ticketnet, Ticketworld, SM Tickets and at the Gate. VIP seats (P3,000) for Hubert Laws & Tierney Sutton are available by text at 0920-9509624, or call 890-2016, e-mail pijazz@gmail.com, or visit www.pijazzfest.com.