Filfest honors Angel Peña

MANILA, Philippines - The Filfest Cultural Foundation, in cooperation with Insular Life and BMW, celebrates the seventh Philippine International Jazz Festival. On its fifth season themed “Southern Exposure,” it honors classical jazz composer, arranger and double bassist Angel Matias Peña with a concert on Feb. 11 at the Insular Hall in Alabang.

Peña was born in 1921 and started his musical career as a guitarist. He joined the league of Tirso Cruz Orchestra, Federico Elizalde, Lito Molina and The Executives Band from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. In the 1970’s, he was accepted as a double bassist of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.

“A Tribute to the Maestro” will showcase selected Peña compositions. Among other artists that will be featured in the concert are cellist Renato Lucas, violinist Gina Medina, tenor Jonathan Coo, pianist Sheryl Ann de Dios, bassist Rommel Cruz, the Kasilag Guitar Trio, Manila’s premiere jazz orchestra and the Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino Big Band led by its musical director Mel Villena.