A Musical Melting Pot: The Bob Aves Jazz Group

MANILA, Philippines - Behind a rusted gate along Roosevelt Avenue, jazz was cookin’ on a Sunday afternoon. A melting pot of musicians gathered in composer Bob Aves’ musical studio to rehearse for the Out of the Tradition Concert happening this December 11, at the PETA Theater Center.

“My music needs a new breed of jazz musicians”, say Bob Aves. His music, which he calls Philippine World Jazz, is a fusion of modern jazz and traditional gong culture. 

Once the Fender-slingin’ lead for the fusion band Destiny in the 70’s, Aves has maintained a constant presence in the Philippine music scene as a composer, musical director and arranger.

In the 90’s, inspired by his interactions traditional chanters and musicians, Aves integrated indigenous instruments into his jazz compositions. He formed the Bob Aves Jazz Group, which has represented the Philippines in various international jazz festivals.

For the concert, Aves leads the band playing an octavina, a small guitar commonly used in rondalla groups. In his hands, the instrument often associated with barrio fiestas is transformed into a high pitched melodic lead for sophisticated jazz pieces.

A member of the group, Tusa Montes, says she considers herself more an indigenous percussionist than a full-fledged jazz musician. Playing the kulintang makes her feel more connected to her Filipino roots she says, but playing with the Bob Aves Jazz Group makes her part of a different kind of OPM.

 â€œThere’s always something new to learn whenever I’m with [Bob]. Discovering his genius through his music broadened my perspective as to what OPM ought to be – very personal, no boundaries, and while the Western influences may be there (due to our colonial past), it is deeply-rooted in our indigenous music” says Montes who  currently teaches at UP College of Music and the UST Conservatory.

One of her students, Jazz Dufourt will be the percussionist for the concert. Dufourt, currently an Asian Music major in the UP Diliman College of Music, is remarkably only 17 years old. Montes remarks that this kind of music is actually popular among the youth abroad.

“…at the Jarassum Jazz Festival in Korea in 2008, I was awed by the fact that the Jazz festival there was like a rock event, Woodstock type; young people camping out all night long to listen to different Jazz artists from all over the world, I believe mainstream culture/-masses have always been ready for Jazz and for something ‘deep’– it’s just that with the influence of the media and what the market is selling these days, what people have been exposed to are very limited.”

Montes and Dufourt’s traditional percussions form the bed on which saxophonist Ike Dy Liacco and keyboardist Nikko Rivera can let their jazz improvisations fly.

Dy Liacco has a long history playing popular jazz with his band Parliament Syndicate. Having been abroad as a session musician for cruise ships, he’s only heard of Philippine World Jazz through social media before. His performance in the concert this December will be his first time playing with the group.

Meanwhile, bassist Colby De La Calzada and Aves go a long way back. Calzada, who has been working with Aves since the 70’s, admits it’s still a challenge keeping up with the demands of Aves’ music.

It’s this kind of challenge that drummer Harald Huyssen enjoys.

“I remember my first rehearsal with Bob I walked in thinking I knew what I was supposed to do only to realize I didn’t.  I honestly love the challenge, sound, and freedom of expression, so again I am thrilled to be here playing this music” says Huyssen, a summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music in Boston, where Aves also majored in Composition.

Like Huyssen, keyboardist Rivera gets to flex his musical muscles playing Aves’ compositions. For the concert, he alternates between playing modern jazz chords and ethnic percussive sounds on his synth. 

The members of the group all have their fair share of followers, individually. As the Bob Aves Jazz Group however, they seldom perform in local venues save for big jazz festivals and art events that are few and far between. The “Out of Tradition” concert is a unique opportunity to see these homegrown talents play the seminal music of Bob Aves all together. This will be the first concert of its kind dedicated to Philippine World Jazz, and hopefully, not the last.

Out of Tradition: The Bob Aves Jazz Group Concert is on Dec. 11, 8 pm, at the PETA PHINMA Theater, PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City. For reservations, call 891-9999 or 725-6244 local 23, or email [email protected].