The Philippine International Jazz Foundation, with six years of Philippine International Jazz and Arts Festivals behind it, now launches a parallel series. In cooperation with the Philippine Blues Society, the first installment of a Philippine International Jazz & Blues Guitar Festival has been launched. Our Philippine-based guitarists now rejoice and celebrate, primarily for an avenue long sought by our country’s guitar appreciators. Saxophones, trumpets and acoustic basses have been conventionally depicted as iconic representations of Jazz, whereas guitars were frequently depicted in the subordinate and supportive role. But the popularity and accessibility of the stringed instrument among Filipinos and the world audience at large is unrelentingly undeniable.
The principal proponents, Sandra Lim-Viray of the PIJF and Thomas Colvin of the PBS have coalesced a Manila-based festival that surely captures the imagination of a large aficionado community. As our Manila-based jazz festivals have served as inspirations for similar undertakings in Bacolod City and as far as Los Angeles and San Francisco, we’re hoping that the 1st Guitarfest will fuel similar events far and wide. The shining lights of our forthcoming production are the American trio led by virtuoso guitarist John Abercrombie (with drummer Adam Nusbaum and organist Gary Versace) and the South Korean guitar favorite, Sungha Jung. We expect musicians in different levels of proficiency and an even wider spectrum of jazz listeners to attend the concerts and, most especially, the free instrumental workshops to be conducted by Abercrombie and Nussbaum.
The two days of the Philippine International Jazz & Blues Guitar Festival are to held on June 1 and 2 at the Sunset Pavilion of the Hotel Sofitel, for both the VIP and General Patronage seating. Student Discounts apply at 50% off, and Senior Citizens may avail of a 30% reduction. As the icing on this magnificent cake, patrons who attend both days of the festivals and a workshop will be eligible for raffle entries. The grand raffle prize is an American Gibson Les Paul guitar.
