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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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Album: The.Tale.And.
Artist: Jay Legaspi
Label: Independent
www.jaylegaspi.com
Last Wednesday was another brutally sticky summer day here in the city, and almost everyone I know of was either trying their best to stash in their bags some cool air from their office air conditioners - for use in the streets on their way home, or cooling off at the nearest mall or cafe.
It was so muggy; I felt like the backside of a ‘post it’, or the flip side of a ‘scotch tape.’
And by 4:30 PM, I was so desperate to find a way to cool off and escape the cosmopolitan oven, so off I went to Edgewater, NJ.
There I was by the Hudson River, in front of the Whole Foods market, with nothing but my clothes, and my iPod.
So as I scrolled down my playlist, I decided to give Jay Legaspi’s CD “The.Tale.and”, which I uploaded to my pod recently.
“The.Tale.and.” is a six track album, written by Jay, and produced by M. Azzarto, and Jay himself.
All the songs were recorded at the Think Tank Studios in Hoboken, and mastered by Michael Sarsfield at Frankford Wayne Mastering labs.
The first track I played was ‘Said Unheard’.
Man, it was so cool; it felt like “The Day After Tomorrow” was happening to me.
Musically, the song is all coolness from the opening snare tap to the Major seventh closing chord strum.
I particularly liked how Jay arranged the subtle, layered backing vocals in the choruses, which is very soulful, and very Rhythm and Blues. It is the number one cool factor for me; kind of like the butter in popcorn, or the Tapioca pearls in a cold milk tea – A real sonic treat indeed,
The choice of chords and the instrumentations anchors in the melancholic melody line, which at some points vibrates with the aches and pains brought about by the use of minor scales in a Major 7th realm: a brutal combination.
Lyrically, it is a triumph of realism. No pretentious, dictionary words, just straight, honest, and conversational lyrics, which shoves the point right into the listeners being.
‘Said Unheard’ is very much representative of the genre which Jay calls ‘Acoustic Soul’:
A genre he somewhat pioneers among the Asian-American singer-songwriter circuit.
The next track I played was, “Try, Wait.”
A song that is more straight folk, than ‘Acoustic Soul’ to my ears. It could be Jay’s, acoustic playing, the missing full band accompaniment, or the speedy tempo he utilized, which steered this track away form the feel he established with the first track, ‘Said Unheard’.
But it is a nice song on it’s own, with an engaging melody and pleading lyrics filled with questions and uncertainties about a somewhat dysfunctional relationship. But compared to the opening salvo, this track is a little less.
The third song, “Second Best Shoulder”, is a slow acoustic ballad, again, sans the full band accompaniment.
It features Jay with just his acoustic guitar, playing it in standard style with the occasional bluesy, and jazzy chord variations typical of his works.
His vocal performance here has that sensitivity and delicate quality, which brings the ‘soul’ in his music. This is night driving music at its peak.
“Time”, the 4th song, opens with the usual acoustic guitar, but this time, in some sort of Latin-feel, and rhythmic style, using the tapping of the strings as the upbeat.
This song, is a little to bit on the long side, clocking 5:52., and as a result, tends to get tired by the 4th minute. Although the song structure doesn’t really take you to outer space, Jay’s vocal performance does. A remarkeble display of his vocal powers could be heard on this track.
The next track is ‘Not Tonight”, a foot-taper, sitting, really close to ‘Acoustic Soul’. The use of claps to provide the beat, suits the song well, and gives refreshment to the listener.
The guitar technique Jay used is masterful, as usual, and the lyrics compliments the tempo with the employment of everyday words sang to perfection. This song ranks second to “Said Unheard” to me.
The last track in “The.Tale.and” I s “Ghost”; probably, the fastest song in the collection, tempo wise, and the one closest to the rock genre.
Jay decided to bring in the band once again on this one, and I believe, he made the right decision in doing so. The song is the appropriate album closer to me; a kind of a show-stopper to put back a smile to an other wise, relationship-weary disposition, after the melancholia of the previous tracks.
“Ghost” ranks 3rd in my mini “The.Tale.and” Billboard charts
The album, achieves the goal of introducing the listener to the genre Jay is putting out: “Acoustic Soul”– A sound that Jay achieved in 3 out of his six songs in CD. A sound, which when played right by the artist, really fuses the elements of soul, with acoustic music and produces that calm, cool, and groovy effect.
As a whole, “The.Tale.and.” is an enjoyable six track CD, inspite of some lukwarm points. It is an outstanding effort from one of the pioneers of the Fil-Am singer-songwriter scene.
Truly, Jay Legaspi is a gifted, singer-songwriter and an extraordinary guitar player, who has a clear vision of how his music should sound. And I believe that his genre will explode, as long as he stays with it.
Now, If there’s one thing ‘Jay’s Acoustic Soul has done for me, that is, to cool me down one hot summer day, and made me whistle amid the sweat. And that’s tough for any musician-composer to achieve. Not, in a New York City summer.
Ted Reyes is a journalist, composer, musician and record producer based in NY. For comments about this column or submissions for music or film review etc. you can email him at tedreyes@mac.com or visit his website at http://www.tedreyes.com.
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He begged off from what could have been a rare opportunity to penetrate Hollywood — to play a hobbit in what is now the phenomenal “Lord of the Rings” trilogy — all because he chose to stay faithful to his theater roots, and his fans back in Australia.
Now, London-based Australian-Filipino Miguel “MiG” Ayesa is set on redeeming himself and finding the international stardom he had once let go. MiG knows that leaving his leading role on London’s West End is a big risk, but he also knows that an opportunity like this is extremely rare. That’s why he’s willing to put it all on the line for a shot at becoming a rock star.
Along with 12 other “rockers,” Mig is holed-up in Hollywood’s Rock Star Mansion for a shot at international rock superstardom, competing to be the lead singer of widely popular rock band INXS.
“It’s about time!” exclaim MiG’s cousins Suzette Legarda Montinola, Alex Endozo Legarda, Tricie Legarda-Mojica and husband Raymond during an interview at the family’s ancestral home-turned-elegant-restaurant in San Miguel, Manila, the La Cocina de Tita Moning.
MiG was born in Manila, Philippines, on January 12, 1970. A few years later, his family moved to Sydney, Australia. But every break from school would find MiG and older brother Andrew flying back to Manila. “When we were growing up, MiG used to visit us and stay here, during Christmas and Easter,” recalls Suzette.
Why Mig? “Before MiG chose to become a rock singer, he wanted to be a flying doctor in the air force. He always wanted to fly, that’s why his name is spelled MiG, like the MiG fighter jet,” adds Suzette.
MiG and his cousins also had their share of childhood adventures and games. “We did all the things cousins do growing up together. We used throw our dirty socks at each other and had a contest on who had the smelliest socks, we called them ‘cachicha bombs’.”
“We used to play ‘war’ a lot where we would set up tents and camp. Me, Tricie, Andrew and Manolet were always the Germans and Billy and Miguel were the Americans. I don’t know why, but MiG and Billy always got injured, and since it was just the two of them, they had no nurses to ‘cure’ them.”
The cousins’ games progressed into more competitive sports when they grew up. “We used to play ‘Gotcha’ (paint ball shooting) also for awhile when it was new in Manila and there was one time when Bong Revilla and his bodyguards challenged us to a ‘war.’ There were like 15 of us and five of them, except their guns were like machine guns. They slaughtered all of us in about five minutes.”
Apart from playing around their grandparents’ sprawling backyard, the cousins also loved performing for their parents and grandparents at the patio, especially during special occasions. “In their family, Andrew was always the athlete and MiG was always the artist... he was always the star,” adds Suzette. MiG would convincingly portray John Travolta’s Danny Zuko as he sang “Grease Lightning.”
It was hardly surprising that MiG and Andrew were favorites of their grandparents. “They would ask to use the new car and they were allowed. It was sometimes really scary riding with them because they not only didn’t know where to go, they weren’t used to driving in crazy Manila, plus in Australia, they drive on the other side,” Suzette recalls.
Growing up in Sydney, MiG participated in plays and musical events at his high school and went on to study for a communications degree at Macquarie University in Sydney. In 1991, MiG accepted the role of Ritchie Valens in the Australian production and tour of “The Buddy Holly Story.” In the same year, MiG reprised his Ritchie Valens role in the London West End Production and it was there that he first performed for Queen Elizabeth II of England. It was also at this London musical that cousin Suzette saw his performance.
“’The Buddy Holly Story’ was an adrenaline-filled, lively and fun show with great music. But it wasn’t until my cousin MiG strutted out on stage, singing ‘La Bamba’ with all his heart that the audience actually got up on top of their chairs to dance and sing. The energy was unbelievable. It was then I was sure he was going to be a star,” adds Suzette.
MiG has been on a roll ever since, maintaining a successful career from commercials and musicals, to song writing, television and the movies.
With his powerful voice and exotic good looks — he’s very conscious about his weight, works out everyday and watches what he eats including salt, fat and caffeine — MiG landed a string of commercials for British Airways, McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Ray-Ban and K-Mart. He has also been seen in Australian TV’s “Mission: Top Secret” and “The Ferals.” His film credits include “Queen of the Damned” and “Subterano.” Musicals he has starred in include “Grease,” where he played Danny Zuko; “West Side Story”; the Australian tour of “Fame”; West End’s “Rent” and Queens’ “We Will Rock You.” In the Queen musical, MiG played Galileo “to a T,” earning the respect of Queen guitarist Brian May, who took an interest in his work and initiated a collaboration.
MiG also formed bands like Randy Badass & The Slickmaster Five and Lovetown and has co-written “Looks Like Love” with Louie Ocampo for Martin Nievera’s album Time. He even jammed with Side A at the Calesa Bar when he came to Manila for a vacation.
STAR WORLD’s Rock Star: INXS every Wednesday at 9:30 am (live) and 8:50 pm (primetime repeat) and every Thursday at 9 am (live) and 9 pm (primetime repeat). They urge, “Vote for MiG on Wednesdays, 11 am to 3 pm right after the live performance show. It’s fantastic that MiG gets to show the rest of the world what we already know, but he’ll need all the support and viewers’ votes to take him all the way to rock stardom.” For more information, log on to www.startv.com/rockstar.
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For the rousing statements sexy and vocal actress Rosanna Roces made on “The Buzz” last Sunday against the Revillas (the Bautista family composed of the elder former Sen. Ramon Revilla, the younger Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, and Jolo Revilla), we expected that the latter would think of filing libel charges against the former.
And we were right, before “The Buzz” ended last Sunday, Lani Mercado texted Kris Aquino to tell her that they were consulting with their lawyers and yes, they will be filing a libel case against Rosanna Roces.
It’s sad that the once beautiful relationship between Bong’s son Jolo and Osang’s daughter Grace Adriano that produced a love-child (Jose Gabriel) would come to this and end in a bitter note, and on public television yet.
Osang uttered a mouthful on “The Buzz” against the Revillas, all in defense of her daughter who had earlier broke off with Jolo because she found out Jolo has other girlfriends and that it “very tanga” of him to give Grace the password to his e-mail. That was how Grace found out about Jolo’s unfaithfulness.
This instigated a fight between the young lovers, and for Grace to decide to break up with Jolo. Nasty revelations came about after, things they shouldn’t make public like Grace having to sign vouchers for the monthly support of their child, which according to Grace wasn’t enough. For this, Osang said “Para namang empleyado lang ng Imus Productions si Gab..” Both Osang and Grace said in recent interviews that they don’t need child support from the Revilla. (But in a more recent interview, Senator Bong broke his family’s silence by commenting that if the R10,000 monthly support that Jolo is giving Grace (from Jolo’s own income, he said) for their child isn’t enough, they could have easily said so. He also said Osang should stop this word war, if only for the sake of their children, and grandson.)
As to the DNA testing for Gab to once and for all determine his parentage, Bong said his family believes Gab is their own blood and flesh, “sa unang tingin pa lang.” The paternity of Gab was put in question when Grace wrote in her Friendster blog that she really wanted to name her son Joshua Stephen. She insinuated that Jolo wasn’t the father of Gab, but someone named Joshua (But newcomer Joshua Deocareza, who’s in the cast of Star Cinema’s currently shown movie “D’Anothers,” said that he’s not the father of Gab, since they were on two years ago pa and they only had this thing for just a month; Joshua also said on “Entertainment Konek” that Jolo is Gab’s real father.) Well, only Grace and a DNA test could prove Gab’s paternity.
Another revelation from Osang was when she said Jolo has been maltreating Grace even when she was still pregnant, slapping Grace many times as Grace has confessed to her, Osang said. (But in the past, we remember Osang saying in some interviews that it was Grace who slapped Jolo!)
Anyway, the bombshell for us that Osang dropped on “The Buzz” was when she said “immoral ang mga Revilla,” and she revealed what Jolo has told them, among others that his grandfather has a 19-year-old mistress, that his father (Bong) has given his girlfriend a beauty salon in front of St. Luke’s Hospital and that Jolo’s older brother Bryan is taking Extacy. Osang also advised her arch enemy these days, her former manager, Lolit Solis, to go and have herself made over at the beauty parlor owned by Bong’s supposed paramour. (Before Sunday, Osang also said to Lolit “hinay-hinay ka lang dahil hinahabol ka na ng ataul...” and not for her to love money so much “dahil hindi mo ito madadala pag namatay ka.”
Lolit has earlier advised Grace to go back to school “para hindi ka matulad to nanay mo.” To which Grace has retorted: “I’m proud of my mom!” Her mother, she said, has raised her and her brother Onyok well.
Incidentally, Osang is currently being romantically linked to fearless Inquirer columnist and TV host Ramon Tulfo and also to a politician. But the truth is the Tulfo brothers have a forthcoming TV show and they would like Osang, because of her palaban attitude, to join them.
Judging from her online diary, Grace has a flair in writing; in fact she writes in English very well. And to prove this, we’re printing hereunder part of what she wrote just recently in her blog:
“I’m interested in the world and the people in it. I’m a happy person. I seem to feel stress about the day-to-day irritations that bother people. I’m not bitter or critical - I’d rather learn to enjoy something than put it down or hold up my nose. I appreciate people who can express their joy without irony or sarcasm.
“I believe that life is too short, we should make the most of it, walking in the rain, eat if you’re hungry, smile whether you’re happy or not because it might make someone else’s day, not crying in front of a man - it makes you vulnerable, laughter heals the soul...
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MANILA --- Daria Ramirez, mother of Keempee de Leon, has reacted to Ara Mina’s vehement objection against her son for her younger sister Christine Reyes, who is only 16.
“Nasaktan ako bilang ina,” says Daria at the presscon of “Lisensiyadong Kamao” where she plays the mother of Manny Pacquiao. “Granted mas matanda si Keempee sa sister niya, pero parang sobra naman ang reaction niya against Keempee, na ang dating, masamang tao ang anak ko, kaya ayaw niya rito. Sabi ko nga kay Keempee, tigilan na niya ang panliligaw sa kapatid ni Ara dahil ang treatment sa kanya ni Ara, parang kriminal siya na dapat iwasan. E, kilala naman ni Ara ang anak ko. Nagkasama pa sila sa shows noong araw.”
But Keempee’s dad, Joey de Leon, seems to agree with Ara. “Tama si Ara, parang very young pa talaga si Christine,” says Joey when he was interviewed before he left for the U.S. to join the launching of GMA Pinoy TV there. “Pero tinamaan yata talaga si Keempee dahil maganda talaga yung bata. Advice ko sa kanya, manligaw na lang siya sa iba.” (MNS)
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MANILA --- DZMM’s feisty broadcaster Kaye Dacer has been through life’s dramatic twists and turns. Give me any local controversial star and I can say she’s no match for Kaye’s checkered life which runs the course of a top-rated telenovela material.
At a very tender age Kaye has been an achiever. She was a special assistant to the National Youth Commission during ex-President Fidel Ramos’ term when she was still in high school. Barely out of her teens, she hosted a public service program in another station before she joined ABS-CBN and was a founding president of a public service foundation. She was the first woman president of Rotary Club (University District).
In her early 20s, she was orphaned by her father and uncle Bobby Dacer almost at the same time.
Kaye is also a multi-awarded target shooter, training under no less than Olympics champ Jethro Dionisio. She is also into abstract painting and has done two one-woman exhibits. She has tried the movies, appearing in a Lito Lapid action flick. She also wants to become a lawyer and has chalked in units leading to a full law course. She is an Interior Design graduate and has been doing the interior scaping for some friends’ homes.
But deep in her heart, Kaye wants to sing. She has done a solo concert and has sang with Cabinet members and top concert artists in two fund-raising shows at Manila Hotel. Come July 30, she will share the stage with Nonoy Zuñiga and Jeremiah at Casino Filipino-Tagaytay in a fund-raising concert for the cancer patients under the care of the Jose delos Santos , Sr. foundation.
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