By Rama Co
1:07 am | Friday, December 13th, 2013
Jazz is an original American art form born at the turn of the 20th century in the unique melting pot of culture that is New Orleans, Louisiana.
A hybrid of blues, marching band and African music, jazz is truly unique in its frequent use of improvisation, syncopation and swing notes.
Surprise is a key element; musicians may start off with a composed piece of music, but after adding their own flavor and flair to it, they create something completely new.
A genre that encourages creativity and spontaneity, it’s not surprising why jazz has spread on a global scale within the past century, and continues to be one of America’s most loved art forms.
The history of jazz in the Philippines is an interesting tale. The state of Louisiana was a poor, rural marshland at the time, but it was also home to one of the first Filipino communities in the United States.
Filipinos who took up residence there were fleeing Spain’s forced labor and staggering taxes in the 18th century. They would enlist on trade galleons bound for Acapulco, Mexico, then desert upon docking at port.
The families eventually settled on the shores of Lake Borgne, calling the town Saint Malo. The settlement lasted from the mid-18th century to the early 20th, when it was wiped clean by the New Orleans hurricane of 1915. With their town no more, the families began to disperse throughout the rest of the US.
Those who remained within the French quarter, however, may have witnessed the birth of jazz. This early exposure was later on complemented by the influx of American culture, brought about by the Commonwealth Era.
Musical talent
The Philippine Youth Symphonic Band, or PYSB, was founded in 1978 with the hope of discovering and tapping into the musical talents of Filipino children aged seven to 23.
The organization remained dormant from 1986-2003, but was revived in 2004 by the Young Musicians Development Organization, a nonstock nonprofit organization funded by donations from the general public.
This resurrection was spearheaded by some of the original PYSB members from the ’70s, which include veteran trombonist maestro Romeo San Jose, Dona Punsalang and Bombie Custodio, who wanted to rejuvenate the organization with a new vision: “Music, Education, Opportunity, and Livelihood.”
Along with the original members, the band is currently backed by a board composed of Irene Araneta, chair; Maja Olivares-Co; and Billy Valtos. The PYSB staged its first concert, “Camp 7,” in 2005, and recorded an album of the same name with guest performers Martin Nievera, Lea Salonga, Rachelle Gerodias and Cris Villionco.
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