European, Pinoy jazz artists to jam on a cross-cultural ‘little blind date’

Nguyên Lê. Photos from EUNIC Philippines

By IBARRA C. MATEO, February 18, 2014 2:55pm
French guitarist Nguyên Lê and German jazz vocalist Michael Schiefel struck up a friendship when they jointly brought European jazz music to once-war-torn Bosnia in 2012 through a series of performances.

Now, on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22, Nguyên and Schiefel will collaborate with Spanish jazz percussionist Tino di Geraldo and Italian double bass player Furio di Castri to form the European contingent of the cross-cultural musical journey called the Euro-Pinoy Jazz Concerts.

The pioneering “2014 Euro-Pinoy Jazz Concerts” is presented by the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) Philippines and the Delegation of the EU to the Philippines.

The Philippines’ Tots Tolentino, often referred to as one of Asia’s most prominent and gifted saxophonists, is the other half of the “Euro-Pinoy” equation.

EU Delegation to the Philippines' political counselor Dr. Julian Vassallo said at a press conference that the concerts “are a little blind date of jazz that the EU has cooked up for Filipinos.”

“I am proud to present to you an event that brings out the best of the European Union jazz scene coming to the Philippines. The European and Filipino jazz artists will surely click as they spend some time together to create something special for the Filipino audience,” he added.
Read more: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/348946/lifestyle/peopleandevents/european-pinoy-jazz-artists-to-jam-on-a-cross-cultural-little-blind-date