Yo Quiero Bailar

I had the chance to go to an SF Jazz Festival performance at the Masonic Auditorium on Saturday the 25th. Have you ever seen the documentary "The Buena Vista Social Club"? If you haven't -- go see it. If you have -- then you surely remember the only woman featured in the movie, Omara Portoundo. Yep, she performed Saturday and it was an awesome show. She brought with her 6 horns [3 brass, 3 woodwinds], pianist, bassist, guitarist, 3 percussionists [conga, bonga, timbale/bell] and a cuban tres player [a traditional cuban 'guitar' which uses 3 double strings] and of course, Omara. Overall, it was really fun and reminded me a lot of Cuba!

The SFSU Chamber Singers have a concert in Concord tonight, so I'll be taking off early to get there. Then we have a choralfest on Saturday at SF State, followed by a performances on 11/12, 11/14 and 11/15. Then another break before our Candlelight Christmas Concert in Oakland on December 6th.

13 Units. Chamber Singers. A Cappella group. Kulintang.

I'm thinking of cutting back my work hours next semester. This is starting to tire me out.

Oh yeah, SF State started up it's first COLLEGIATE A CAPPELLA CHOIR.

And I auditioned and made it. Which makes me a member of the 'alpha' group.

Apparently, a cappella groups are a big rage on collegiate campuses nationwide, but for whatever reasons, SF State never had one. Then all of a sudden, three people, each acting independently of each other, took the initiative to create a group. They then just decided to pool their talent and resources to make one group rather than three separate ones.

We also have pending concerts in SoCal sometime in the Spring. We're singing, pop/rock/soul/blues/jazz, etc.

Of course I'll keep you informed on this one as well.

Every Wednesday, all the voice majors who take lessons have to show up for Voice Studio. In this class, every student has at least one opportunity to sing in front of the other applied voice students. Then we have the chance to make comments/observations. Finally, one of the voice teachers does a little work on you. Basically, it's like having a mini voice lesson in front of other people.

I've had the chance to hear some really beautiful music these past Wednesdays. I've really been appreciating classical vocal music a lot more now. When I ran into my friend Nikki, I told her, "I'm glad I decided to do this, or else I would be missing out on a lot of wonderful music."

And it's true. I've discovered arias and solos that, when sung right, can move you whether or not you can understand the language being used [usually Italian, French, English, even German.] I actually can't stand French, but when I hear a song by Francis Poulenc, I forget my dislike for it and end up enjoying it -- at least for that song! Poulenc's songs are great, and there's a whole bunch more out there that I would have missed out on had I not decided to pursue music.

Self-discovery is always nice.

Read "Lies, and the Lying Liars That Told Them" by Al Franken.

The book is hilarious and a 'fair and balanced' take on what conservatives call 'the obvious liberal/left wing' media.

No kidding! When he says that all the right wing does to support their claims are lies, you think, "Naw!" but then he shows you, and not only does it make them look stupid, but you can see why the right can't stand him.

Well, the tribute to Pilipinos in Jazz went well. I hope at least one of you guys got to see it.

Mark your calendar for Nov. 5th.

I will be performing with kulintang master Danongan Kalanduyan at Knuth Hall at SF State. 7 pm. FREE. Once again, FREE. Oh yeah, did I say that it's FREE?

Come by, I hope you guys can set some time aside to see him play. The concert will consist of traditional performance, fusion w/Persian music, fusion with traditional hand drumming, and performances by his kulintang class.

Once again, Wednesday, November 5.

OH yeah, secured that deal for the room downstairs in my house, which is double the size of my present room, for only $75 more. The only catch is that the lease is month to month because the landlady is not sure what she's going to do with her house once her husband comes back. Oh well, I'll take it for now.

I have my new computer!

Plus I may be moving into a room double in size for only $100 more.

Oh yeah...You're invited...my dad is playing at SF State on Wednesday nite...

Concert at San Francisco State University...................
presented by the brothers of CHI RHO OMICRON


HISTORY OF PILIPINOS IN JAZZ.....a recognition of those who led the way
through representing Pilipinos in Music.

Featuring: Melecio Magdaluyo, Ben Luis and special guest Rudy Tenio

WEDNESDAY, oCTOBER 15 - 7:30 - 9:30
Knuth Hall, Creative Arts Bldng, San Francisco State University

FREE EVENT!!!!!!!


PLEASE COME.................PASS IT ON................AND BRING A FRIEND OR
TWO or three!!!

My dad is one of my musical inspirations and one of the best bass players [at least in my book] that I know.

And did I mention it's free?

Now how much more convincing do you need?

Okay, he's not only playing with Melicio Magdaluyo, who's a bad @ss sax player, but with Rudy Tenio, a pianist/singer who's been around for a long time.

DON'T MISS IT!

Geez, good thing that, by the US Constitution, Arnold can't run for President.

What a scary thought.

The Frustration of Giants Postseason Futility

San Francisco Giants' J.T. Snow lies on home plate after being taged out while sliding into home to end the game Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003 in Miami. The Marlins beat the Giants 7-6 to clinch the series.(AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

I was listening to the Razor and MrT on KNBR 680 yesterday and they played this tirade from Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo, a radio DJ from New York who happens to be a big SF Giants fan. And his frustration pretty much sums it all up...

Chris Russo Tirade
[courtesy of KNBR.com]

PAHM

Once again, every October, the Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor at SFSU commemorates the start of Pilipino American History Month at Malcolm X Plaza. The group I'm in, Ating Tao Drum Circle, started off the festivities with 4 songs from our kulintang/drum repertoire. I got to play a Maranao song, Kapagonor, with the background beat of "Wild Thing".

It was a good performance, but most importantly a great turnout for the rally. As I was playing [yeah, yeah, I should have been concentrating more] I saw a lot of people who weren't Filipino stop and try and see where that gong-ish sound was coming from. Most were looks of surprise and then recognition, a recognition of a new sound they've never heard yet are enjoying and feeling.

Yeah, my ancestors' music is pretty sick. Too bad that, according to the legends, the kulintang and gong music was suppressed throughout Luzon and the Visayas by the Spanish. Now all we have as a testimonial to those islands practicing gong music are a bunch of oral legends. Some of the University of Philippines campuses have kulintang music classes, so they're trying to keep it alive. It's just hard when pop music is the 'cool' thing and traditional isn't.

Agony of Defeat

Our US Womens' World Cup soccer team was shutout by Germany 3-0 last night in front of 27, 000+ screaming fans. I followed the game at work on the computer and it sucked to see Germany start pouring in the goals.

Alas, we don't get to see Brandy Chastain's sports bra this time around!

OUCH!

Deja Vu All Over Again
Game 1(Home): Win
Game 2(Home): Had a lead, lost a lead, tied it up and then lost the lead for good.
Game 3(Away): Hard fought game, lost in last at bat
Game 4(Away): Hard fought game, but lost.

A familiar story to us Giants fans. Especially after yesterdays loss to the Marlins. What makes it worse is you could have substituted the Marlins for the Mets in 2000 and we would have gotten the very same series. Helluva play at the plate though, and my team fought hard. The Black and Orange in my veins is now put away for the off season to allow the Green and Gold to run. Bay area sports teams forever.

And s a big fan of Felipe Alou I still can't hide my pleasure in the fact that Dustiny has taken over the Cubbies and they are on the verge of taking the Braves out. Eat that Sabean!

Go A's. Go Marlins.

Screw the Yankees. (Sorry Mooncake!) =)

Have a nice week!

I'm officially a member of the A's bandwagon and I don't care what you think. They were always my second team. So I'm still watching these playoffs, but I've avoided all sports talk and what not so far.

It's the 2000 NL Divisional Series all over again...almost in the same fashion, except they played game 4 a little closer than the 2000 Giants.

Gees.

Small Voices

Last night after kulintang practice I rolled over to UA Metro in Colma [over near Home Depot] to catch the movie "Mga Munting Tinig [Small Voices]" which was written and directed by Gil Portes.