Paolo Cortez lit a cigarette and puffed.
“I hope that people show up,” he said to no one in particular.
On a rainy Sunday evening, October 30, the ravages of Typhoon Paeng had been bared to a shocked populace. Although the storm was on its way out, the rains – light though – persisted. Cortez’ debut album, “Not By Sight,” was being launched at the Tago Jazz Café that night; 19 months after it was first released due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
The album launch along with the live performance would be the one and only show for the next nine months as Cortez is off this mid-November to perform in a cruise liner based in Norway.
“Am not worried that my jazz career will be put on hold,” he assured. “I think jazz is not one of those musical genres that are given to waves. I do want tonight to be special.”
Special it was.
Some 40 patrons – not counting family and those filming the show – filled this special hideaway for Philippine jazz that is tucked into a quiet area of Cubao.
The band – drummer Chuck Menor, keyboardist Emman Rodulfo, bassist Josh Tulagan, and guitarist Cortez – had only one rehearsal prior to the show.
“That was this afternoon,” smiled Cortez. While there were nicks here and there due to time away from each other due to the pandemic, it was overall a vibrant and melodic show with a highly appreciative crowd taking in every note and solo.
The quartet performed songs from the albums with “Dreamswing” and “Flames” kicking off the evening’s show. Throughout the initial set, each member took turns with their own tasty morsels of solo ingenuity without being long and winded.
While the band bears Cortez’ name, the guitarist never tries to out-shine his mates. You have to listen for his clever hooks and gentle inflections. And this makes for a tight performance.
By the second set, Philippine jazz legend, saxophonist Pete Canzon, joined the band on stage imbuing the band with more energy and taut passion. Four young cats with the grizzled master whaling away.
A hallmark of a good band is when they are able to translate the album “Not By Sight” from the studio into a live setting. If the album challenged listeners to uphold faith, on this rainy evening at the Tago Jazz Café, it was a performance you had to take in by sight.
Sometimes, seeing… is believing.
Image credits: Rick Olivares