The Philippines have a rich and widely varied culture, having been under the control of various countries. Because of that, its music is rich with exotic and yet accessible sounds. Here are a pair of intriguing albums that mix jazz fusion with world sounds.
Chris Trinidad plays bass guitar, clave, cabasa, octavina and sings along with Raphael Geronomo/perc, David Lechuga/g and Bo Razon on a wide variety of stringed things like the tres and bandurria and percussion instruments like the bombo and bata. This 12 song album is divided into three “courses” with rich meldings of folk strings and John Calloway’s flute on “Alin Mang Lahi,” Sampaguita” and “Taal” and gorgeous tenor sax work by Reggie Padilla on “Jocelynang Baliuag” and “Bayan Ko” with mixed jazz with Latin pulses. The music is lyrical and upbeat, making you feel the droplets of a warm rain forest.
Danongan Kalanduyan was legendary for his mastery of the gong like kulintang, and for his final recording, he is joined by Bo Razon/g, Chris Trinidad/b and Frank Holder/perc, all who double on the steel drum sounding agung. The seven short pieces feature dancing cymbals on the rumbling “Sinulog”, guitar and bass chugging along “Binalig” and hand percussion pulsating for “Tidtu Slow” while the rhythm gallops on “Duyog”. The music is light and airy, with the exotic sounds making you feel like you’re in a room filled with gentle chimes blowing in the breeze.