Mishka Adams and the Blue Echoes

I walked into Music Museum without any expectations, and with tired, sleepy eyes. I was up at 5:30 in the morning to attend a seminar and run errands. The sun had long turned in and snored while I was still out. Moreover, I was still disenchanted by a recent concert I had walked out of. Yes, it was that unbearable. In my Uncle’s words, it was “torture”.

Suffice it to say, I wasn’t particularly in high spirits that evening. I have to admit, though, that I was looking forward to the concert since I was quite happy with the Mishka Adams CD I bought in July. Shortly after the first song, I knew it was going to be a great concert. I was wrong. It was amazing.

There was so much talent and passion on stage that night. Somehow each song sounded different and had its own charm. As Mishka had said, she loved jazz because of its free form. There is so much to explore; there are no boundaries. She and the Blue Echoes also collaborated with various artists like Cynthia Alexander, Mon David, and Tots Tolentino among others. I also enjoyed the many instruments on stage: violins, cellos, pianos, saxophones, drums, and guitars. Too bad I can’t name the other instruments.

The concert gave me such pride and faith in the Filipino, not that I ever wavered or lost faith. I suppose we all need reminders once in a while, and certainly these artists were one-of-a-kind. Mishka Adams, a young Filipino-British jazz artist, with the Blue Echoes, will soon be leaving for London to spread the Filipinos’ talent abroad.

Thanks to Clint who saw the concert ad in the newspaper and whose first words after the show were “Grabe sulit! Pa-burn ng CD ha?” And to Bebert who said “you made me a Mishka Adams believer!”

Her CD “God Bless the Child” has 11 songs, 4 of which are wonderful originals by Mishka and Sammy Asuncion. The rest are covers of songs by Billie Holiday, George Gershwin, Ned Washington, etc. Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday are great influences on Mishka’s music. I honestly don’t know them well so I guess it’s a good excuse to splurge a bit and get their CDs this Christmas. =)

Merry Christmas! God bless us. God bless the Philippines.

Ang buro, bow

This is the story behind my "Cheer up" post below. Merry Christmas everyone! =)

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Have you experienced riding in a smelly car on an out-of-town trip? And I mean smelly. Foul. Ghastly. You know that Pinoy delicacy, “buro”? Over the weekend, my balikbayan Uncle visited Pangasinan in our trusty old family car. Before returning to Manila, he received a big bottle of “burong isda” as a going-away present from my Lolo and placed it in the backseat. Well the “buro” juices leaked and the car reeked. And it seriously reeked on the day we were all dressed up for my cousin Macky’s wedding in Caleruega. All the way from Congressional Avenue, Quezon City to Nasugbu and back.

I don’t know how in the world we managed but we did. Hell, I could even get used to the exotic essence of “buro”. I suppose there’s nothing else to do but shrug, spray Glade in a frenzy, throw in some baby powder, laugh, and fervently pray for a sudden bout of serious colds. My last laugh about this whole episode was a text message from my brother who could not join us at the wedding. He borrowed the car for a quick trip to the grocery. “Anong nangyari sa kotse? Ba’t amoy tae?”

It has often been said that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’d say there’s fragrance. Photos under the “Cheer up” post were some of the sweeter blessings amidst a smelly and rainy, yet nonetheless beautiful, day. Best wishes to Macky and Carrie!

Cheer up

Yep, they certainly cheered me up. Taken last December 6, Tuesday at my cousin Macky's wedding at Caleruega and Sonya's Garden.