Blues Pinoy

This is certainly one for the books - a very rare and historic occasion where Pinoy Bluesmen of different generations (and regions) congregate to create a musical masterpiece. Here's the great Wally Gonzalez jamming with Cebu's pride, Cuarenta (Arnold, Lyndon, Juel) and with the dude who does the vocals and great Blues harp riffs.

Blues songs often tell a story about ordinary things in life. In this video, harperjohn sings about the plight of sugarcane workers in Mindanao, eerily similar to the situation of African American slaves during that infamous period in US history. You got the money, you got the land, You even own my sugarcane. How you gonna keep me down If i don't want to stay? How you gonna keep me down Tell me I pray.

Another great original track by Lampano Alley...though I hear a bit of Bob M's "Is This Love" on the intro :) "...trouble in the government, leads up to the president." Sad but true. A fitting message to the newest leader of the land. Enough of politics, just enjoy the music! I especially liked TomCat's and Binky's synchronized harp and vocals in the end part of the song.

Great news for all Lampano Alley fans all over the world! The best Pinoy Blues band has a newly built website where everyone can get the latest news and updates. Included are the band's history, personal info of the members, picture gallery, and several videos of their live performances. Missing though are the "Concert In The Park" clips. Maybe they'll be uploading them soon :-) Click the image above to access the website!

I never get tired listening to the classic 12-bar progression, with that slow bass thump, synchronized guitar chops, simple yet full of emotions, Blues at its best. That's exactly what this song is about by Clayton and the rest of Friends of Adam, giving us their own brand of Blues.

Here's another treat for all you Pinoy Blues fans! Sugar Pie DeSanto rocks the house once more with this 1964 performance recorded in England. Excellent audio quality on this video. (Standing just 4'11", Sugar Pie looks so small standing beside Willie Dixon)

You could hardly see anything on this one - just the strat's white pickguard and the mic stand (lol). But the music, it's all Blues! Featuring John Mendoza (Natural High) and Butch Victoriano (South Border).

I'll have to say this is my best personal find so far - a video featuring, would you believe, a Filipina holding her ground with Blues legends Willie Dixon (here on bass) and Hubert Sumlin (on guitar). With her small frame, big voice, and quirky mannerisms, she is quite a character indeed. Here she is at her best, taken in England (1964) doing the B.B. King classic. Authentic Pinoy Blues! From Wikipedia: Sugar Pie DeSanto (born Umpeylia Marsema Balinton, October 16, 1935, Brooklyn, New York, United States) is an American rhythm and blues singer of the 1950s and 1960s. She was born to an African American mother and Filipino father. She spent most of her early life in San Francisco, California, where she moved with her family at a young age. In 1960, DeSanto rose to national prominence when her single, "I Want to Know," reached number four on Billboard's Hot R&B chart. DeSanto continued to release popular songs throughout the 1960s, including some collaborations wit...

Man, this kid is cool! He can play the Blues piano as easy as counting sheep. Video taken when he was just 7 years old. ...and guess what, he can also play the sax, drums, and guitar!

To all Blues aficionados out there, here are 2 events you shouldn't miss! Jazz, Blues & Rock Festival Feb 27, '10 9:00 p.m. Location: Bagaberde Grill & Bar CCP Complex (Boom na Boom Grounds) Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. cor. Roxas Blvd. Pasay City Phone: 831-2242, 392-6766, 394-7672 --------------------------------------------------- Blues Rock Night at 19East March 6, '10 9:00 p.m. Location: Music Hall, 19 East Bar and Grill, Km. 19, East Service Road, Sucat, Muntinlupa City Phone/Fax: +6328376903 PLUG will be the featured band on both dates. Check their previous performances HERE ... ...and HERE!

A very interesting video of the Pinoy world music band Makiling (http://www.makiling.ph) performing a Blues number using an indigenous instrument called hegalong. The hegalong is a native Philippine 2-stringed guitar tuned pentatonically. A Filipino version of a lute, it only has two strings; one string does the pentatonic melodies while the other remains a stagnant drone. Who knows, our ancestors could have been playing the Blues eons ago?

This is a live version of Di Na Lang Sana by Firebottle, fronted by 'deltaslim' Joric Manlangque, one of the vanguards of Pinoy Blues, showing his vocal and guitar playing prowess! If you're one of the few lucky dudes who got a copy of the Blueskrieg album, you'll find this on track #8. Kakoi Legaspi does the Blues harp chores on this one.

I'm a proud owner of an original Blueskrieg album copy. This is a compilation CD featuring five Philippine blues bands playing their originally composed blues-influenced/blues-based songs, Original Pilipino Blues Music. It contains fifteen (15) original songs that arguably cover the wide gamut of blues music varieties, from standard 12-bar blues, to soul/rnb tinged blues, to classic rock, southern rock, country rock style blues to modern heavy blues based rock with mostly Filipino and Tagalog lyrics and some English lyrics that still evoke Pinoy sentiment. Track listing: 1. Tumblin’ Down The Devil’s Game by PLUG 2. Byahero by PLUG 3. Blooze by PLUG 4. Zalman Knew by Snakecharmer 5. My Slow Draggin’ Week by Snakecharmer 6. Suklob by Snakecharmer 7. Bakit Nagkaganito by Firebottle 8. Di Na Lang Sana by Firebottle 9. Kalbaryo by Firebottle 10. Confronting The Evil by Dahon 11. Monster Within Me by Dahon 12. Lipad Pilip Lipad by Dahon 13. Sa Gabi Sa Umaga by Kulukati 14. Selda Katorse ...

The original Filipino wailer! I remember watching Binky Lampano's band on TV years back (Lampano Alley). It was a series of performances titled "Concert at the Park." Luckily I was able to catch a glimpse of those. Binky's voice stood out, always did. Even though he had a tight band which included the great Tom Colvin on harp, still it was Binky who gave the group its soul. Probably, he IS the reincarnation of a long-gone blues singer from Mississippi. The group has since disbanded, I've read that Binky is now based abroad.