CCP’s Winds and Jazz Festival opens July 26

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is set to hold Winds and Jazz: The CCP International Band Festival at the CCP Main and Little Theaters, Silangan Hall, and Harbour Square from July 26 to 31.

Winds and Jazz is an international music festival that combines the vibrant sounds and harmonies of the symphonic band and the sophisticated rhythms of jazz in a musical treat that appeals to a variety of listeners and music enthusiasts.

The festival highlights various symphonic bands from across the country and abroad. It also features various jazz styles, including Asian ethnic fusion, as performed by local and international jazz figures and groups.

Besides the main evening, pocket and sunset concerts, the festival also has collaborative components that include lobby pre-shows, trade shows, band clinics, and instrument-repair sessions.

Highlights of the festival include a grand entrance and opening sunset concert on July 26 at 4 p.m. at Harbour Square, featuring some of the participating bands; and masterclasses, workshops and lecture-demonstrations conducted by foreign artists from July 27 to 30.

A concert with the bands at 5 p.m., followed by another by foreign and military bands at 7 p.m., will close the festival on July 31.

The event features the following local groups and artists: Adam’s Eve; Antipolo Municipal Band (Antipolo City, Rizal province); Baihana; Banda Dos Taytay (Rizal); Banda San Jose (Las Piñas City); Sta. Cecilia Band ’89 (Cavite province); Calamba City Brass Band (Laguna province); Majestic Band (Muntinlupa City); Malabon Community Band (Malabon City); Magdalene Band 17 and Carmona Community Band (Cavite); Manila Tuba-Euphonium Quartet; Oboe Trio; Oboe & Celli Quartet; Palo Enchanting Brass Band (Leyte province); Philbanda Wind Orchestra; Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Woodwind Quintet; Prestige Clarinet Ensemble; PYSB Jazz Band; Ryan Villamor Trio; and San Juan Nepomuceno Band (Pasay City).

They will be joined by school bands, including the De La Salle Santiago Zobel School Symphonic Band (Alabang, Muntinlupa), University of the Philippines Symphonic Band, Adamson University Band, Adamson Acoustic Band, and University of Santo Tomas Wind Orchestra. Other participating groups include bands from the Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Presidential Security Group.

Performing artists are the Fernando Mendoza Jr. Trio, the Henry Katindig Contemporary Jazz Quartet, Johnny Alegre, Lowcal, Majam, Ray Infante, Rick Countryman, Romy Posadas, Ryan Villamor Trio, Sandra Viray, Sitti Navarro, Sound Spectrum, Poppin’ Jazz, The Brass Munkeys, and Triple Fret, among others.

Foreign artists participating in the festival include American act Aubarra Clarinet Duo; Norwegian jazz clarinet/buffet crampon artist Felix Peikli; Singaporean flautist Jin Ta; multitalented performer Brando Tan Heng Pong; wind-instrument specialist Sean Tan Eng Huat; Canadian artist, producer and mixing engineer Darren Rahn; American performing artist Royal Hartigan and the Blood Drum Spirit, Puerto Rican jazz group Edsel Gomez Trio, and Singaporean band conductor Brando Tan.

Tickets are at P200 and P300, and festival passes at P600. Senior citizens and people with disability can avail themselves of a 20-percent discount, while students can get a 50-percent discount.

For ticket inquiries, call the CCP Box Office at (632) 832-3704, or TicketWorld at 891-9999.