The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
There are three beautiful and wonderful female jazz artists in our midst.
They are all Filipinas.
Even if jazz isn’t popular in the Philippines as its audience is select, the music still thrives in many homes and jazz bars, of course.
Look at Jeannie Tiongco, the progeny of Emil Tiongco, the famous member of the Tiongco Brothers which made a name in the standard and oldies but goldies tunes.
According to Jeannie, she started her professional singing career as a pop singer.
“But as I transitioned into ther I think jazz is my favorite now,” revealed Tiongco, the niece of the late veteran actress Charito Solis by virtue of Emil’s marriage to the sister of the award-winning actress.
”Jazz still has its market in the Philippines,” said Tiongco who has also performed abroad like Hong Kong when she was younger.
Meanwhile, when Heidi Tann left the Philippines, she had memories of singing pop songs with musical bands.
Going abroad was a priority to support her family.
In the US, Fil-Am Heidi still performed with Filipino bands in California while wearing multiple hats like office work or business opportunities.
Jazz is Hedi’s forte at the moment.
Until the big breaks knocked at her door when she wrote original songs such as “You’re Best Thing” which is produced by popular American music entrepreneur Rex Salas.
Tann’s music has been recognized by Grammys although she hasn’t been nominated in the music awards.
She has collaborated with a lot of iconic foreign musicians.
Her ultimate dream is to do a collab with Bruno Mars.
Another famous Filipina jazz artist, on the other hand, Gina Panezalis is a very popular singer in Kuala Lumpur.
She was in the country a few days ago when she performed with Jeannie Tiongco and Henry Katindig, the Amazing Diva Armida Zuniga and Iloilo’s Star Diva in a Valentine’s show at the Gateway Hotel and Suites Ballroom in Iloilo where she rendered three wonderful jazz numbers.
She was with her son Gerard at the concert.
She flew to Malaysia to promote her latest album “Invisible.”
Gina is married to a Malaysian businessman. (Boy Villasanta)