[COLUMN] An evening of Jazzmopolitan electrifies Disney Concert Hall 

‘Dynamic Dynamite’ Michael Paulo plays heartfelt jazz along with Take 6, Peter White, Tia Carrere, Daniel Ho, Melissa Morgan, and Chris Chatman

“I hate a song that makes you think that you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim. Too ugly or too this or too that. Songs that run you down or poke fun at you on account of your bad luck or hard traveling. I am out to fight those songs to my very last breath of air and my last drop of blood. I am out to sing songs that will prove to you that this is your world and that if it has hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter what color, what size you are, how you are built, I am out to sing the songs that make you take pride in yourself and in your work.” -Woody Guthrie, New Year’s 1942-1943. From a 72-page composition book with a letter to his love, Marjorie. “Bound for Glory”.

“One is born with talent, an accident of birth. One makes oneself an artist. I believe in art. I believe art has the power to heal the broken spirit. To sucker the frightened soul. To redeem not just the listener but the artist as well. To make sense of the chaos. To hold a mirror to the world when the world forgets what it looks like – to issue both a warning and an exaltation.“ -Janis Ian, a Grammy award-winning Songwriter of Songwriters (2010).

The front-row folks, mostly African Americans, were irrepressible and expressive about their appreciation on August 19, 2023. This was a very touching week for most, raw emotions from watching Lahaina communities wiped out by the wildfires, and compounded this weekend with boarded up storefronts, as we got warned about Hurricane Hilary.

Precious moments of incandescent jazz time

But, not this irrepressible audience. This audience got the artists’ back, for which Tia Carrere openly shared her appreciation. They came to watch with every fiber of their being. Some of these fans went to school at Oakwood University in Alabama and are friends with Mark Kibble, a classmate of one of them, a founder of Take 6, the best acapella group that garnered 10+ Grammy awards.

When they closed the evening’s summit of jazz performances, they took us to the heights of their passion, singing without musical charts, and in synchrony with each other, taking turns to express their melodies, and ever respectfully taking turns to give space to the other.

Their repertoire was seamlessly sung, to give predominant messages: “Change the World”, “Got to Get You Into My Life”, “Back in Love”, “I’ve Got Life/Spread”, “Stand by Me” and “Roof Garden.” Amazing mastery of sounds, vocal chords, and musical lyrics that no one was prepared for. They were not just masters of their craft; they were also mentoring one of the youngest artists, Chris Chatman, who stood out for his fashionable style.

“Bumpin,” “One Passion,” and “My Heart and Soul” were the opening numbers of Michael Paulo. He dedicated the last piece to Rene Paulo, his dad, whom he credited with teaching him everything about music and ultimately, leading him to his life’s passion: music.

I watched both father and son captivate Filipino Americans in Hawaii, decades ago, at a Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) conference with “The Heart and Soul” piece. It was a special moment in time that got us all sobbing.

When Michael played “Heart and Soul,” a tribute to his old man, his dear father, Rene Paulo, who recently passed away, his earnest sounds on the saxophone made us cry. He also cried as he played his saxophone, even as he laments his father’s passing, and with his best efforts and young boundless energies, he conveyed his love for him.

Michael was tonight’s music director and his wonderfully-in-synchrony-band mates: Tateng Katindig (lead for Melissa Morgan and Chris Chatman), Kimo Cornwell (lead for Peter White and Tia and Daniel), Dave Inamine, Fred Schreuders and Land Richards, who all mirrored his dynamism.

I marveled at the prowess and sustained agility of Michael Paulo onstage, holding his breath for minutes, playing his saxophone, gyrating movements, light on his feet and with flexibility that would bend his torso backwards, simulating the curves of his saxophone, forming a curved circle.

It was quite beautiful to watch a man in control of his playing instrument, and the saxophone behaving in synchrony with this artist.

Michael got us sobbing, and Alvin Reyes shared that he cried, when he saw Michael shed tears, who played one of his three gold plated saxophones onstage to be grabbed at any moment in time.

These three opening numbers captured the hearts of many, compelling the audience to rise up and to give Michael an early standing ovation. I, too, sobbed at that “Heart and Soul” piece.

Some of these fans fashionably came in their Sunday’s finest, ready to sway, and they did uncontrollably moved, even while seated. One even said, “I did not know Filipinos play jazz.” That must have been a compliment in disguise.

Self-made artists belong to an aristocracy of merit

Janis Ian, the songwriter of songwriters, got the First Liberal Arts Tribute award from Berklee College of Music in 2010, wherein she asserted, “artists belong to an aristocracy of merit. One makes oneself an artist.” She spoke about how an artist’s heart makes the art that is then reflected back to the audience. Such is Ted as the other artists he asked to perform.

“Who is this Ted Benito?” the front row audience folks asked me. “Remember his name as he produces shows that respect the artists, the audience, and the venue, “ I emphasized, visualizing Ted’s passionate sharing of his production events.

In my prior interview, Ted shared: “I formulated how ‘The Romance of Magno Rubio’ [a play he produced to honor the farmworkers] appears to be a fusion of my parents’ story: promoting the arts and artistry, rooting for Filipino talent, and giving back to the less fortunate.”

Ted is a well-respected impresario, an artist connoisseur of musical events who was nurtured by his mom, steeped in the arts, since he was 5 years old. It was in 1987 when my husband and I were introduced to his cache of talents: scriptwriter, actor, and historian. He did all three substantial roles at UCLA’s Pilipino Cultural Night. To this day, three decades later, the scenes of tribute for the farmworkers are etched in my memory. Identity, history and representation are strong features of his productions.

Fast forward to Jazzmopolitan in 2010 at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater. He described it as American jazz meets Filipino flavor: “Jazzmopolitan: Filipino Gentlemen of Jazz,” an evening of finger-snapping, toe-tapping evening that showcased Ner de Leon, Raffy Lopez, Tateng Katindig, Mon David and headlined by Michael Paulo whose distinct “saxpertise” to a virtual who’s who of artists: Al Jarreau, James Ingram, Rick Braun, Peter White, Kenny Loggins, Patti Austin, David Benoit, Johnny Mathis and more.

This evening’s summit of jazz in 2023 happened when Ted was offered by Disney Hall’s programming team a slot, 85% of whom were self-made artists from Hawaii. Some are childhood friends, who went to school with Michael Paulo; some he met while on a shuttle airport stop, others while performing with Al Jarreau, like Take 6.

If Janis Ian would have seen Take 6, Michael Paulo, Peter White, Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho, she would easily say these artists’ unforgettable performances belong to that exclusive ‘aristocracy with merit’ that she described in her keynote speech. These are artists who stayed true to their craft and even gave birth to new projects during the pandemic. The pandemic did not freeze nor cage their talents.

Michael Paulo did it again as he accompanied Melissa Morgan and their interaction consisted of a dialogue with Melissa singing a note, pausing, with Michael responding with the musical tunes. Was it F or was it G? I truly did not know — only that their interaction created a beautiful exchange of their humanity being together.

When Peter White came onstage, one Japanese woman next to me described him as the wild partner of Michael Paulo. I was not prepared for Peter White’s own composition, “San Diego/Bueno Funk” with the 007 James Bond theme song and “Get Up Stand Up” by Bob Marley, eliciting joy, as the crowd roared with catcalls and applause.

The photos I took seemed like dance numbers of both artists, Michael and Peter, as they played music on the guitar and the saxophone, but in a synchrony of body movements, almost like a dance scene.

It was unforgettable to hear the harmonica and bird tweets, all done by Peter White. When I congratulated him for a memorable performance and told him that I bought his CD, he took out his highlighter and said, “Did you want me to sign your CD?” Oh my, how wonderful was that?

So many unforgettable performances now from Peter White, Melissa Morgan and Michael Paulo! The crowd is focused and nobody was feeling restless but simply immersed in the beauty of these jazz sounds.

When Daniel Ho and Tia Carrere performed their Hawaiian favorite songs: “He Aloha Mele,” “Aloha Oe” and Tia’s original composition “I’m still here” her soothing voice had the audience‘s heartstrings pulled in many directions to connect to Lahaina, where wildfires wiped out communities and homes, just a week ago.

Tia’s heartfelt, unforgettable, and haunting performance moved folks, that after, they were queuing to get her to sign the CDs. I told her that when I babysit my 8-month-old grandson, her CD elicits the serenity of the trade winds, the ocean waves, and the blue skies’ imaginary ambiance. Tia, we love you! Equally endearing is how she is so warm and accessible to her fans, and patiently takes selfies with them.

Did I share earlier that Janis Ian’s description of artists is that they belong to an aristocracy of merit and that their hearts are so absorbent of pain and triumphs that they are the first to respond with their gentle humanity? Aloha is more than a hello, it is an extension of love, kindness, and compassion.

Michael Paulo informed us that the yearly September Temecula show he organized has now become a full-blown fundraiser, raising $14,000 in ticket sales, with so many artists volunteering to perform.

Nothing prepared us for the 10+ Grammy award winners, “Take 6’,” who were introduced as Michael’s friends that he met 30 years ago while performing for Al Jarreau. He introduced them as the best acapella group.

Indeed, hands down, Take 6 is the best acapella group I have ever heard! But what was even more endearing is how humble ‘Take 6’ was: accessible, so down to earth and certainly did not require us, the fans, to be on the “list” to take photos with them, as in that recent Broadway controversy. Thanks to the producer who encouraged us to meet with the artists to say hello.

Ted Benito and Rex Sampaga, you outdid yourselves with this magnificent lineup of artists, and may I dare describe them as self-made artists who belong to an aristocracy of merit?

I salute you both that despite Hurricane Hilary, the Writers Guild Strikes, this first Jazzmopolitan at Disney Hall was unforgettably outstanding! Disney Hall absolutely is one of the acoustically balanced venues and the most desired amongst artists, like their heavenly summit of stages to perform at.

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Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 12 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the U.S., in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.