Filipinos are particularly exemplary in jazz, a genre so compatible with the Filipino’s spontaneous nature and genius for dynamic self-expression in music which, while strict in vocabulary, is sans boundaries in artistic creation. 

In 2006, the Philippine International Jazz and the Arts Festival (PIJazz) was put up by a group including jazz chanteuse Sandra Viray; drummer Jun Viray; Zenaida Celdran; and guitarist Edgar Avenir among others with a show featuring Eumir Deodato and Kevyn Lettau highlighting the event. 

The following year, PIJazz brought in another set of top rated jazz artists like Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Diane Schurr and piano prodigy Eldar Djangirov wowing audiences with local counterparts Sitti, Johnny Alegre, Guarana and Escola de Samba de Manila onstage at the Sofitel Harbour Garden. 

In 2008, the festival culminated in shows featuring acid-jazz band, Incognito; Raul Midon; Lee Ritenour; Kurt Elling; Omar Sosa; Chico and the Gypsies; with a host of some of the best Philippine jazz bands jiving up the Sofitel.

Last year, PIJazz partnered with ABS-CBN in a festival that included campus tours and free workshops conducted by local and foreign jazz artists. Scintillating performances by Ivan Lins, Spyro Gyra, Dianne Reeves, Mike Stern and the phenomenal US-based Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi brought the house down at the Rockwell Tent in Makati. 

This year, PIJazz’s fifth year is marked with another array of world-class performances culminating in performances this weekend with Jane Monheit at the Rockwell Tent and the Brand New Heavies; Thai jazz band Jirapan; Grammy awardee Yellowjackets; world-acclaimed Indonesian artist Dwiki Dharawan with the Seajazz Project; Filipino soul band, Sinosikat; and vocalist Charmaine Clamor at the Sofitel’s Harbour Garden. The shebang, which started Feb. 12, also has 200 of the best Filipino jazz bands and musicians performing in bar and mall tours and conducting workshops in and out of Manila.

Kat Agarrado and Sinosikat held a workshop in Iloilo City’s San Agustin University then sailed to Bacolod City to join Mishka Adams and Jazz Volunteers’ Wowee Posadas, Simon Tan, Michael Guevarra and Mar Dizon – probably the best jazz drummer in the country today –along with locals, Gabe Ascalon and Nancy Brew for the 1st Bacolod Jazz Fest organized by the Jazz Society of Negros (JSN) on the Roofdeck of L’Fisher Chateau. 

Currently, no other place outside of Manila is jazz more vibrant than in Bacolod, capital city of Negros Occidental. 

There are parallelisms between the creation of PIJazz and the JSN. In 2005, ace musician Monrique Lizares, considered Negros province’s best jazz bassist, died.

A year later, commemorating what could have been Lizares’ 48th birthday, a core group including Bobby and Margaret Coscolluela, Mia Lizares Gonzaga, Girlie Lizares Bagtas, Jojo Montinola, Nikko and Jarie Yulo and Gina Montilla Lizares gave birth to JSN and a resurgence in jazz in Negros.

Over the years beginning September 16, 2006 when the JSN put up “Ode to Monrique,” its first jazz event, the Society has put up show after successful show, creating keen awareness and a solid following for jazz among Negrenses. Bacolod is now recognized as a sanctuary for Philippine jazz and clear indication for such recognition is its inclusion in the PIJazz events calendar.

Undoubtedly, the PIJazz Festival has created a stir for the country in global jazz. Despite scant resources and sponsor support, PIJazz has managed to lasso, yearly, for the past five years, some of the world’s best jazz artists to perform in the country.

Half a decade since its founding, PIJazz has managed to attain its original desiderata – landing a place for the country in the international jazz map. Thanks to the people behind PIJazz, what we’re seeing here today is a Philippines not only transformed into a destination for jazz lovers all over the world but also a country fast becoming the veritable center for jazz music in Asia.