The Story of Jazz: The 1st CCP International Jazz Festival 2011 on August 23 - 28, 2011

The Cultural Center of the Philippines will be a-thumping with the sound and beat of jazz music when it holds The Story of Jazz: The 1st CCP International Jazz Festival 2011 on August 23 - 28, 2011.

More than 150 jazz musicians from different jazz groups will converge at the CCP to jive and jam in various venues of the CCP that will be transformed into one big jazz club with intimate music lounges. Jazz players and singers from the Philippines and abroad will tell the story of jazz through talk and music. Lectures on and performances of jazz in all its variety of styles --- bebop, blues, ragtime, modal, experimental, big band and fusion will be held.

Leading the roster of performers is the world renowned royal hartigan and blood drum spirit from the USA. Percussionist and pianist royal hartigan and his blood drum spirit ensemble have performed all over the world, exploring the great music traditions of the world through live jazz performances. The group has been described by music reviewers as “the confluence of different musical traditions, combining non-Western rhythms with a standard jazz quartet to create a series of impressive originals.”

Other performers include the Korean Soul and Beat Project Group from Korea, Stelzhamma from Austria, Shun Kikuta from Japan, Neris Gonzalez from Spain, Charito, Michael Bourne and the Bleu Rascals, Lowcal, Blue Rats, Faith Gospel Singers, the UP Jazz Ensemble, UST Jazz Ensemble, Cooky Chua and her band, Majam and Emi Munji and the AMP Band.

A video documentary on the Story of Jazz in the Philippines produced by Richie Quirino and Collis Davis Jr. will also be shown. Performance venues include the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater), Tanghalang Huseng Batute (Studio Theater), and the Silangan Hall. The MKP Multi-Purpose Hall will serve as the venue for all the lectures.

On August 28 at the CCP Main Theater, the Festival will come to a swinging finish in a concert headlined by the UP Jazz Ensemble, Charito with the AMP Band.

"The event will not only see the largest gathering of local and foreign jazz artists at the CCP for the first time. It will also be a time for these foreign and local artists bond together and collaborate, in this enjoyable language of musical expression.", CCP Music Division head Menchi Mantaring said.

Tickets prices to the events at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) are P800 (Orchestra Center), P600 (Orchestra Side), P400 (Balcony 1) and P200 (Balcony 2). Ticket price to all concerts at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute and the Silangan Hall are at P300. All lectures and workshops at the MKP Multi-Purpose Hall are at P100. The standard 50% discount for students and 20% for senior citizens and government employees apply.

Limited Festival passes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Festival pass --- Php1,200.00
- access to all shows at the Main Theater (TNA), TNA Stage, Silangan and Tanghalang Huseng Batute, and to all the lectures and workshops at MKP

Flexi pass --- Php 500.00
- access to one (1) performance at the Main Theater (TNA) or Main Theater (TNA) Stage, one (1) performance at Tanghalang Huseng Batute, and one (1) access to a lecture or workshop at MKP

One day pass--- Php 500.00
- access to all shows, lectures and workshops in one day

To avail of the passes, please call at (63-2)832-3706, 832-3704 or at (+63)920-9497821 (Gemma Marco).

For more details, you can also call the CCP Music Division at tel. no. (63-2)832-1125 local 1605.

For more information and to view the schedule, please CLICK HERE.

You can also buy your tickets at TicketWorld.