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VICTOR NORIEGA :: ALAY by Ron Sagye La Rue Alay T&D Records Time: 42:12 Victor Noriega: piano Willie Blair: Bass Eric Eagle: Drums Artists for decades have delved into their culture for in- spiration and personal expression. Victor Noriega a pianist of considerable talent, focuses on his Filipino heritage in Alay(dedication,offering)his second recording. Unless your familiar with Filipino music the composers will not be re- cognizable. But Noriega makes the music accessible and in- teresting--in fact its quite universal in character. An ex- ample is his own composition Kuya(older brother)once he moves beyond the lilting melody it displays a slow bluesy quality. Pandangguhan by Antonio Molina, writtten in 1925,originally for a string quartet,and one of 8 major works in chamber music form. Noriega's triotake you through multiple moods classical romantic, and there's some nice "straight ahead" blowing for a few bars,before repeating the melody.(note:pronunciation,trans- lations are on the CD notes.) Bayan Ko by Constancio De Guzman is the "deepest in feeling" on the CD the mood is dirge-like setting a somber atmosphere, reminding this writer of of Mal Waldron's "Quiet Temple". A lighter stately mood arrives late in the piece. Saan Ka Man Naroroon, by Restie Umali begins with bass and left hand piano figure that is reminiscent of things Ahmad Jamal has done,dums and tambourine create and sustain ch- aracter of the composition. Bahay Kubu is in the same vein the composer is not credited on the CD. Dahil Sa Inyo by Mike Velarde was an international hit decades ago,and the lyric have been tranlated to English,Spanish Japanese and Chinese. Though done here instrumentally in two versions "ulit"(again) is played with blinding speed Noriega has technique in abundance. Alay another original by Noriega there are four versions here. Maalaa Mo Kaya the second piece by Guzman has some excellent drumming by Eric Eagle and solid bass work by Willie Blair beautifully acoustic all the way! Thirteen is a good number(tracks) on this CD. Once Mike Velarde once said: My for- mula was first,be direct to the point;second inject the proper feeling. His motto: Think Filipino;write Filipino;and sound Filipino. Victor Noriega achieves the above and we all can enjoy his CD ALAY www.noriegamusic.com published 12.10.2010 © 2005 jazz news :: home page