BONG PEÑERA with PAT CASTILLO: Jobim Medley

Here it is finally: the clip featuring Bong with Pat Castillo, for whom he wrote the now revered "Love Notes." (This clip to come soon). But for this track Bong had arranged a medley of three songs by Brazilian Antonio Carlos Jobim and did so with a tinge of funk and samba. Pat's" Natalie Cole-like" vocal styling shines. But as you can hear in this track, Pat does have her own unique artistry and it blends well with Bong's trademark samba and beat. The songs featured are "Samba de Uma Nota So" or "One Note Samba", "The Waters of March" and "Girl From Ipanema." Bong sings the Brazilian Portuguese lyrics while Pat magically weaves in the English lyrics, with her masterful and jazzy filigrees surrounding Bong's straight-tone singing.

"When I composed my song 'Love Notes' I really envisioned Pat singing it and no one else. I wanted someone with a Billie Holiday mystique, something sweet and sassy simultaneously and Pat had all of these and more. She sings with a mysterious tease: there is all that aplomb, you don't detect the vulnerability hidden by the visuals, the smiles, and the eye contact nuances. Yet in that voice is the sensuality and innocent restraint." So says Bong describing the multi-talented Castillo.

"I really have been blessed working with the best and the brightest of them all" -- so says Bong mulling over this clip. And speaking of the best and the brightest of musical talents he had interacted with and made famous, check out the personnel of this track. Pat, of course, headlines the pack. But esteemed guitarist Edgar Avenir is here. So is percussion genius Uly Avante, who Bong always describes as "my ebullient" one. There is Sonny Nabong on bass who was Bong's bassist in his maiden album, A Samba Song. Finally there is Harry Tambuatco on drums. Both Uly and Harry were Mother Earth alumni. The collective result of all these talents combined is pure enchantment, as this track reveals.

The recording was made at Cinema Audio in 1979, during one of Bong's band's respite from the nightly stint at the Calesa Bar of the Hyatt Regency. It was magic and samba then, and it still is now.

SAMBA JAZZ HUNTER

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bong Peñera
• Jose Penera
• Pat Castillo
• Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Edgar Avenir
• Sonny Nabong
• Uly Avante
• Harry Tambuatco
• Samba de Uma Nota So
• One Note Samba
• Waters of March
• Girl From Ipanema
• Águas de Março