As promised here is another clip from the live TV telecast of the program "Two for the Road" hosted by Nestor Torre and Elvira Manahan. It was 1984. Fresh from his 3-year stint from Hong Kong's Royal Garden Hotel, Bong was treated to this unexpected musical reunion on TV, live. The telecast will never reveal the pathos Bong felt. On camera, there he is, poker-faced composed, soft-spoken and unassuming. But inward and after the show, he was in tears. As he is still, viewing this video I had made.
Watching Jacqui sing this fast paced version, Bong's arrangement of Jobim's 'One Note Samba', Bong asks, "Can there be any doubt? Sure, I have heard of many other singers after Jacqui claim they're 'it'. To them I say, 'Hold your horses'. Watch and listen to this clip. Besides, look at how Jacqui is so natural at being a comedian and a singer. 'Forget it about it' still keeps me in stiches!"
I believe it's fair to say, to declare, that the years of 1975-80 in Philippine Music, or the time when Bong and his network of friends and musicians ruled, defined it all and sealed it in history. Consider the following: (1) after Bong Peñera, who? (2) After Jacqui Magno, who? (3) After Norma "Ram" Ramirez, who? (3) After Pat Castillo, who? (4) After Vernie Varga, who? And the list goes on and on, even the sidemen who Bong considers his friends, after them, who? (You have to read his autobiography.)
The point? The irreplaceable and incomparable originals are here; they have endured and are here to stay! More importantly they are alive and well and kicking and can put to shame any wannabees in the field! There is no next Jacqui Magno, no next Norma Ramirez, no next Vernie Varga, or Pat or Maritoni, or Gina, or Sandra (though she came in 1984-85) and no next Bong Peñera, and so on.
And this track, this clip, tells it all. With no practice or 'run through' as you can see, Bong, as usual, arranges on the spot and the entire ensemble so attuned to Bong and with each other, follows and creates the collective magic! Notice Jacqui's scatting -- so akin to the mighty Ella Fitzgerald's; and Bong's scatting with his piano, reminiscent of how Benson does it with his guitar. And oh, my God, those fine supporting and yet pronounced floating musical lines by bassist Paul Candelaria (particularly the ending), Edgar Avenir's guitar solos and Al Iglesias' 'just having fun' demeanor -- everything is pure delight!
Samba de Uma Nota So. Jacqui sings the English, and Bong, the Brazilian Portuguese. It means "One Note Samba" as introduced by host Nestor Torre. But boy! Does this clip or track go through the ALL the notes in the register?
Again, pardon the video flaws: this was a painstaking restoration from a copy of a copy of a copy of a Betamax tape that's no longer in circulation. But thankfully, God rules it all. At His pace, and His timing, we are all afforded this glimmer from the past. Some things do never change. What gave us joy then, gives us joy now, and will do so in the future! We are so accustomed to saying phrases like "One God," "One World, one life, one bread, one body, etc." And here we have, One Note Samba!
SambaJazzHunter
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Circus Band - Dance To the Music, Once You Get Startedby eacatek10,766 views
this was the time when music still had CLASS...
ikom35 1 month ago
thank you for uploading this "SambaJzzHunter". It is wonderful that this was preserved for posterity especially for fans of Ms. Jacqui Magno, Bong Penera and jazz music.
ThePie1588 6 months ago