Cover Charito Vergara leads the band in a lively showcase at the Tokyo Manila Jazz and Arts Festival
Charito Vergara leads the band in a lively showcase at the Tokyo Manila Jazz and Arts Festival
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Take a look at a swinging evening of music and good company at the Tokyo Manila Jazz and Arts Festival
An evening at Manila House’s newly renovated Avenue Bar went into full swing as the Tokyo Manila Jazz and Arts Festival unfolded. This annual festival, known for its mission to innovate, brought jazz lovers together for a harmonious purpose just in time to kick off the holiday season. It showcased a synergy of music and culture between Japan and the Philippines.
More than a music festival, the event serves as a platform for cultural exchange and an avenue to foster a deeper connection between Filipino and Japanese arts. “The collaboration aims to inspire and trigger innovation from both sides on multiple levels,” comments Maja Olivares-Co, the festival’s executive producer, creative director and co-founder in Manila.
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Maja Olivares-Co, Jaime Augusto Zóbel de Ayala, Lizzie Zóbel de Ayala and Rene Almendras
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Olivares-Co is a self- described ‘jazz aficionado’. She drew inspiration from her experiences in New York in curating the evening’s atmosphere in Manila House’s Avenue Bar. The space came to life with the help of dim lights and simulated tight spaces to convey the feeling of an intimate lounge club in the Big Apple. “Apart from the music, it felt like a room full of jazz friends just having a blast. And it was a blast!” she exclaimed.
Camaraderie on stage extended to the audience, creating an electric energy. A menu was carefully selected to complement the music, featuring an array of Japanese-inspired dishes paired with a fine selection of wines.
The festival spotlighted a lineup of performers of both Japanese and Filipino origin. Founder Rosario Suyama, more known by her professional moniker “Charito”, demonstrated her unique musical versatility, produced by the cross-cultural influences that shaped her technique. Though born in the Philippines, Charito has resided in Tokyo for the past two decades and is recognised today as one of Japan’s top jazz singers.
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Pianist Yuki Arimasa plays a lively tune
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She comments, “The dream goes on for all of us at the Tokyo Manila Jazz and Arts Festival as we bring two countries together through a bridge called jazz. We hope that more people, especially young ones—musicians and audience—will experience a great sense of artistic value and continue to be part of our global music network.” Other participating jazz performers include pianist Yuki Arimasa, bassist Riku Takahashi, drummer Hiroki Kitazawa and Filipino saxophone player Michael Mark Guevarra.
Olivares-Co believes that this year’s festival’s success lies in its ability to blend artistry and culture. While previous editions featured larger-scale events, this year’s focus on intimacy and connection made it incredibly unique. As the festival grows, its organisers hope to expand its programming to New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz.
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Credits
Photography: Medal Elepano
About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
