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Concert review: Jose Mari Chan's music shines like gold in tribute

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Vladimir Bunoan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/tvpatrol/12/16/jmc1.jpg"/><figcaption>Jose Mari Chan takes a bow while Markki Stroem, Juris, Jona, Bituin Escalante and Migz Haleco look on at the matinee performance of &#x27;The Music of Jose Mari Chan&#x27; at Solaire on Saturday. Vladimir Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — There is more to the music of Jose Mari Chan than Christmas carols. In fact, when Chan released his phenomenal album “Christmas in Our Hearts” in 1990, he was already a veteran composer, having released his debut single, “Afterglow,” 23 years earlier in 1967. But with “Christmas in Our Hearts” hitting double diamond status, Chan has indeed become synonymous with the holidays, as suggested by the memes that have flooded social media since September, the unofficial start of the Yuletide season in the Philippines.In “The Music of Jose Mari Chan,” the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s grand tribute to celebrate 50 years of the OPM legend, audiences are reminded of the range of Chan’s discography, which includes not just songs he recorded but also hits he composed for other artists and even his memorable advertising jingles.Thus it seemed apt that after performing his 1973 hit “Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile” early on in the two-hour-plus concert, Chan took his seat with the audience as guest artists and the orchestra, this time conducted by another OPM treasure — and Chan’s godson — Louie Ocampo, gave their own spin to his timeless classics.The tribute proper began with Chan’s sons Franco and Joe telling their father’s story via his early songs “Mr. Songwriter,” “Deep in My Heart,” and “Afterglow.”New Star Music artist Migz Haleco gave an acoustic treatment to “Can’t We Start Over Again” and “I Remember the Girl” (which was later turned to “I Remember the Boy,” when it was recorded by Joey Albert).Markki Stroem captured the effortless sincerity of “Beautiful Girl” and “My Girl, My Woman, My Friend,” the latter a duet with Juris, who also gave a light jazz touch to her solo number “A Love to Last a Lifetime.”Chan’s jazz album “The Manhattan Connection” was also represented in the show, with the terrific Bituin Escalante grooving and scatting on “Thank You Love.”Chan explained that the reason why his songs are in English is because, having been raised in Iloilo, he isn’t proficient in Tagalog. That’s why he collaborates with other artists for his Tagalog songs, like “Hahanapin Ko,” a hit for Anthony Castelo with lyrics by Jimmy Santiago and sung in the concert with aching yearning by Escalante, who was given a mid-show standing ovation by Chan himself during the Saturday matinee show.But arguably the most moving part of the show was an acapella rendition of “Minsan Pa” by Acapellago with lead vocals by Jona. Chan later confessed that he was in tears while watching the performance. And who wouldn&#x27;t? Jona’s pristine vocal quality and Acapellago’s dynamics highlighted Chan’s caressing melody and Rolando Tinio’s romantic lyrics. While Chan’s pop hymns are often overlooked for their earnest simplicity, he definitely has a gift of crafting catchy melodies and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra showed just how beautiful they are. Even advertising work like “Big Beautiful Country,” the station theme of the Martial Law-era Channel 2, and “Love at 30,000 Feet” written for Philippine Airlines, can stand proudly next to his personal songs. Another centerpiece of the Saturday’s show was an orchestral suite of “Please Be Careful With My Heart” arranged by Gerard Salonga that was a fantastic showcase for the gorgeous swells and various emotional shadings of Chan’s melody.This was also the cue for Chan to return to the stage for the pop version of the song, which he performed with Jona. Despite the wonderful guest performances, the audience at The Theater at Solaire obviously came to hear him sing and Chan reserved for himself the very personal “Refrain,” written for his then girlfriend who eventually became his wife; “Tell Me Your Name”; and “Constant Change,” the title track of his other double diamond album, where he was once again joined by his special guests.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/tvpatrol/12/16/jmc2.jpg"/><figcaption>Jose Mari Chan and his children Liza, Joe and Franco sing &#x27;Christmas in Our Hearts.&#x27; Vladimir Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>Chan’s Christmas carols were saved for the encore and as if to remind the audience what the season is really all about, he was joined by his children, Joe, Franco and Liza, his original duet partner on “Christmas in Our Hearts.” Towards the end of the concert, Chan shared that what composers like him really want is for their music to outlive them, citing the likes of Irving Berlin, who composed the immortal “White Christmas.”Chan has nothing to worry about since his place in OPM history has long been cemented. “Christmas in Our Hearts” is really just that bright star to top his musical tree that’s already filled with many sparkling gems.

“The Music of Jose Mari Chan” is the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s grand tribute to celebrate 50 years of the OPM legend.

“The Music of Jose Mari Chan” is the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s grand tribute to celebrate 50 years of the OPM legend.

Concert review: Jose Mari Chan's music shines like gold in tribute

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Concert review: Jose Mari Chan's music shines like gold in tribute

Vladimir Bunoan,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 17, 2017 04:56 PM PHT

Read More:

concert

Jose Mari Chan

Solaire

ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra

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