DAVAO CITY — The Samahan ng mga Musikero sa Davao (Samadhi), in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will honor the influence of the late Jose Alba Sr. in a musical concert at Taboan, Matina Town Square on Sunday, March 26.
The production, dubbed REKORIDA: The Musical Journey of the Neo-Ethno Artist, is a one-hour-and-a-half production that features songs and music during the pre-war, the Spanish-American-Japanese occupations and how their influences would eventually blend with indigenous implements, Samadhi representatives said in a statement.
“Tatay” Jose Alba has influenced generations of “combo” musicians with his advocacy of mentoring youth into a life of music. Alba has since pioneered marching bands in the city, a legacy that would eventually evolve into the combos of yore, and the bands of yesteryears. REKORIDA pieces together various influences and genres, across different eras, in a musical production, Samadhi said.
Musicians from Davao City consider Alba a great-great-great grandfather of music, and thus the production promises various genres of music, from the classical to the contemporary, to the more neo-ethno. The show features the following artists:
Popong Landero & Plo Band, F.R.I.E.N.D.S.: Fely Encinares, Jasmine Gilles, Rose Opaon, Ghaye Mantua, Judith Quitain, Doreta Yap, Adel Querol, Baby Mantua, Zaida Gill, Rebeka Cortes, Reigh Val Flores, and Evelio Perez.
The SAMADHI BIG BAND: Michael Ranes, – Guitars; Yen Alcantara, Bass; Rene Millevo, Drums; Elmer Alba, Keys & Musical Director, and Ferdinand Alcantara, Keys and Band Master.
Horns: Alvi Go, Alto Sax; Enzo Ogang, Alto Sax; Fred Cavan, Tenor Sax; Yul Capon, Tenor Sax; Boyet Concepcion, Trumpet; Jay R Alba, Trumpet; Fredmoore Limboy, Trombone; Lenny Catindig, Banduria; Gianne Ayco, Octavina; Teodolo Pogoy, Acoustic Guitar, and Leonardo Pogoy, Upright Bass.
Jose D. Alba Sr. retired in the 1990s after decades and decades of influence in Davao City’s music scene, and was honored with a concert tribute in 1999, through his family and friends. The concert saluted Alba’s career as a musical mentor. Sadly, he would pass away five months later. Alba’s influence resonated across various schools, as he was the music teacher and bandmaster to various schools in Davao City such as the Rizal Memorial Colleges, Thompson Christian School, Mindanao Aeronautical and Technical School, Agro-Industrial Foundation Colleges and Davao Central (Chinese) High School. He taught elementary and high school students how to play different musical instruments like brass, string, and drums. For more than three decades, he pioneered most of the marching bands that formed part of the festive atmosphere in the various local schools and the city, Samadhi said.
Through music, Alba raised a family of eleven children. All of his sons grew up to be talented musicians. They have become professional musicians and had pioneering performances abroad as Dabawenos. Some of his sons have chosen to become local school band masters to help hone the talent of future musicians. Two of his grandsons now in Manila have earned national fame for being composers and arrangers in movie and TV programs. One of them, Michael Alba, started to play drums at the age of 1 year 8 months, a Zildjian Ambassador and is now considered one of the country’s best Drummers.
