Kiss the Bride goes beyond ‘smooth jazz’
Amidst the clink and clatter of wine glasses and beer bottles and the chatter of customers winding down after work, there is genuine joy on the second floor of Strumm's.
An ever-smiling and congenial mountain of a man is visibly proud as his band Kiss The Bride's second album "Subway" plays in the club's PA system.
His name is Tony Razon and he looks more like a jolly gentleman bank manager than a David Benoit-influenced keyboardist and prolific composer. He is, in fact, a purser for the country's flagship airline for decades.
File this next to Dave Grusin, not Kenny G
Tony's calm banter bears out his experience and his tuneful compositions will not sound out-of-place on a good long flight.
"Subway" is a fine collection of “contemporary instrumental jazz.”
Okay, maybe that's a less pejorative rewording of “smooth jazz” but, fortunately, Razon's compositions do show imagination and tunefulness in equal measure. The album will not be out-of-place in the GRP record label in its prime: file this next to Dave Grusin not Kenny G.
‘Singable’ themes
Razon is a firm believer in melodies and song structure: "Una Sonrisa Suave" and the playful "Devil Darlings" feature singable themes for example.
On nearly every track, fusion guitar virtuoso Joey Puyat launches into singing liquid solos that showcase his refined technique in the service of tasteful lines.
Saxophonists Andrew Dixon and Michael Guevarra alternate on tracks, either doubling melodies or executing rippling solos. All soloists manage to avoid sounding self-indulgent.
"You have to be concise… it goes beyond chops because your cooking time is set," Puyat explains.
And a guy named Martin Nievera
This is a band of virtuosos who refuse to let it bleat.
Second keyboardist/band manager Cecile Rodgers provides textural support and the rhythm section features percussion vet Uly Avante, bassist Kingsley De Los Santos and young session giant Otep Concepcion on drums.
And oh, and a guy named Martin Nievera is guest vocalist on "The Christmas Secret."
"It's very important to have people support and believe in you," says Razon and points to Puyat, "especially people like him."
‘You may now…’
Inspired and encouraged, he already has enough material for the next album.
Disparate as his career and his passion may seem, you could say he moves in the air… and moves it as well.
Finally pursuing music explains the band's name: "You may now…"
The band plays every fortnight at Strumm’s, playing all originals. You can check out their honeymoon for "Subway" in Strumm's Makati (Sept 17), Raffles
Hotel's The Long Bar (Sept 21), and Balete at Kamias (Sept 25).
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