David Benoit’s Manila Comeback is Sheer Jazz Bliss

David Benoit’s Manila Comeback is Sheer Jazz Bliss

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David Benoit returned to Manila for an evening of tasteful melodies, well-received collaborations, and sheer jazz bliss. Taking place over a decade after his last concert in the country, the show was held at The Theatre at Solaire on Saturday, July 20, 2024.

The award-winning American jazz pianist and composer had The Company as his special guest. The premier vocal group opened the night with a string of hits, such as “Baka Ikaw,” “Muntik Na Kitang Minahal,” and “Pakisabi Na Lang.”

After The Company mesmerized the crowd with “Now That I Have You,” Benoit — turning 71 in August but still evidently passionate about performing — finally graced the stage.

Nostalgic show

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Proving to be a nostalgic show for his fans, Benoit dished out some of his best-known offerings, including “Kei’s Song,” a song dedicated to his wife, and “Freedom at Midnight,” which featured Dix Lucero on sax during last Saturday’s event.

He also gave exquisite performances of crowd favorites, “If I Could Reach Rainbows,” “Every Step of the Way,” and “Stages.”

Benoit further delighted the audience with pieces from his newest album, “Timeless.” The ten-track record, released earlier in May, captures the musician’s affinity for orchestral sounds, injected with a jazz flair.

From this opus, he performed “Café Rio,” “Fuzzy Logic,” and “Drive Time” (featuring Archie Lacorte on sax). “Drive Time” is an old track Benoit reorchestrated for the album.

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Superb collaborations

Returning to the Solaire stage, members of The Company lent their timeless vocal prowess to interpret some of Benoit’s tunes. Annie Quintos performed “Land of the Loving” while Sweet Plantado brought “Promise Me a Carousel” to life.

OJ Mariano did a “fantastic” rendition of “You Never Loved Me the Same Way Twice” and “Take a Look Inside My Heart.”

The event also featured an all-Filipino brass section, which according to The Company’s Moy Ortiz, “[brought] the music to a different level.”

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Ahead of the show, Benoit stated in a press conference that the country occupies a special place in his heart.

“Probably, the best highlight was the first time I came to Manila, in 1981. Nobody knew me in the US, so I came here… We were at the PICC with a full orchestra, singers, everything… it’s an experience I’ll never forget. I’ve never had anything like that, like you’re an instant star, and people here just love you. I just had no idea,” he recounted.

“An Evening with David Benoit” is presented by DMC Entertainment and Jesse Cambosa.

Photos courtesy of DMC Entertainment/Jude Ng

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