Partners in song
Symphonic Swing muscles up pop classics with an orchestra.
WHEN singer Junji Delfino was a young girl, her father Bert Delfino, a Filipino jazz musician and composer, used to sneak her into jazz clubs.
“I was probably like, seven eight years old at the time. The waiters used to feed me with peanuts, and little cherries, and cola,” recalls Junji with a laugh during a recent interview at KLPac.
“I was weaned on that kind of music. Jazz, swing, it was always playing at home. We had all sorts of records – big bands, Benny Goodman, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland. I dare say that my sound now is an amalgamation of all those sounds I heard when I was young!” she adds.
From sneaking into jazz shows, Delfino has since moved on to performing in them. Starting on Aug 6, the accomplished Filipino singer joins forces with homegrown singers Peter Ong and Ida Mariana for Symphonic Swing, a lively show series at KLPac.
Symphonic Swing will see the talented trio performing classic songs like Love For Sale, Sunny and The Very Thought Of You, while backed up by the 40- piece KLPac orchestra, conducted by Lee Kok Leong. The show is presented by Japan Tobacco International, KLPac, and the Actor’s Studio.
“It’s exciting but scary! I’ve never done anything like this,” says Ida when asked about performing with a big band.
“We’re going to need to really be in sync with the conductor!” she adds.
“You’re making music with 40 other people. Nothing beats that!” says Ong with a smile. “I love listening to orchestras and big bands. When they go at it, they really go at it! It’s really a different kind of kick when you have a lot of instruments behind you. You’re literally riding on a wave of sound!”
Each performer will be singing
two solos in Symphonic Swing. Ong will also be performing duets with both Delfino and Ida, before the show culminates in a grand finale of songs in different languages such as French, Mandarin, German, Malay and Portuguese. The production will not only feature swing music, but also other songs performed in a “swing” style.
“There’s a class, and a sophistication to it,” says Delfino, referring to swing music.
“A robust, solid, in your face sound, that gets inside you.”
Delfino prefers the classic sound of the past because it “marries the melody to the lyrics to create a wonderful picture.”
The feisty singer said she would
channeling some Dusty Springfield, as well as a swing version of Getting To Know You from the hit musical The King and I.
Ong, on the other hand, will be performing I Wanna Be Like You from Disney’s The Jungle Book, as well as the Latin- infused Beautiful Maria Of My Soul ( from the film The Mambo Kings).
The tall shaven- headed singer said he too had been a life- long swing fan, having been introduced to big band music while still in primary school.
“It was all brass, all rhythm, all upbeat! I remember watching the jive scene from Sing Sing Sing ( The Benny Goodman Story),” says Ong, pointing to a song popularly performed by Benny Goodman. “And I went, I want to dance like that! And that started my interest in the genre.”
“And some of the songs, they have some of the best lyrics, never again to be repeated. I mean, just look at ( Ray Noble’s) The Very Thought Of You. The words are beautiful!”
Ida also hopes the masses would have a good time, and develop an appreciation for swing music, if they hadn’t already had.
“I’d say to simply come and enjoy! Take home an era which we hardly hear being played live here in KL. If it’s good music, you’ll definitely enjoy it,” says Ida, who will be performing two jazz standards during the show.
The big- voiced singer picked up a love for swing from her father, who used to bring home all kinds of CDs, including one called Swing Swing Swing. According to her, there was a magic to jazz and swing, which was hard to replicate anywhere else.
“It’s the energy of a big band that moves you. It excites you! I think it’s in the beats. It gets into your body. Whenever I hear swing music, I want to move. You can’t not move! If you don’t then you’re not human.” concludes Ida.
Symphonic Swing is on at Pentas 1, KLPAC, Jalan Strachan ( off Jalan Ipoh), Kuala Lumpur on aug 6, aug 8- 9. Showtimes are 8.30pm ( for aug 6 and aug 8) and 3pm ( aug 9). tickets are rM80, rM60 and rM40 ( for students, the actors Studio card members, senior citizens and the disabled). For more info, visit klpac. org or call 03- 4047 9000.