Pusaka means "legacy" or "inheritance"

This is my 201st post and I am honoured to dedicate it 

to the Solianos who made Pusaka happen.  Syabas!!!

If you are looking for something Malaysian with a touch of Jazz, this is it.

If you are looking for something Jazzy with a touch of Malaysia, this is it.

A week ago, on Tuesday, 29 March 2011, I went to witness the launch of the Soliano's Pusaka album at the Bentley Auditorium at Mutiara Damansara.

The debut album is the culmination of the Solianos working together with Mr Leslie Loh.  A labour of love, so to speak. All of them are Malaysians and, therein, lies the reason for my title. It is a legacy for the young upcoming musicians.  It is also a testimony that despite and in spite of the odds, something good can emerge from all that effort.

I am told that it has broken a few "First" records and here are the reasons why:-

• First Vocal Harmony group from a family who sings and plays the instruments

• First Malay Jazz Audiophile Album

• First Malay album that is mastered by the World’s Best Mastering Guru, Mr. Doug Sax

• First album that brings a music label to the brink of bankruptcy (***joke***) Yes, I have no more money left (Leslie's words)

While I also carry the same surname, I had not ventured down the same path as my talented relatives. We all grew up together and I would never have imagined that, when we were playing as children, these same family members would carve a niche for themselves in the music world.   It has turned out to be a delightful surprise.

In historical terms, a legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. In this case, Pusaka is appropriate in that the musicality of Alfonso, through his 6 children, one grandchild and one son-in-law has been immortalised in jazzed up versions of well-known malay songs. They have combined their talents and their musical inheritance and produced a "must have" album for jazz aficionados.

The Solianos who put their heart and soul into the album are  Valentino Soliano, Rizal Soliano, Tristano Soliano, Coni Soliano, Isabella Soliano, Irene Soliano, Tricia D'Cruz and Salvador Guerzo

Click on "play" below to have a listen.

I am so very proud to be a Soliano. I couldn't contribute to the album per se but this, I can do. I can promote it on my blog.   In the words of Michael Jackson, "This is it!".

Where to get it?

From today, 5 April 2011, you should be able to find the album at Victoria Music in Amcorp Mall and CDrama in Ikano or if you have Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/solianos?sk=wall.  Click like and follow for updates and/or make any queries there.

Alternatively, you can send me an email and I can help you out.

More from Leslie Loh, also  HiFi Unlimited and from Salvatore 

(Collage made up of pics taken from Christopher Gayondato, Leslie Loh, Rindra Soliano and Jared Cheow).

Of music and magic

My growing years were filled with music.  It was something that I took for granted.  There were always musicians around, talk about music, songs, riffs, bars, keys and what not.  It was a part and parcel of my youth.  However, this love connection did not translate into me becoming a musician. 

I've always known my dad to be an awesome pianist. Yet, it's great to see that Joe Chelliah, a respected spokesperson for the music industry, remembers him and has put up two youtube videos of Tony Soliano.

Joe's effort is such a kind and generous gift to all of us who miss the music and the magic of Tony Soliano.

This is what Joe says,
"ESSENTIALLY FOR TRUE MUSICIANS ONLY: After yestrday n this morning's hard work with my limited multi-media skills I have completed this project. Sorry for x clear visuals. Go ahead and enjoy this 2nd posting of the brilliance of Tony Soliano, a truly great unappreciated Malaysian musician. Few who knew him are still alive. This is a classic. He fully exploits music's form, jazz, harmony, scales, melody n musical styles (Latin Bossa n Kerncong idioms) to the full.....melody on left hand and frills on the right hand too. Many know the pentatonic scale but few know how to "belasah" this eastern scale so well. ENJOY aje lah."

 

AND
Another rare recording of the late Tony Soliano's brilliance at the piano around 1988. Here he performs the ever popular RINDU with Azizah Basri on Vocals and brilliantly exploits the Javanese pentatonic scale into his music.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, JOE!