Musical supergroups usually turn out to be less than the sum of the parts that make up the ensemble, but when a group is composed of artists from prominent acts such as Radioactive Sago Project, Sinosikat?, Pupil, Bamboo (Manalac), and Freestyle among others, the results are bound to be both refreshing and groundbreaking.
For proof, look no further than Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas, the supergroup does not only bring together renowned musicians but a diverse mix of genres ranging from jazz, funk, and soul to swing, disco, and contemporary groove music. “From the word ‘brass,’ Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas exemplifies the band’s core. So the name “Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas” is just our way of showing how fun and witty our personal selves are.” says bassist and musical director Francis De Veyra, who is also of Radioactive Sago Project fame.
Band founder, vocalist, and drummer, Wendell Garcia of Barbie’s Cradle and Pupil fame echoes De Veyra’s statement recalling the band’s spontaneous formation in Malasimbo back in 2012. “We were already friends back then and each of us were playing in our respective bands. We were hanging out backstage then we heard Junior Kilat play a reggae song with a dub. The drums’ with the dub delay effect sounded like ‘braspaspaspaspas’ and it felt like the sound had a certain ring to it. So when we formed a big band, we came up with Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas, which also coincided with our brass orientation.”
Regarding the formation of Brass Pas Pas Pas, Garcia, adds that “I’m just trying out a different genre. From Barbie to Pupil, from 3-piece to 4-piece, now to 11-piece. I just want to try something new, and something I also enjoy.” While “playing the drums and sometimes singing (at the same time) for Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas” is a welcome change for the man behind the kit, Garcia remains passionate in “playing drums because that’s what he does best.”
Musical Diversity
Complementing De Veyra and Garcia is the band’s horn section comprised of Roxy Modesto of Radioactive Sago Project, Corporate Lo-Fi and the UP Jazz Ensemble, AMP Bigband on Baritone Saxophone; Wowie Ansano of Radioactive Sago Project, and Jeric Sta. Ana on Trumpets 1 & 2 respectively; Pards Tupas, also of Radioactive Sago Project, on Trombone, Joseph Cabanero on Tenor Saxophone, Rico Sobrevinas on Alto Saxophone, and JJ Pimpinio on Vocals. Rounding up Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas’ rhythm section are Kakoy Legazpi of Bamboo and Dong Abay on Guitars, Nikki Cabardo of Freestyle and Sinosikat? on keyboards.
Music artists such as “Ryan Cayabyab, VST & Company, the whole Manila Sound era, Michael Jackson, James Brown, and Tower of Power,” inspire and influence De Veyra, Garcia, and the rest of Brass Pas Pas Pas in writing their own material. De Veyra furthers that “each member has different and unique characteristics and stories, which, we use in songwriting. For instance, ‘Chili Garlic Buttered Shrimp’ was inspired by Wendel’s (Garcia) delicious dish, we really liked it so much that we made a song about it.” Continuing with the band’s spontaneous and diverse approach to songwriting, De Veyra likewise hinted about their upcoming song titled, “Hot Jazz,” a song about guitarist Kakoy Legaspi and his special chili sauce, which, is currently on the works.
De Veyra further details that “You’ll never feel the band play mechanically. You will have the certain feel that it’s possible for a song to be written and arranged through a soulful jam; without plans and without even cueing the others for timing.”
Diversity, however, is not limited to the members or the musical style of Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas. Notable artists namely Freestyle Singer Songwriter, Mike Luis; Flippin’ Soul Stompers frontman, Bing Austria; Hijo Guitarist, Junji Lerma; Baihana’s Melinda Torre; commercial model and actress, Carla Humphries; as well as the one and only Marcus Adoro of the 90s Pinoy rock legends, Eraserheads; have, at one point or another, jammed or sessioned with the band.
New Flavors to Familiar Music
Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas’ first introduced music enthusiasts and audiences to its own fusion of brass funk jazz music at the B-Side, a bar in The Collective, Makati, in an event aptly called ‘Horny Night.’ A full evening of bands with horn sections gather to play.” De Veyra furthers that was memorable because “we jammed all night long until, like, 4 a.m. The brass musicians from the other bands played with us on the last song; so imagine 15 to 20 musicians grooving a venue mostly dominated by rock and reggae music. ”
So far, Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas has only released a single titled, “Chili Garlic Buttered Shrimp,” with another song and a full-length studio album to follow sometime within the year or in early 2016. While a new song and album are under way, De Veyra, Garcia, and the band’s free-spirited music extends further to let listeners enjoy their soulful covers of classics. “Most of the songs we cover in live gigs are personal favorites of all or each of the band members. But most prominently it’s highly impossible or unlikely for us to play without The Boyfriends’ ‘Oras Oras’ and Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ on our set list.”
Apart from their studio efforts, the band has also been active in the live music scene, mostly in festivals such as The Philippine International Jazz Festival in March 2014, the Soundbites Food & Music Festival in Robinson’s Place, Manila in May 2014, and Fete de la Musique every year since 2013 among others to re-introduce Filipinos to a different sound. They worked with Marcus Adoro for the tracks “Drive Thru” and “Dubi,” an original song by Marcus Adoro, arranged for Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas by Francis De Veyra as part of the soundtrack to the indie film, Flotsam, a Love Actually-style romantic comedy with Begin Again musicality in a surf lifestyle setting shot in Adoro’s Flotsam and Jetsam Artists Hostel in La Union.
The continuing dominance of catchy hooks, typical lyrics, and uninspired covers in the recording industry and the music scene has definitely left listeners deeming OPM to be either dead or in an indefinite state of suspended animation. But Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas’ refreshing take on eclectic, familiar genres will give the band’s fans, friends, music enthusiasts, and even disdainful skeptics an exciting and groove-filled fusion of brass funk jazz with defining hints of the iconic OPM Manila Sound and modern jazz groove elements. The band, howevers, expresses a more inviting approach to the term “refreshing” saying that “people have to actually see and hear us live to experience the soulful bliss that is Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas’ Music.”
For more info, gig schedules and updates, visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BrassPasPasPasPas, Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/BrassPasPasMusic and Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/brasspaspasmusic.
For bookings and other inquiries, you may e-mail brasspaspaspaspas@gmail.com.