About Us and the History of Pinoy Jazz
Come for the Pistahan - Stay for the Jazz Festival. Become part of this historic event as we showcase and celebrate our Filipino American jazz artists - their unique sound - their contributions, history and legacy.
Jazz was first brought to the Philippines at the turn of the 20th Century during the Spanish-American and Philippine American Wars by the African American "Buffalo Soldiers" sent there to fight.
Filipinos were also in New Orleans during the birth of jazz because of the settlement of "Manilamen" that had been in Lousianna since the 1700's
In the Philippines, as well as in the United States, Pinoy Jazz has been described as a"process of self-discovery" of the various influences that Pinoy musicians are subjected to - not only from outside but also from inside their own country and culture.
Jazz is often defined as music that features spontaneous and collective improvisation, and syncopated poly-rhythms as well as distinctive African characteristics such as "call and response" and the use of the pentatonic scale. The musical and personal freedom found in jazz is at the core of what inspires Pinoy Jazz.
The SF Filipino American Jazz Festival is a collaboration among the Filipino American National Historical Society, the 16th Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival, the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center, and Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc. It is proud to present the 2nd Annual San Francisco Filipino-American Jazz Festival. The event will feature and honor the contributions of Filipino-American jazz artists past and present to the ongoing legacy of this wonderful art form.
Mission Statement
To promote, preserve, and celebrate Filipino-American history and culture; to acknowledge contributions past and present by Filipino jazz artists; to educate, provoke throught, engage in dialogue; and finally, to entertain the public with performances by Filipino-American artists.
To work with existing Filipino-American community organizations and businesses to promote, organize, and present various events including an annual San Francisco Filipino-American Jazz Festival.
The Filipino-American National Historical Society (FANHS) is the fiscal agent of the San Francisco Filipino-American Jazz Festival. All donations and proceeds will go to FANHS, which is a non-profit organization.
To include an educational component in this collective that will create art, literature, film and music programs, ongoing seminars and round table discussions, writing workshops, artists in residence programs as part of an ongoing effort to provide resources for the community at large and specifically to our youth.
Producer / Executive Director
- Carlos Zialcita
Producer/Assistant Director
- Myrna Zialcita
Assistant Directors
- Oscar Peñaranda
Board of Directors
- Evangeline Buell
- Ben Luis
- Eleanor Hipol Luis
- Eduardo Datangel
- Edwin Lozada
Advisory Board
- Ron Muriera
- Jon Palacio
- Mel Orpilla
- Belle Orpilla
- Baylan Megino
- Frances Rivero
- Alleluia Panis
- Dawn Mabalon
- Charmaine Clamor
- Maria Luisa Peñaranda
Graphics
- Omar Paz
- Mel Orpilla (front page photo)
Web Design/Layout
- Jan-Michael Ocampo