Jazz transforms the Metro Manila skyline
For everything that can be said about the city, there’s something quite beautiful about the spaces we get to keep to ourselves—spaces that seem mundane or uninteresting to your typical passersby, but in reality, are places where memories and connections are made.
Along EDSA, VV Soliven is a building I frequently pass by, whether by car or by train. It’s a brutalist-style building that’s seen better days, with signs of ongoing renovation efforts, and minimal foot traffic. It’s a sight that’s seemingly become a natural part of the Metro Manila landscape, but surely for many of us, a space we rarely consider as more than just.
Yet for Jazz Day Fest MNL, which was hosted by emergent art space Rift and Merienda Jazz Collective in celebration of the 15th International Jazz Day, music turned this unassuming building into a shared space for all jazz lovers.
Jazz in its different forms
Set between two distinct stages, the musical celebration featured the different ways the art form can be enjoyed.
At VV Soliven’s second floor, the Rift gallery became an intimate stage where jazz was quietly observed and contemplated. With limited seating in a compact space, music was enjoyed in silence as musicians freely played, improvised, and conversed with those in attendance.
Meanwhile, at the Soliven Skyline, a sight more akin to a music festival was in full display. While the night started out slowly with participants listening quietly in their seats, as the night progressed, the music intensified, bringing them to the floor as they danced under the Metro Manila skyline.
The difference in energy was as clear as day: Jazz on the rooftop wasn’t simply a listening experience, but a shared space where jazz was enjoyed in community. Meanwhile, outside, cars and trains proceeded as scheduled along EDSA, unaware of the magic taking place.
Food and drink vendors also outlined the rooftop venue—among them, notably, was an elderly pair selling traditional instruments. New and pre-loved records were also on display, allowing enthusiasts to add to their current collections.
Bringing together artists, enthusiasts, and explorers
Jazz Day Fest MNL is a free jazz festival that brings together Manila’s new generation of jazz artists to celebrate International Jazz Day with jazz enthusiasts and explorers alike. Among those present were Intensions, RuiijiKun, Playtest, Gibson Diwa, Karlo Soriano, Giro Alva, Countryman Rick, Levi Masuli, Hermano Jazz, Project Yazz, Ezzrei, and sitar master Rudra’s Sage.
April 30 was designated as International Jazz Day by the United Nations and UNESCO in 2011 to highlight jazz’s power to transcend borders and its role in fostering peace and intercultural understanding.
