author: Paska
Este cd,es maravilloso,me encanta,mejor dicho me fascina.Esta musica que tiene tanta passion es musica por alma,que toca el corazon de personas.Gracias de esta alegria que ne has icho con este cd,gracias para que nosotros podemos a escuchar esta linda musica
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Pretty good, but...
author: Jharvis
what killed the musical experience for me were Noriega's renditions of Dahil Sa Iyo (both takes). The track sounded like a scale exercise with only sparse hints of the melody. I was not moved, and I found myself sorely missing Bobby Enriquez' version which I lost. If not for this sour taste, I would have given four or five stars. Technical prowess and passion are delicate ingredients in making good art. I experienced less of the latter.
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coming of age for Filipino Jazz Musician
author: Chinggoy Castro
As a Seattle based Filipino, hearing a folklore from back home in our local airwaves is unheard of. Hearing it done on a jazz format and getting played on air is unthinkable. After listening it the first time on one of the FM Seattle stations, Alay, as the CD is called, has transformed in a sense of a real offering, as it is loosely translated in English of the title, and as a gift both to Filipinos and jazz afficionados. It is the best of both worlds.
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Tastes of the Traditional and the New
author: Paul de Barros - Seattle Times
Imaginative ideas flow like water from University of Washington graduate and former Marc Seales student Noriega, who won Earshot's 2005 Emerging Artist of the Year award.
On his second album, "Alay," Noriega trains his imagination on his Filipino heritage, applying a smart variety of strategies to traditional songs.
"Pandangguhan," "Bayan Ko" and "Kuya" suggest classical influences, including the whimsical question marks of Erik Satie. "Saan Ka Man Naroroon" and "Maalaala Mo Kaya" combine skipping traditional rhythms with flat-out swing. "Harana" sounds like a slow-motion Cuban air and "Bahay Kubo" explores the dissonant, haunting arena of layered electronics with a fixed backbeat.
Noriega is a bit like a young Dave Brubeck. His music has a friendly, good-natured feel, no matter where he takes it, and his approach to crossing cultural boundaries is fresh.
Paul de Barros: 206-464-3247 or pdebarros@seattletimes.com
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