Tots Tolentino (born on July 2, 1959) is a

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

musician from the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

Biography

Tots Tolentino's interest in jazz began at age 16 upon hearing recordings by

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

. In 1977, he enrolled at the

University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 200 ...

Conservatory of Music where he studied

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

under Prof. Eric Barcelo and played with the U.P. Jazz Ensemble, switching to saxophone. He afterwards enrolled at the

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

in Boston, Massachusetts, under the tutelage of Joseph "Joe" Viola where he graduated

magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some So ...

in 1982. His professional career as a first-call

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

in the Philippine recording industry culminated in his own first album in 1990.

Albums

Tots Tolentino has five solo albums to date, namely the self-titled ''Tots Tolentino'' (1990) and ''Inah'' (1991), both under Blackgold Records; and ''Color Real'' (1993) with Dypro Records. In 2012 he released a

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...

album entitled ''Tots Tolentino Plays

Vehnee Saturno Venancio Saturno (born April 1, 1954), better known as Vehnee Saturno, is a Filipino composer, songwriter and record producer. He found success in 1982 by winning at the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival first place for the song "Isang Dakot". ...

Christmas Songs''. In 2015, he released another Christmas album under the

Jesuit Communications Foundation Jesuit Communications Foundation (JesCom) is the media arm of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. JesCom was founded in 1995 by the late Rev. Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. It is based in the Jesuit Ateneo de Manila University in Quezo ...

, called ''God Rest Ye! (Christmas Jazz with Tots Tolentino).''

Bands

In the early 90s, Tots Tolentino fronted the group Buhay, a band composed of Pinoy jazz musicians Wowee Posadas (keyboards), Mar Dizon (drums), Meong Pacana (bass), and Tots Tolentino. In the mid-1990s, he was in invited by the famed trumpeter

Terumasa Hino is a Japanese jazz trumpeter. He is considered one of Japan's finest jazz musicians. His instruments include the trumpet, cornet, and flügelhorn. Early life He was born in Tokyo, Japan, and his father was a trumpeter and tap dancer. Hino start ...

to join the Asian Jazz All-Stars Power Quartet, a jazz group featuring four of Asia's prominent jazz musicians, namely pianist/organist

Jeremy Monteiro Jeremy Ian Monteiro (born 20 June 1960, Singapore) is a Singaporean jazz pianist, singer, composer, and music educator. In Singapore he was mentioned by the local press as Singapore's "King of Swing". Monteiro was awarded the Cultural Medallion ...

from Singapore, guitarist

Eugene Pao Eugene Pao is a jazz guitarist. He has played with Jeremy Monteiro's group ''Asiana''. References External links Official website Living people Hong Kong jazz guitarists Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (livin ...

from Hong Kong, drummer Hong Chanutr Techatana-nan from Thailand, and saxophonist Tots Tolentino from the Philippines. Tots joined Johnny Alegre AFFINITY in 2002, a

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

-based jazz group with frontman Johnny Alegre (guitar), Colby de la Calzada (contrabass), Elhmir Saison (piano), and Koko Bermejo (drums). Johnny Alegre AFFINITY released several albums and had been nominated for awards. He was one of the founders and principal soloists of a large

ensemble Ensemble may refer to: Art * Architectural ensemble * ''Ensemble'' (album), Kendji Girac 2015 album * Ensemble (band), a project of Olivier Alary * Ensemble cast (drama, comedy) * Ensemble (musical theatre), also known as the chorus * ''En ...

called The AMP Band, consisting of members from the ''Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino'', hence its name.

Adobo Jazz

Tolentino participated in ensembles featured in the Adobo Jazz series of ''Pinoy Jazz'' anthology albums. * Bobby Enriquez All-Star Band, featuring Bobby Enriquez (piano) Emil Mijares (vibraphone) Nestor Gonzaga (trumpet) Abel Valdevia (alto sax) Tots Tolentino (tenor sax) Pikoy Villapando (baritone sax) Narding Sanchez (trombone) Roger Herrera (bass) Tony Velarde (drums) Nick Boogie (percussion) * Johnny Alegre AFFINITY, featuring Johnny Alegre (guitar), Tots Tolentino (alto sax), Elhmir Saison (piano), Colby dela Calzada (bass), and Koko Bermejo (drums) * Monk's Jazz Bureau, featuring Terry Undag (trumpet), Tots Tolentino (alto sax), Marc Lopez (piano), Colby dela Calzada (bass), and George San Jose (drums) * ETS Band, featuring Elhmir Saison (keyboards), Tots Tolentino (clarinet), Janno Queyquep (guitar), Noel Asistores (bass), Mar Dizon (drums), and Wilson Matias (2nd keyboards)

Advocacy

Tots Tolentino helped organize the Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino (trans: ''Association of Filipino Musicians''). to professionalize Filipino musicians wages, contracts and render financial assistance, legal counsel and coordination with government agencies.

Academe

Tots joined the faculty of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music (UST Music) and is presently the head of its Jazz Studies program and the conductor of the UST Jazz Ensemble. The Filipino Music Art Collective lists Tots Tolentino as one of their mentors.

Discography

Solo albums

Compilation albums

Group albums

Session work

Awards

References

External links

* * Tots Tolentino o
Spotify
* * *
Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino (AMP)

Discography of Tots Tolentino at AllMusic.com
* * Official biography of Tots Tolentino in th
Cultural Center of the Philippines
website Filipino jazz musicians Filipino jazz composers {{DEFAULTSORT:Tolentino, Tots 1959 births Living people 21st-century jazz composers 20th-century jazz composers Saxophonists