Funny but a lot of people have been asking moi about the Fete de la Musique. Why me? Well the word on the street is it's not pushing through this year. Sacre Bleu!! Mon dieu!! But, as it turns out.... The French Embassy will still be pushing through with its annual "French Spring" cultural events. And for the past four years, one of them has been the Manila Jazz Festival, sponsored by Jewelemer, those folks who sell those gorgeous south sea pearls necklaces, perfect for the Imelda Marcos in your life.

Yes, we hear your questions. "What do pearls have to do with Jazz anyway?" Y'know, probably not much -- but we're thankful nonetheless that there's one company out there interested in footing the bill and pushing the music. This year's jazz fest will be taking place on June 16, 5pm and up, at the Central Plaza of Market! Market! in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

This edition seems to be the biggest gig they've put on, featuring eleven bands of the jazz persuasion, including the various hybrids and hyphenated genres found in the nook and crannies of Manila.

Here's the lineup, as we gathered from the folks at Jewelemer:

First at bat is the Jewlemer Jazz Band, a "superband" of sorts composed of saxman Michael Guevara as bandleader, with Rolly Rodriguez (sax), Popoy Valmonte (trumpet and vibes), Armando Valmonte (drums), Jun Cadiz (keyboards), Abing Lavapiz (bass guitar) and Ronnie Marqueses (trombone).

Apparently these guys have been around. As the PR states, "The Jewelmer Jazz Band has performed consistently at the past three Manila Jazz Festivals, 2002-2005 Beaujolais Nouveau celebrations and have performed in concerts at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center."

Then there's the legendary UP Jazz Ensemble, headed by musical director Rayben Maigue. Founded in 1977, the jazz big band is composed of students and alumni of the UP College of Music.

There is a balikbayan band in the lineup, "Lando Bernal and the Philippine-Hong Kong Jazz in the City", a group of experienced pinoy musicians based in Hong Kong, who will be playng in town for the occasion. Led by Lando Bernal (Trombone), the group is also composed of Peping Ceriaco (Trumpet), Mark Henderson (Trumpet), Dick Lagrimas (Alto saxophone), Mike Inot (Tenor saxophone), Efren Bano (Tenor saxophone), Sylvain Gagnon (Bass), Alex Quijano (Piano), Yoyong Aquino (Piano), Anthony Fernandez (Drums) and Erick J (Vocals).

Also in the lineup are an eclectic collection of young bands, that show there's always new blood coming into the local jazz scene. There's the Afro-latin jazz group Wahijuara, the multi-genre fusion group Salindiwa (with guitarist Kakoi Legaspi), the guitar-driven rock-jazz group DC Aftershock headed by ubiquitous session guitarist Daniel Crisologo, the acid-jazz group Sound, and the neo-swing stylings of the Brass Munkeys.

There are veterans lined up as well. Legendary pianist Romy Posadas leads a quartet playing their own set and accompanying award winning jazz vocalese artist Mon David.

There's a special "power trio" formed just for the event called "The B.A.T. Project" composed of drummer Koko Bermejo, guitarist Edgar Avenir, and saxophonist Tots Tolentino. What, no bassist?

Finally, a touch of Oz takes place as Australian saxophonist Jamie Oehlers leads his quartet to top off the event. His official bio reads, "Jamie has been nominated as Australian Jazz Musician of the year (2004) and Australian Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (2004), as well as being a final nominee for the Australian Recording Industry Awards for Best Jazz Release (1998)."

And furthermore... "Jamie has performed as a solo artist and with his group at various events such as the London Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Galway Arts Festival, World Expo in Japan, and in the United States, Europe, UK, Asia, India, New Zealand and throughout Australia with leading international jazz artists like Ronnie Scott, Cindy Blackman, Peter Leitch, John and Jeff Clayton, Curtis Lundy, Eddie Marshal, Dale Barlow, Bobby Shew, Renee Geyer, Barney Mcall, Paul Grabowsky, Joe Chindamo, Scott Tinkler, Bernie McGann and James Morrison. He has released 5 CDs with the band under his leadership including the Aria nominated 'Strut' and 'Grace', 'Velocity', 'The Assemblers' and 'Blowfish featuring Alison Wedding'." Whew!!!