At Composer Burt Bacharach, an icon of contemporary pop music who penned more than 500 songs, mostly in collaboration with lyricist Hal David, was given a fitting tribute in What’s It All About, a two-hour concert staged by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, his third in the Maestro Class series.
National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab
For the third time, Cayabyab, fondly called Mr. C, engaged his full-house audience in an intimate conversation, something he never did in concerts.
Bacharach, one of the most prolific composers in the 20th century, wrote songs which he also conducted, arranged, produced and recorded. His music topped charts and bagged awards, with 73 songs landing in the US Top 40 and 52 in the UK charts, 48 in the Top 10, while nine became No. 1.
As the familiar Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head played in the background, Cayabyab reminded the crowd that Bacharach’s songs have been recorded and re-interpreted by over a thousand artists . Beyond the pop charts, Bacharach’s work extended into film scoring. For his extraordinary body of work, Bacharach received one Emmy, three Oscar Awards and six Grammys.
He released over 40 records and built a career that spanned seven decades. He died in 2023, at age 94. Yet, his work continues to inspire thousands of musicians around the world. But these nostalgic numbers are merely fleeting attempt to measure the immeasurable, the genius of Burt Bacharach. His music moves seamlessly across genres.
Bacharach’s memorable melodies with their distinctive rhythms, progressions and complex harmonies all came together in wonderful songs that endure. In the end, the best way to understand What’s It All About concert was simply to listen and relish the music that crosses seamlessly across genres.
The concert started promptly at 7:30 p.m., with everybody was on his seats at The Proscenium Theater at Rockwell. Cayabyab sauntered onstage, sat at the Steinway grand piano, played the familiar Close To You, and sang to signal Bacharach’s songbook for the night that started Cayabyab’s “soiree.”
‘Mr. C’ and Baihana trio
Baihana (Trina Cayabyab, Anna Graham and Mel Torre) followed with Do You Know the Way To San Jose and Always Something There To Remind Me. They would do the back-up for the guest artists the rest of the night.
Jett Pangan and Bituin Escalante
Cayabyab was then joined onstage by a stellar roster—soloists Jett Pangan, Bituin Escalante, Sofronio Vasquez and Gigi de Lana. When it was not his or her turn to sing, the artist would sit on a couch onstage, staying visible.
Bacharach likes to do “changing meter” in his songs. That was the lesson for the night in his Maestro Class.
“Isa lang ang kanta kong may change of meter,” Cayabyab told his audience as he played the familiar strains of Smokey Mountain’s Kailan. For a fun fact, Cayabyab shared that Dionne Warwick did the early recordings of “Pareng Burt,” as the National Artist called him. Warwick was Bacharach’s “muse.”
Among Bacharach’s albums that are a crossover from pop to jazz are Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Reach Out and The A and M News, that features “lush” interpretations of Bacharach works, including South American Getaway, a showcase of his complex rhythms, sophisticated orchestrations and sublime harmonies—proof that even without words, Bacharach’s music holds.
Baihana performed the sophisticated South American Getaway, something the audience doesn’t get to hear every day, Cayabyab bragged. They were subsequently joined by other artists in Promises, Promises and Knowing When To Leave.
Escalante started the ball rolling for the individual artists, as she gave a medley of Bacharach’s Walk On By, Anyone Who Had a Heart and You’ll Never Get To Heaven.
Sofronio Vasquez (left) and Jett Pangan
Pangan and de lLana did a duet I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, then Pangan and Vasquez crooned Raindrops Keep Falling, Wives and Lovers, What’s New Pussycat and Arthur’s Theme.
Gigi de Lana and Sofronio Vasquez
The guest artists had their stirring moments in their solos—Vasquez in Look of Love, de Lana in This Girl’s In Love with You, Pangan in Make It Easy On Yourself, and Escalante with Vasquez in On My Own.
“I am in music heaven,” Cayabyab told the audience after listening to the artists.
Most of the pieces on the set list had been rarely heard by the crowd.
As an aside, Cayabyab urged the audience to take a break from the noisy politicking in our society.
Bituin Escalante and Gigi de Lana
Bacharach is known for “neurotic ballads,” Cayabyab put it. And the artists interpreted those: Escalante in One Less Bell To Answer, Vasquez in Whoever You Are, I Love You, de Lana belting A House Is Not a Home, and Pangan in God Give Me Strength.
Mr. C’ and Gigi de Lana
Cayabyab was thankful to his full-house audience in this the first of three nights of Maestro Class, this even if many concerts were being canceled because of rising fuel prices, the conflict in the Middle East, and the recent problem in the Senate. “Hindi alam ng audience what’s in store for tomorrow, kung makakabili pa sila ng gas,” Cayabyab said. “Para tayong na-April Fool.”
Cayabyab then played The April Fools and What’s It All About, Alfie, the artists singing with him. The four artists then rendered What the World Needs Now (Is Love).
For the last number, the artists performed That’s What Friends Are For. The two-hour concert closed with I Say A Little Prayer.
Just like the first two Maestro Class concerts, director Rowell Santiago was at the helm, his signature creative mark evident every moment.
What’s It All About ran the weekend May 15-17.
