Jazz Articles

Bob Aves: Out Of Tradition

by Glenn Astarita
February 1, 2014

Guitarist Bob Ave's long-awaited follow-up to the progressive and perhaps unprecedented fusion of gongs, world music and jazz on Translating The Gongs (Taomusic, 2006), is still framed on indigenous percussion and gongs, but highlights his artistry, using the 14-stringed octavina guitar. Armed with formidable chops, Aves also exudes finesse via his deft phrasings, tinted with Spanish romanticism and a world-jazz set of frameworks, including buoyant percussion that occasionally gestures a tribal-like aura. The guitarist seamlessly shapes the modalities ...

Bob Aves: Translating The Gongs

by Glenn Astarita
May 22, 2006

Filipino guitarist/composer Bob Aves is a well-traveled, multitasking artist who delves into a divergent scope of activities. The Berklee School of Music graduate subsequently ventured into film scoring and here fuses Philippine indigenous music with Western jazz.

On Translating The Gongs, Aves blends Indo-jazz with traditional Filipino folk music and mainstream jazz grooves. He's a fluid soloist when performing on his acoustic Octavina guitar, complementing up-front horns and rhythm section. As the title intimates, the music relies heavily ...