Tots Tolentino (born on July 2, 1959) is a jazz musician from the Philippines.
Biography
Tots Tolentino's interest in jazz began at age 16 upon hearing recordings by Charlie Parker. In 1977, he enrolled at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music where he studied flute under Prof. Eric Barcelo and played with the U.P. Jazz Ensemble, switching to saxophone. He afterwards enrolled at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, under the tutelage of Joseph "Joe" Viola where he graduated magna cum laude in 1982. His professional career as a first-call session musician 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 album entitled Tots Tolentino Plays Vehnee Saturno Christmas Songs. In 2015, he released another Christmas album under the Jesuit Communications Foundation, 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 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 from Singapore, guitarist Eugene Pao 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-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 which were nominated for awards.
He was one of the founders and principal soloists of a large ensemble 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 Year Album title Artist Label Catalog/Barcode Genre Format 1990 Tots Tolentino Tots Tolentino Blackgold Records BA-5166 Crossover Jazz LP 1991 Inah Tots Tolentino Blackgold Records KBA-5203 Crossover Jazz Cassette 1993 Color Real Tots Tolentino Dypro Records 86/91 Pop/Rock CD 2012 Tots Tolentino Plays Vehnee Saturno Christmas Songs Tots Tolentino Saturno Records ChristmasCD 2015 God Rest Ye! (Christmas Jazz with Tots Tolentino) Tots Tolentino Jesuit Communications Foundation ChristmasCD
Compilation albums Year Single/Album Artist Label Catalog/Barcode Genre Format 2002 Adobo Jazz: A Portrait of the Filipino as a Jazz Artist, Vol. 1 (two recordings with two different bands) Johnny Alegre AFFINITY Monk's Jazz Bureau IndiRa Records JazzCompilation CD 2002 Adobo Jazz, Vol. 2 The Bobby Enriquez All-Star Band IndiRa Records JazzCompilation CD 2012 A Bossa Nova Love Affair Various Artists Candid Records CCD 71805JazzCompilation CD 2019 Adobo Jazz: Filipino Jazz Music of Our Time, Vol. 1 ETS Band Bowfinger Records JazzCompilation CD
Group albums Year Album title Artist Label Catalog/Barcode Genre Format 2000 Inner Country Bob Aves Group BMG World Jazz CD 2005 Johnny Alegre AFFINITY Johnny Alegre AFFINITY Candid Records Philippines CAN-KC-5001 Jazz CD 2005 Jazzhound Johnny Alegre AFFINITY Candid Records CCD 79842 Jazz CD 2007 Eastern Skies Johnny Alegre AFFINITY Candid Records Philippines CAN-KC-5006 JazzCD 2011 Live At The Living Room Jazz Festival, Bangkok Asian Jazz All-Stars Power Quartet Jazznote Records JazzCD 2014 Stories Johnny Alegre AFFINITY MCA Music (Philippines) UPC:00602537694600 JazzCD 2022 Johnny Alegre AFFINITY Johnny Alegre AFFINITY Backspacer Records JAA-001-BR JazzVinyl
Session work Year Single/Album Artist Label Catalog/Barcode Genre Format 1976 Pamasko The New Minstrels RJV Records R-5001 Christmas LP 1990 Thaddea Rudy Lozano Ivory Records 463 Jazz Cassette 1991 A New Start Martin Nievera Dyna Music Easy ListeningCD 1994 Roads Martin Nievera Polycosmic Records DST-92-243 Easy ListeningCD 1996 Another Chance Janno Gibbs Polycosmic Records 92-264 Pop/RockCD 1998 In Love Lea Salonga BMG 1 VocalCD 1999 Aawitan Ko Na Lang Ariel Rivera Musiko 117 Pop/RockCD 1999 Forever, Forever Martin Nievera EMI / PolyEast Records 547619 Easy ListeningCD 1999 Louie O. Louie Ocampo Musiko / BMG MRMC 128 New AgeCD 1999 Papa's Bag Menchu Apostol Viva Records 99045 Pop/RockCD 2000 By Heart Lea Salonga BMG 9 Easy ListeningCD 2000 Jazz in Time Richard Merk Star Records 11-27006-4 JazzCD 2000 Revive (Bonus Disc) Gary Valenciano Universal Records Philippines 41221 ReligiousCD 2000 Servant of All Various artists Viva Records 0000125 Pop/RockCompilation CD 2000 Show Me The Way Chad Borja Warner Music Philippines Pop/Rock Digital Media 2000 Simply ... Rex Rex Smith MCA 59721 Pop/RockCD 2000 The Disco Project Passage Neo Musiq 2000006 Pop/RockCD 2001 At The Movies Ivy Violan Viva Records 2001-02 Pop/RockCD 2001 My Souvenirs Martin Nievera EMI / PolyEast Records 016145 Easy ListeningCD 2001 Oras Rannie Raymundo Neo Musiq NR-CAS-01-028 Pop/RockCD 2001 Soulitude Mon David Easy ListeningCD2003Beyond WordsTrack 10: Until ThenGary ValencianoUniversal Records Philippines669910560853CD and Digital Media 2003 ... Miracle / Giliw Martin Nievera Vicor Music 117 Easy ListeningCD 2004 Best Wishes: A Wedding Songs Collection Martin Nievera EMI / PolyEast Records 578510 Easy ListeningCD 2004 Thor Thor Evolution Music / Warner Music Philippines R&BCD 2004 Once in a Lifetime Freestyle Viva Records VR CDS 04 137 PopCD 2005 When Love Is Gone Martin Nievera EMI / PolyEast Records 34645 Easy ListeningCD 2005 Life and Time Mon David Candid Records Philippines CAN-KC-7001 Vocal JazzCD 2006 My One and Only Love Mon David Candid Records Philippines Vocal JazzCD 2007 Milestones Martin Nievera EMI 09291 Easy ListeningCD 2008 Angelsong Aya Yuson Candid Records Philippines JazzCD 2012 Stranger on the Shore Mishka Adams Candid Records CCD 79858 JazzCD
Awards Year Award CategoryWork Artist/s or Group Result 1991 4th Awit Awards Gold Record AwardTots Tolentino (self-titled album) Tots Tolentino 1991 4th Awit Awards Best Jazz RecordingInah Tots Tolentino 1992 5th Awit Awards Best Jazz Instrumental RecordingInah Tots Tolentino 2003 15th Awit Awards Best Jazz Instrumental RecordingKalabukab Buhay (Wowee Posadas (keyboards), Mar Dizon (drums), Meong Pacana (bass), and Tots Tolentino (saxophone) 200518th Aliw AwardsBest Instrumental ArtistTots Tolentino (saxophone) 200518th Awit AwardsBest Jazz AlbumJohnny Alegre AFFINITY (self-titled album)Johnny Alegre AFFINITY 2008 21st Aliw Awards Best Major ConcertLove's What Matters Most (Valentine Concert) John Lesaca (violin), Tots Tolentino (saxophone), and Noelle Cassandra (harp) 2008 21st Aliw Awards Best Instrumentalist Tots Tolentino (saxophone) 201629th Awit AwardsBest Jazz RecordingThe Christ Childcomposer: Marlene del Rosario / instrumentalist: Tots Tolentino
References
External links
Tots Tolentino on Spotify
Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino (AMP) Discography of Tots Tolentino at AllMusic.com
Official biography of Tots Tolentino in the Cultural Center of the Philippines website