Juan Bautista Hernaez Alegre III (born June 4, 1955), known professionally as Johnny Alegre, is a jazz guitarist and composer from Manila, Philippines. He leads the jazz group Johnny Alegre Affinity and the world music group Humanfolk.
Biography Career
Alegre studied composition at the University of the Philippines College of Music in the latter 1970s. He was a founding member of the U.P. Jazz Ensemble. He participated in workshops by composer Erhard Karkoschka, guitarist Ike Isaacs, and composer Chou Wen-chung.
In May 2002, Alegre formed the Johnny Alegre Affinity with bassist Colby de la Calzada, drummer Koko Bermejo, pianist Elhmir Saison, and saxophonist Tots Tolentino. Their first recorded work, "Stones of Intramuros", written by Alegre, was included in the limited edition Philippine jazz anthology Adobo Jazz: A Portrait of the Filipino as a Jazz Artist (Vol. 1).
The self-titled album Johnny Alegre Affinity was released in the Philippines in mid-2005 by Candid Records Philippines; and was rereleased in England the same year by Candid Records (UK) for global distribution as Jazzhound. This was followed by performances at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club in London with guest saxophonist, Dimitri Vassilakis.
During 2006 and 2007, Alegre and Affinity worked on Eastern Skies, an album of original compositions with the Global Studio Orchestra conducted by Gerard Salonga. In 2009 MCA released Johnny Alegre 3, a trio album with Ron McClure (bass) and Billy Hart (drums). Alegre was MCA's first jazz act from the Philippines. In 2014, MCA released a compilation of highlights from Alegre's Candid Records recordings, entitled Stories.
In 2008, Alegre recorded a world music album, Humanfolk, with Cynthia Alexander and Malek Lopez, along with drummer Roberto Juan Rodriguez and percussionist Susie Ibarra, and the later addition of singer-keyboardist Abby Clutario. For Humanfolk, Alegre wrote the award-winning "Para Sa Tao" based on the Baybayin letters of the ancient Tagalog language.
Alegre is profiled in the books The Great Jazz Guitarists by Scott Yanow and the Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, Second edition (Volume 7).
In November 2023, a retrospective of Alegre's urban folk compositions for Humanfolk were featured in a 2-hour recital at the Ayala Museum, hosted by the Filipinas Heritage Library. The official recorded music of Johnny Alegre, including independent works, is aggregated by The Orchard, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment.
Family Johnny Alegre is the youngest surviving grandchild of the late Senator Juan Bautista Alegre y Levantino, senator who represented the Philippines's 6th senatorial district to the 6th and 7th Philippine Legislatures. The family genealogy of Johnny Alegre is descended from Carlist exiles from Spain to the Philippines and intermarried with Filipinos. His paternal grandmother, Amanda ("Aimee") Alegre née Sargent, is descended from the early Sargent family of New England.
Other personas
Johnny Alegre is a member of FILSCAP and tenured with the Philippine International Jazz and Arts Festival as a consultant. He is an active Wikimedian advocate that includes WikiProject Jazz. As Juan Bautista H. Alegre, he is a Rotary Club past president (Makati Rockwell, Rotary International District 3830), and was conferred a Paul Harris fellowship.
Discography Album Catalog/UPC No. Label Year Stones of Intramuros (single) Track 9 Adobo Jazz: A Portrait of the Filipino as a Jazz Artist, Vol. 1 IndiRa 2002 Johnny Alegre AFFINITY CAN-KC-5001 Candid 2005 Jazzhound (UK release) CCD 79842 Candid 2005 Jazzhound (radio edit, single) Track 4Environmentally Sound: A Select Anthology of Songs Inspired by the Earth WWF 2006 Eastern Skies CAN-KC-5006 Candid 2007 Johnny Alegre 3 UPC:00600753200070 MCA 2009 Mammals Japan Music Week PH AFFINITY Productions 2010 Humanfolk UPC:00600753330432 MCA 2011 Stories UPC:00602537694600 MCA 2014 "ILWY" (vinyl) HOURGLASS001 Hourglass 2020 Johnny Alegre AFFINITY (2LP) JAA-001-BR Backspacer 2022 Johnny Alegre 3 (2LP) JA3-001-BR Backspacer 2024
Collaborations
Videography
Johnny Alegre Affinity TitleMusicians Director Producer Genre Year Venue Jazz in Time: Commemorative Concert XIIJohnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, piano ♦ Tots Tolentino, alto sax Fritz Ynfante Upsilon Sigma Phi jazz concert 2003 U.P. Theater Jazzhound official music videoJohnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, piano ♦ Tots Tolentino, alto sax Fritz Ynfante (concert footage)Wilfred Galila (video montage) MowelfundPH AFFINITY Productions music video 2005 Mowelfund 3rd Manila Jazz FestivalJohnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Simon Tan, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, piano ♦ Tots Tolentino, alto sax Angela Poblador Jewelmer International Corporation jazz concert 2005 Greenbelt Theater Pinoy Jazz: The Story of Jazz in the PhilippinesJohnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, piano ♦ Tots Tolentino, alto sax Collis Davis Richie Quirino, Collis Davis documentary 2006 U.P. Theater Fête de la Musique 2011Johnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, electric bass ♦ Mar Dizon, drums Franz Lawrence Tan Fête de la Musique jazz concert 2011 The Fort BGC, Taguig Tiendesitas Super Jazz WeekendJohnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Yuna Reguerra, electric bass ♦ Wendell Garcia, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, keyboards Dondi Santos Tiendesitas jazz concert 2014 Tiendesitas Beacon CallJohnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Joey Quirino, piano ♦ Ria Villena-Osorio, orchestration ♦ Gerard Salonga, conductor MCA Music Philippines PH AFFINITY Productions sampler 2014 MCA Music Philippines Manila Jazz Interviews with Johnny Alegre, Tots Tolentino, Elhmir Saison, Mar Dizon, (seen: Colby dela Calzada) Richard Villamor Richard Villamor documentary 2013 Greater Manila Area
Humanfolk Title Musicians Director Producer Category Year Venue Para Sa Tao Abby Clutario, vocals, keyboards & Chapman Stick ♦ Johnny Alegre, acoustic guitar ♦ Cynthia Alexander, bass ♦ Malek Lopez, electronics Daphne Oliveros PH AFFINITY Productions music video 2011 Greater Manila Area Hexagram II Abby Clutario, keyboards & vocals ♦ Johnny Alegre, guitars & percussion ♦ Rodney Vidanes, bass ♦ Zach Lucero, drums ♦ Frances Escapé, percussion Perth Salva PH AFFINITY Productions live in the studio 2013 Perthman Studios, San Juan, Manila Himig Ng Pasko Abby Clutario, keyboards & vocals ♦ Johnny Alegre, guitars & percussion ♦ Rodney Vidanes, bass ♦ Zach Lucero, drumsJM Quiblat PH AFFINITY Productions music video 2014 Infinitif Studios Naglalarong Ilaw Kris Gorra Dancel, vocals & rhythm guitar ♦ Johnny Alegre, guitars ♦ Abby Clutario, keyboards & harmonies ♦ Rodney Vidanes, bass ♦ Zach Lucero, drums ♦ Deej Rodriguez, percussion Phillip Miguel Luis & Lycylle Bianca Tse Cawaling PH AFFINITY Productions music video 2015 Infinitif Studios Indiemand Johnny Alegre, guitars ♦ Abby Clutario, keyboards & vocals ♦ Deej Rodriguez, percussion Pamela Carbonell The Filipino Channel music video 2019 Pasig City Wildlife Reserve
Awards Year Award 1974 Don Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature, One-Act Play (English) Division, 2nd Place 1982 Foremost Exponent of Jazz awarded by the Philippine Ministry of Tourism at the 1st Cebu Jazz Festival 2006 Award Of Excellence for Exemplary Musicianship by WWF Philippines for his musical support of the "For A Living Planet" advocacy. 2010 Plaque of Appreciation for his musical support of the Climate Change advocacy from a combined Oxfam and Dakila initiative. 2012 Awit Awards, Best World Music Recording, Humanfolk, Philippine Association of the Record Industry2013 Icon Award, 8th Philippine International Jazz and Arts Festival Best Performer Award, Kansai Music Conference2014 Aliw Awards, Best Instrumentalist Living the Credo Award, Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association 2016 Outstanding Professional Award, Superbrands Philippines Council2019 Inspiring Leadership Award, Rotary International District 3830 Paul Harris Fellow, The Rotary Foundation202639th Awit Awards, Awit Award Winner – Best Instrumental Recording “The Awakening” by Kiss the Bride.
Letters from UNESCO Letters of Recognition from UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Inter-Cultural Dialogue, Herbie Hancock; for Johnny Alegre's sustained partnership and participation in International Jazz Day.
2015 2019 2020 2022 2023 2024 2025
Paternal line
Images
References
External links