Jazz in Baguio: Just what the doctor ordered

There’s something about Baguio during Christmastime that lends itself to cozy wood-frame hotels, warm fireplaces and tinkling ivories. During our recent visit there over the New Year’s holiday, we set ourselves down at Forest Lodge in Camp John Hay and were serenaded by a trio of singers led by a pianist who’s also a physician: Dr. Dennis Flores is lead arranger and ivory-tickler for On Call, a quartet (sometimes a quintet) whose vocal blend is superior to most hotel lounge entertainers you’ll encounter, even in the talent-heavy Philippines.

Of course, with a name like On Call, jokes are readily available: like, if anybody in the lounge comes down with a case of Rockin’ Pneumonia or Boogie Woogie Flu, well, these guys onstage can treat it, stat. But with a set that swings from A Nightingale Played in Berkeley Square (a Manhattan Transfer standard) one night to Jimmy Webb’s MacArthur Park on another, they also know how to weave a spell: flanking Dr. Flores at the baby grand are vocalists Danny Imson, Jett Acmor and Marie Laoyan (usually seated, often adding rhythm on Latin cabasa). There’s a looseness to their act: they lean against the piano, microphones in hand, a glass or two of red wine set on the piano top (or is that just a prop?); then they set to work, and those close harmonies seem to come with little or no effort.

Actually, not so surprising, since On Call (whose members include one doctor, one nurse and a medical student) have been vocalizing together for 18 years. Their repertoire is strong on the standards, but also delves into Broadway; their third set on a recent Sunday night was all OPM — Ogie Alcasid, among others.

There are hotel lobby jazz groups and then there are hotel lobby jazz groups. On Call has sufficient chops to be dubbed “Baguio City’s Premier Vocal Group.” Their set commences with standards — Henry Mancini’s Moon River gets a particularly gorgeous workout, with vocal lines cascading and overlapping magically — and then dips further back to the ’50s with a playful Mr. Sandman, peppering the Chordettes’ a cappella hit with jazzy runs. Then they might segue into Broadway, unfurling a ruminative If I Loved You (from Carousel) and steer back to Blue Moon, a standard that, in the hands of Elvis Presley, sounds like a haunted, forlorn wolf call; in this group’s hands it becomes a joyous, bop-py treat. And all the more appropriate for this moonlit December night.

Flores, a self-taught pianist, has been arranging vocals for this group since 1999; they got their start then playing in Pilgrims Café along Session Road. Since then, they’ve mostly stayed close to home, playing the many twilight venues of the City of Pines. And that makes them a local institution, of sorts. We ask if they play out in Manila much; Flores and Danny say they do, whenever invited (you can reach Dr. Flores at the cell number below where he is “on call”). Marie, the nursing graduate, is perched on a chair through most of the set; I ask later if they’ve ever considered mixing some more recent material in with their standards — say, some Lady Gaga? She looks at me like I have three heads before shaking her own head: no.

A glimpse around Forest Lodge (this hotel, along with the nearby Manor, is a regular stop for On Call) reminds us how remote and tranquil parts of Baguio can be: downtown it’s bustling, people loading up on fireworks, hitting the night markets; up here, a few patrons are unwinding, taking in the chill, starlit evening, or just hanging out in the hotel lounge, listening to something that sounds almost like Christmas.

Dim the lights, order up the drinks and kick back: there may not be snow drifting down outside, but the chill in the air and rich blend of jazz harmonies will send even Filipinos to winter wonderland.

* * *

On Call perform at Forest Lodge in Camp John Hay, Baguio City on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights; and at The Manor on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. You can visit their Facebook site (FB:The On Call Vocals) or book them at 0918-9354059.