TITLE: Paraiso
PERFORMING ARTISTS: Florante Aguilar and Lori Abucayan
PRODUCER: Florante Aguilar
CD recorded by Digidesign Studio (Daly City, CA)
Collection of Filipino folk and popular music

Nothing rings more enthrallingly to the musical ear than listening to a skilled guitarist and a talented singer who are synchronized in seamless musical harmony and rhythm with each other. In their CD album debut, titled “Paraiso,” San Francisco-based guitarist and harana extraordinaire Florante Aguilar and Sacramento, California songstress Lori Abucayan form a delightful musical pair that perform some of the best classical, folk, and popular tunes that Filipino music has to offer.

Although “Paraiso” is Aguilar’s and Abucayan’s first album as a duet, it does not represent the first time that they have worked together. The two have jointly exhibited their musical virtuosity in various settings since their first personal meeting in 2003. Like a hand in glove, Aguilar’s dexterity in playing the guitar and Abucayan’s resonant singing voice are a perfect fit for each other. The aesthetic upshot of this near-flawless partnership comes through exceptionally in the CD’s twelve selections.

Many of the songs in “Paraiso”– which was recorded in Daly City, California’s Digidesign Studios and produced by Aguilar himself – should sound very familiar to Filipino listeners. For instance, Mike Velarde’s and Dominador Santiago’s timeless “Dahil Sa Iyo” is sung with the elegance and tender feeling it was always meant to express, attributes which seem to come naturally to Lori Abucayan whenever she vocalizes. There is also the folk standard “Bahay Kubo” which Abucayan renders with equal lyricism and romanticism.

With Aguilar strumming away at his strings and thereby creating a sturdy yet dynamic accompaniment, Abucayan’s fine-toned and euphonic voice is enhanced twofold for the CD’s listeners. On rare occasions, the sheer vibrancy and volume of Abucayan’s voice inadvertently, even subconsciously, draws attention from Aguilar’s captivating guitar. However, both musician and singer alike would emphasize that a musical symmetry exists between them in which they make a conscious effort to avoid upstaging one another.

Just as impressive is Aguilar’s taking on the responsibility of “Paraiso’s” musical arrangement. Assisted by sound engineer Matt Peterson and supported by musicians Mingo Lewis, Boyet Aguilar, and Mike Walsh, Aguilar’s arrangement does more than enough justice to such classics as Ryan Cayabyab’s “Paraiso” and “Liman Dipang Tao”, and to the celebrated “Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan”, not to mention Nonoy Gallardo’s memorable “Saranggola Ni Pepe”.

Aguilar also goes on to make his own compositional waves with his self-written track “Dalampasigan”, an approximately five-minute tune that exudes a sense of the poetry and enchantment that pervades much of his work. While “Dalampasigan” is Aguilar’s own, unique creation in every way,  Abucayan’s voice ensures that the song touches the highest end of the musical artistry scale.

“Paraiso” illuminates the beauty and charm of the Filipino musical classics. For those Filipinos who are unfamiliar with this aspect of their cultural heritage, the album will be a sparkling revelation. For Filipinos already well versed in their homeland’s classical musical masterpieces, Aguilar’s and Abucayan’s evocative CD ensemble will be a valuable vehicle for staying in touch with what makes them genuinely Filipino.