13-year run
PI JazzFest actually had a terrific 13-year run, with Viray and confreres putting Manila in the international jazz map by bringing such jazz greats from overseas including Hubert Laws and his siblings, Debra and Ronnie Laws, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Eldar Djangirov, Hiromi, Bob James, Dianne Reeves, Diane Schuur, Ivan Lins, David Starck, Anthony Strong, Incognito, Tiernney Sutton, Spyro Gyra, Fourplay, Chuck Loeb, Abe Lagrimas, Nathan East, Jon Irabagon, Barbara Mason, Raul Midonl, Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason, and Johnny McLaughlin.
Through the years, those international icons in jazz have shared the same PI JazzFest stage with local jazz artists - among the best in the world - like Jeannie Tiongco, Megan Herrera, Richard Merck, Cookie Chua, Jacqui Magno, Myra Ruaro, Mishka Adam, Henry Katindig, Pat Castillo, Tots Tolentino, Colby dela Calzada, Sinosikat, Mel Villena and the AMP Big Band, Joey Puyat, Joey Quirino, Mar Dizon, Johnny Alegre, Humanfolk, Sitti, The Brass Munkeys, Johnny and Rosanna Gaerlan, Viray herself, among many others.
Sadly, two key individuals behind the festival, drummer Jun Viray and Edgar Avenir passed away, and with their demise, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic, PI JazzFest came to a halt after a final show in 2019. went into slumber.
The spark responsible that made Sandra Viray bring the festival back to life after nearly six years came from the Singaporean Embassy. “I was kinda waiting for things to fall into place, for someone, or something to spark the idea of resurrecting PI Jazz and the one that encouraged me was the Singaporean Embassy which was looking for a show venue for Singaporean jazz vocalist and pianist Michelle Poh (also known as Michelle SgP) whom they wanted to bring to Manila,” she said.
Responding to the Singaporean Embassy’s quest for a show venue for Ms. Poh was a clear indication that Viray had finally began to heal from her profound loss of her partner in love and jazz music was felled by a cardiac arrest in 2018.
