Boy Katindig - After Midnight (1980)

In the early '80s, Philippine keyboardist Boy Katindig released After Midnight. The music is jazz fusion and comprises a compelling mix of funk, jazz, rock, and pop. He plays mostly electric keyboards here, although he also plays acoustic piano at times.

"After Midnight" (not to be confused with Eric Clapton's famous early '70s song) opens on a smooth, velvety vibe, the electric keyboards sounding sensuous and inviting. A cool, seductive horn line is heard, while the keyboards add tasty fills. After several measures, forceful horn punctuations enter the scene and introduce a swinging saxophone solo.

Boy Katindig then takes the spotlight and plays a jazzy, improvisation-based keyboard solo. "Seeing Is Believing" is pop-inflected and grooves on an upbeat, funky vibe; female vocalists intone the line "Seeing is believing" while Boy Katindig takes flight on the electric keyboards and improvises wonderfully. He plays acoustic piano on the soulful "Wild Flower," made famous in the 1970s by Skylark, and he adds sweet embellishments to the original melody. The rhythm begins to bounce, and the funky backbeat provides the foundation for Boy Katindig's exploration into thrilling improvisational territory. "Love Till the End of Time" and "Getting Out of Hand" groove handily, and the keyboards, saxophone, drums, and bass often move in precise unison. The quick, precise movement in these songs reminds one of 1970s jazz/rock fusion band Return to Forever, as well as Spyro Gyra. A solid effort.~After Midnight Review by David Gonzales