Geektarista

Aya Yuson is a Jazz Musician and guitar player known for his creativity and deep knowledge of music theory. Although he did play mainstream music with the likes of bands like Freeverse and Kulay. Aya is better known and recognized for being the guitarist of the band Wdouji (together with Koko Bermejo on drums, Simon Tan on bass, and Ronald Tomas on Saxophone) with whom they released the album “Ground Zero”. In 2008 he released his Album “Angelsong” and showed everyone that Pinoy Jazz lives on. Very well respected and held in high regard by the who’s who of the guitar community, he has been a teacher to some of the best guitarists and musicians in the country today (with the likes of Janno Queyquep, Kakoy Legaspi, Caren Mangaran, Coco Coo, Lei Bautista, Chino Singson, Tinnie Esguerra, Carlos Tañada, Joey Ayala, and many more). You really can’t talk about the Philippine Jazz scene without talking about Aya. Just like the psychedelic plant “Ayahuasca”…you need to open your mind, take the trip, and be blown away. Geektarista Intro and Outro Music Credits "Pandemica" Gino Aguas https://open.spotify.com/album/6HGGpeKudzn5pIENW8GJG9?si=r1zffs4cSJmjsR3oICYHow Episode Cover Photo CTTO

Kakoy is known to be one of the top guitarists in the whose  played with some of the most popular bands and musicians in the country. He's cut his teeth in the band scene by playing with Mr.Crayon where he's built a reputation as a scorching blues and blues rock guitar player covering tunes from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan. As his experience and playing evolved, it's not a surprise how his talent and musicianship was recognized. He's played with the likes of the Blue Jean Junkies, Barbies Cradle, Peryodiko, Dong Abay and has done numerous session work and even sideman projects for bands like Imago and Sandwich. His musical progression and expanded view of music can clearly be heard in the "progressive" band Salindiwa for the 2006 Album One. Although is musical expression and understanding is known to be quite deep and varied, he is better known to have been a member of RiverMaya (who helped pushed the alternative rock scene in the 90's). He was part of the second evolution of the band with Rico Blanco as lead vocalist. Their music videos time at the time of his stint with the band has won the favorite group video awards for MTV Pilipinas in 2002 and 2003. Kakoy who now plays with Bamboo Mañalac (former frontman of Rivermaya) also makes music with other bands and groups together with teaching guitar. His love for music and expressing himself through his art transcends the need for recognition or fame. Maybe Kaki Shankar is the guitar hero we need. Geektarista Intro and Outro Music Credits "Pandemica" Gino Aguas  https://open.spotify.com/album/6HGGpeKudzn5pIENW8GJG9?si=r1zffs4cSJmjsR3oICYHow

You have seen him play everything from metal, hard shuffling blues tunes, and jazz and has inspired students from all over (from the Philippines to North America). He is a guitar teacher, session guitarist, and side man who has been part of the Philippine guitar scene and has played with the likes of AfterImage, Ely Buendia(etc.) and the band Apartel. Coco is currently working on an instrumental album entitled “Skeleton”, collaborating with musicians such as Janno Kweykep, Dan Gil, Nathan Azarcon, Bea Lao, Rommel Dela Cruz, Reli De Vera, Boyet Aquino, and RJ Pineda, to name a few. He is very articulate , knowledgeable, and experienced as a guitar player. His focus now is really about learning and improving himself and being able sharing his guitar knowledge through his online classes. If you want to breakthrough to the next level of your guitar journey as a beginner or intermediate guitarist, Coco Coo is the guy for you.

Jazz guitar great and multi-instrumentalist Rey Infante keeps the bebop flame alive in a career that has spanned decades. His versatility and wide musical range has allowed him to play in cover bands in the early part of his career in the Philippines, Asia, even Europe as a guitarist, vocalist, and pianist before focusing solely on Jazz. Rey has performed at the World Youth Jazz Festival in 2017 and 2018 and is definitely the name often associated with Bebob in the country. He has performed with famed jazz artists like the famed bebop jazz organist Tony Monaco at the Bacolod Jazzfest in 2018, the grammy award winning latin maestro Edsel Gomez, and blues legend Jimmy Witherspoon. He has also released an album called “Contemplations” with his band The Rey Infante Trio. Playing a right hand guitar even being left handed has not deterred Rey from being recognized as one of the best guitar players of his generation by jazz purists and his peers. In a world that recognizes jazz guitar as a complex form of music, he makes it seem so effortless.

He is known to have been one of the first members of the premiere band SIDE A and is one of the founding members of the band ArtStart known for songs like: Misty Glass Window, Panaginip, and Danielle. Since then he has moved on to playing for Southborder, working on his solo career with Pido and Take One, and has played abroad as the main guitarist for the Motown legend Bobby Taylor (who was most notable for discovering and mentoring The Jackson 5). Pido currently performs as a solo artist and also with his Steely Dan tribute band the Blackcows. You would be familiar with him more as a singer song writer but he is well regarded as a killer guitar player among his peers!