# Tots Tolentino

Tots Tolentino (born on July 2, 1959) is a jazz musician from the Philippines.

## Biography

Tots Tolentino's interest in jazz began at age 16 upon hearing recordings by Charlie Parker. In 1977, he enrolled at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music where he studied flute under Prof. Eric Barcelo and played with the U.P. Jazz Ensemble, switching to saxophone. He afterwards enrolled at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, under the tutelage of Joseph "Joe" Viola where he graduated magna cum laude in 1982. His professional career as a first-call session musician in the Philippine recording industry culminated in his own first album in 1990.

### Albums

Tots Tolentino has five solo albums to date, namely the self-titled Tots Tolentino (1990) and Inah (1991), both under Blackgold Records; and Color Real (1993) with Dypro Records. In 2012 he released a Christmas album entitled Tots Tolentino Plays Vehnee Saturno Christmas Songs. In 2015, he released another Christmas album under the Jesuit Communications Foundation, called God Rest Ye! (Christmas Jazz with Tots Tolentino).

### Bands

In the early 90s, Tots Tolentino fronted the group Buhay, a band composed of Pinoy jazz musicians Wowee Posadas (keyboards), Mar Dizon (drums), Meong Pacana (bass), and Tots Tolentino.
In the mid-1990s, he was in invited by the famed trumpeter Terumasa Hino to join the Asian Jazz All-Stars Power Quartet, a jazz group featuring four of Asia's prominent jazz musicians, namely pianist/organist Jeremy Monteiro from Singapore, guitarist Eugene Pao from Hong Kong, drummer Hong Chanutr Techatana-nan from Thailand, and saxophonist Tots Tolentino from the Philippines.
Tots joined Johnny Alegre AFFINITY in 2002, a Manila-based jazz group with frontman Johnny Alegre (guitar), Colby de la Calzada (contrabass), Elhmir Saison (piano), and Koko Bermejo (drums). Johnny Alegre AFFINITY released several albums which were nominated for awards.
He was one of the founders and principal soloists of a large ensemble called The AMP Band, consisting of members from the Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino, hence its name.

### Adobo Jazz

Tolentino participated in ensembles featured in the Adobo Jazz series of Pinoy Jazz anthology albums.
* Bobby Enriquez All-Star Band, featuring Bobby Enriquez (piano) Emil Mijares (vibraphone) Nestor Gonzaga (trumpet) Abel Valdevia (alto sax) Tots Tolentino (tenor sax) Pikoy Villapando (baritone sax) Narding Sanchez (trombone) Roger Herrera (bass) Tony Velarde (drums) Nick Boogie (percussion)
* Johnny Alegre AFFINITY, featuring Johnny Alegre (guitar), Tots Tolentino (alto sax), Elhmir Saison (piano), Colby dela Calzada (bass), and Koko Bermejo (drums)
* Monk's Jazz Bureau, featuring Terry Undag (trumpet), Tots Tolentino (alto sax), Marc Lopez (piano), Colby dela Calzada (bass), and George San Jose (drums)
* ETS Band, featuring Elhmir Saison (keyboards), Tots Tolentino (clarinet), Janno Queyquep (guitar), Noel Asistores (bass), Mar Dizon (drums), and Wilson Matias (2nd keyboards)

## Advocacy

Tots Tolentino helped organize the Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino (trans: Association of Filipino Musicians). to professionalize Filipino musicians wages, contracts and render financial assistance, legal counsel and coordination with government agencies.

## Academe

Tots joined the faculty of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music (UST Music) and is presently the head of its Jazz Studies program and the conductor of the UST Jazz Ensemble. The Filipino Music Art Collective lists Tots Tolentino as one of their mentors.

## Discography
### Solo albums

| Year | Album Title | Artist | Label | Catalog/Barcode | Genre | Format |
| 1990 | Tots Tolentino | Tots Tolentino | Blackgold Records | BA-5166 | Crossover Jazz | LP |
| 1991 | Inah | Tots Tolentino | Blackgold Records | KBA-5203 | Crossover Jazz | Cassette |
| 1993 | Color Real | Tots Tolentino | Dypro Records | 86/91 | Pop/Rock | CD |
| 2012 | Tots Tolentino Plays Vehnee Saturno Christmas Songs | Tots Tolentino | Saturno Records | | Christmas | CD |
| 2015 | God Rest Ye! (Christmas Jazz with Tots Tolentino) | Tots Tolentino | Jesuit Communications Foundation | | Christmas | CD |

### Compilation albums

| Year | Single/Album | Artist | Label | Catalog/Barcode | Genre | Format |
| 2002 | Adobo Jazz: A Portrait of the Filipino as a Jazz Artist, Vol. 1 (two recordings with two different bands) | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY Monk's Jazz Bureau | IndiRa Records | | Jazz | Compilation CD |
| 2002 | Adobo Jazz, Vol. 2 | The Bobby Enriquez All-Star Band | IndiRa Records | | Jazz | Compilation CD |
| 2012 | A Bossa Nova Love Affair | Various Artists | Candid Records | CCD 71805 | Jazz | Compilation CD |
| 2019 | Adobo Jazz: Filipino Jazz Music of Our Time, Vol. 1 | ETS Band | Bowfinger Records | | Jazz | Compilation CD |

### Group albums

| Year | Album Title | Artist | Label | Catalog/Barcode | Genre | Format |
| 2000 | Inner Country | Bob Aves Group | BMG | | World Jazz | CD |
| 2005 | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY | Candid Records Philippines | CAN-KC-5001 | Jazz | CD |
| 2005 | Jazzhound | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY | Candid Records | CCD 79842 | Jazz | CD |
| 2007 | Eastern Skies | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY | Candid Records Philippines | CAN-KC-5006 | Jazz | CD |
| 2011 | Live At The Living Room Jazz Festival, Bangkok | Asian Jazz All-Stars Power Quartet | Jazznote Records | | Jazz | CD |
| 2014 | Stories | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY | MCA Music (Philippines) | UPC:00602537694600 | Jazz | CD |
| 2022 | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY | Backspacer Records | JAA-001-BR | Jazz | Vinyl |

### Session work

| Year | Single/Album | Artist | Label | Catalog/Barcode | Genre | Format |
| 1976 | Pamasko | The New Minstrels | RJV Records | R-5001 | Christmas | LP |
| 1990 | Thaddea | Rudy Lozano | Ivory Records | 463 | Jazz | Cassette |
| 1991 | A New Start | Martin Nievera | Dyna Music | | Easy Listening | CD |
| 1994 | Roads | Martin Nievera | Polycosmic Records | DST-92-243 | Easy Listening | CD |
| 1996 | Another Chance | Janno Gibbs | Polycosmic Records | 92-264 | Pop/Rock | CD |
| 1998 | In Love | Lea Salonga | BMG | 1 | Vocal | CD |
| 1999 | Aawitan Ko Na Lang | Ariel Rivera | Musiko | 117 | Pop/Rock | CD |
| 1999 | Forever, Forever | Martin Nievera | EMI / PolyEast Records | 547619 | Easy Listening | CD |
| 1999 | Louie O. | Louie Ocampo | Musiko / BMG | MRMC 128 | New Age | CD |
| 1999 | Papa's Bag | Menchu Apostol | Viva Records | 99045 | Pop/Rock | CD |
| 2000 | By Heart | Lea Salonga | BMG | 9 | Easy Listening | CD |
| 2000 | Jazz in Time | Richard Merk | Star Records | 11-27006-4 | Jazz | CD |
| 2000 | Revive (Bonus Disc) | Gary Valenciano | Universal Records Philippines | 41221 | Religious | CD |
| 2000 | Servant of All | Various artists | Viva Records | 0000125 | Pop/Rock | Compilation CD |
| 2000 | Show Me The Way | Chad Borja | Warner Music Philippines | | Pop/Rock | Digital Media |
| 2000 | Simply ... Rex | Rex Smith | MCA | 59721 | Pop/Rock | CD |
| 2000 | The Disco Project | Passage | Neo Musiq | 2000006 | Pop/Rock | CD |
| 2001 | At The Movies | Ivy Violan | Viva Records | 2001-02 | Pop/Rock | CD |
| 2001 | My Souvenirs | Martin Nievera | EMI / PolyEast Records | 016145 | Easy Listening | CD |
| 2001 | Oras | Rannie Raymundo | Neo Musiq | NR-CAS-01-028 | Pop/Rock | CD |
| 2001 | Soulitude | Mon David | | | Easy Listening | CD |
| 2003 | Beyond WordsTrack 10: Until Then | Gary Valenciano | Universal Records Philippines | 669910560853 | | CD and Digital Media |
| 2003 | ... Miracle / Giliw | Martin Nievera | Vicor Music | 117 | Easy Listening | CD |
| 2004 | Best Wishes: A Wedding Songs Collection | Martin Nievera | EMI / PolyEast Records | 578510 | Easy Listening | CD |
| 2004 | Thor | Thor | Evolution Music / Warner Music Philippines | | R&B | CD |
| 2004 | Once in a Lifetime | Freestyle | Viva Records | VR CDS 04 137 | Pop | CD |
| 2005 | When Love Is Gone | Martin Nievera | EMI / PolyEast Records | 34645 | Easy Listening | CD |
| 2005 | Life and Time | Mon David | Candid Records Philippines | CAN-KC-7001 | Vocal Jazz | CD |
| 2006 | My One and Only Love | Mon David | Candid Records Philippines | | Vocal Jazz | CD |
| 2007 | Milestones | Martin Nievera | EMI | 09291 | Easy Listening | CD |
| 2008 | Angelsong | Aya Yuson | Candid Records Philippines | | Jazz | CD |
| 2012 | Stranger on the Shore | Mishka Adams | Candid Records | CCD 79858 | Jazz | CD |

## Awards

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Artist/s or Group | Result |
| 1991 | 4th Awit Awards | Gold Record Award | Tots Tolentino (self-titled album) | Tots Tolentino | Won |
| 1991 | 4th Awit Awards | Best Jazz Recording | Inah | Tots Tolentino | Won |
| 1992 | 5th Awit Awards | Best Jazz Instrumental Recording | Inah | Tots Tolentino | Won |
| 2003 | 15th Awit Awards | Best Jazz Instrumental Recording | Kalabukab | Buhay (Wowee Posadas (keyboards), Mar Dizon (drums), Meong Pacana (bass), and Tots Tolentino (saxophone) | Won |
| 2005 | 18th Aliw Awards | Best Instrumental Artist | | Tots Tolentino (saxophone) | Nominated |
| 2005 | 18th Awit Awards | Best Jazz Album | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY (self-titled album) | Johnny Alegre AFFINITY | Nominated |
| 2008 | 21st Aliw Awards | Best Major Concert | Love's What Matters Most (Valentine Concert) | John Lesaca (violin), Tots Tolentino (saxophone), and Noelle Cassandra (harp) | Nominated |
| 2008 | 21st Aliw Awards | Best Instrumentalist | | Tots Tolentino (saxophone) | Nominated |
| 2016 | 29th Awit Awards | Best Jazz Recording | The Christ Child | composer: Marlene del Rosario / instrumentalist: Tots Tolentino | Nominated |