Romy Posadas, legendary jazz pianist

“MANG ROMY” Highly esteemed jazz pianist Romy Posadas at Raffles Hotel’sWriter’s Bar.—MARGAUX SALCEDO

I was passing through the lobby of Raffles Hotel one ordinary afternoon after lunch at Mireio when I was stopped in my tracks by the trill coming from a piano and I thought, “Romy Posadas.” True enough, when I directed my gaze to Writer’s Bar, just off the hotel lobby, it was the legend himself hunched over the grand piano, getting lost in his music.

My afternoon suddenly turned extraordinary. I walked over to say “hi!”, dropped everything, sat by the piano and had a cup of tea to fangirl over the most respected pianist of Philippine jazz. As I sat there alone, enjoying what to my mind was a magnificent solo concert, I looked over to the other tables, where everyone else was going about their business and felt so bad for all these people who had front row seats to one of the best jazz pianists of our time but could not hear the music.

It was like having dinner with businessmen who treat their Pauillac as if it was Coke.

In the world of food, there are creations that are so memorable you close your eyes while savoring every bite and the memory of the taste and experience of it all staFIRST CLASys with you forever. Like my first bite of eclair by Lenotre. A cup of Angelina’s hot chocolate. The pasta at Casa Artusi in the historic town of Forlimpopoli in Northern Italy. Otoro at the Tsukiji Fish Market. The gastronomic experience, without fanfare of a sidebar story narrated by the chef or other such gimmick, is so incredibly excellent that it is enough to last in your memory for eternity.

Romy Posadas’ music was the same. Just like Lenotre eclair or Tsukiji otoro; after savoring the bite, what was in your hands may be gone but the taste is imprinted in your memory forever.

Premium for live music

Restaurateurs and hoteliers of earlier generations recognized this important element in fine dining: the auditory experience of excellent live music. I vividly remember the grand piano at Tivoli in Mandarin Oriental and L’Incontro on Reposo. Steak king Melo Santiago was quick to recognize this element as well and brought Latin jazz to his steakhouses, particularly the one in Greenbelt in the early ‘90s, where Romy Posadas also played. The Peninsula, to this day, invests in this element and wisely so; the Pen Lobby would be so cold without the live music from the musicians at the upper lobby. It completes the “Pen moment.”

And then, there are the music bars that bring life to the night. Romy Posadas lit them up as much as he could: Manhattan in the ‘50s; Jungle Bar in the ‘70s; Tap Room from the ‘80s to just before the pandemic; Merk’s, with other jazz greats like Eddie K and Roger Herrera; Century Park Sheraton with Arthur Manuntag; and abroad at Cat’s Eye Bar in Bangkok in the ‘60s; to the Hilton in Hong Kong and Hyatt in Singapore in the ‘70s. Many a singer started at these bars and would give thanks to the pianist they fondly call “Mang Romy.” I am one of them and I thank Sandra Viray, founder of the Philippine Jazzfest, for welcoming me to this circle 10 years ago.

Romy Posadas passed away on Jan. 31—just as live music had to take a hiatus because of the pandemic. But like a painter whose strokes one would recognize immediately, his style was as distinct as it was enrapturing, so for those who love jazz, his music will last in our memories forever.

I hope that today’s restaurateurs and future restaurateurs will be inspired by this to incorporate live music into their establishments. Enough of canned Sitti on loop. Please have the Chateau Margaux and Chateau Latour that you serve accompanied by an equally excellent musician singing or playing live. Then the dining will go beyond fine and be elevated to a moment that you will cherish eternally.

More from the author at margauxsalcedo.com. Follow @margauxsalcedo Instagram, Twitter. Details on mass for Romy Posadas at Facebook.com/margauxsalcedo.