| Tots Tolentino was born on July 1, 1959. He studied the flute under the tutelage of Prof. Eric Barcelo at the U.P. Conservatory of Music (1977-78) before continuing his studies on soprano, alto and tenor saxophones under Joseph Viola at Berklee College of Music, Boston. Tots graduated Magna cum Laude with a Professional Diploma in Professional Music from Berklee College in 1982. Between 1984-1990, Tots worked as a session musician for almost every major artist on the Philippines commercial scene. Then in 1990, he started a solo career, releasing three albums "Tots Tolentino" (1990, Vicor Music Corporation) which received a Gold Record award in July 1992, "Inah" (1991) which received the 1991 Awit Awards for Best Jazz Recording, and "Color Real" (1993, Dyna). At present, Tots is busy pursuing a solo career in the Philippines and abroad. Being a member of the Asian Jazz All-Stars, he has toured the USA and Asia, and is currently undertaking projects with the same group in Japan and Asia. Critics have described his playing as passionate, articulate and authoritative. Probably the most identifiable sax sound in the Philippines today, he continues to carve out a niche for himself in the Asian jazz scene as a member of Terumasa Hino's All-Star band, Jeremy Monteiro's Asiana and collaborations with Asia's premiere guitarist, Eugene Pao. |
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