Traffikk Jamm : Rockin' Winnipeg

 Levy Abad
 Winnipeg Ethnic News 121517

When I moved to Winnipeg in 2010, I spent my first week looking for places where musicians hang out. I learned that most of them can be found at Jimmy Olais’ basement in the Maples where they go to share stories and jam about different genre of music ranging from folk, rock, country, blues etc. It was in the basement of Jimmy where I met Jojo Yso, the band leader of Traffikk Jamm. 

Traffikk Jamm, according to Jojo, was formed in 2013.  During the First Filipino Folk Music Festival organized in November 15, 2014, Trafficc Jamm performed the best songs of the night, covering the songs of ASIN (Salt of the Earth), Hotdog, Labuyo and other famous bands in the Philippines.  It was a successful event where hundreds of folks attending and enjoying the concert.

Traffikk Jamm is composed of the following:  Jojo Yso, who plays acoustic and electric guitars and does sound engineering for the group. With his background as a folk singer in the Philippines, Jojo does vocals too. Sometimes, he sings lead vocals, but most of the time, he does the back-up for Arnold Tongol the group’s lead vocalist. I asked Jojo what are some of his influences and he listed the following: Heavy Rock, Glam Rock, Top 40’s, Pinoy Rock, Folk Rock and Folk Music.  He added that his favourite artists are James Taylor, CSNY, Santana, Steve Lukather of Toto and Eagles. It is interesting to note that most of his favourites are my favourites too like Restless Heart’s When She Cries.

Another star of Traffikk Jam is their lead guitarist Erwin San Juan.  “Erwin has played for different bands in the Philippines during the late 80s to 90s. He was the lead guitarist/bassist for the late Paul Toledo, better known as the Rod Stewart of the Philippines.  If you listen to Erwin play the lead guitar, you will be amazed as he can sound like Eric Clapton or the lead guitarist of the Eagles when they play Hotel California.

Two more amazing members of Traffikk Jamm are Willie Liwanag the bassist and Noel Marana who plays the drums.  Willie and Noel occasionally do vocals for Traffikk Jamm. Both of them are also famous in the Winnipeg's music scene with their own bands for so many years. They were also members of the Mike Hanopol’s back-up band during latter’s concert here in Winnipeg.
This year, Jp Octavo became the new drummer of Traffikk Jamm. Last but not least is Arnold Tongol who got a nice tenor voice and who does the lead vocals for most of their songs. Check out Arnold`s cover of Bruno Mars' famous song ʺVersace on the Floorʺ on line and you`ll be impressed by the pipes of this Traffikk Jamm's front man.

I inquired from a classically trained musician, Jose “Bobie” Nepomuceno, on what he can say about Traffikk Jamm’s quality of playing music.  Bobbie commented that “Traffikk Jamm has synergy when they play.  They already have mastered the dynamics of playing.” Bobie added, “As of 2016, Traffikk Jamm can be considered as one of the best in the Filipino community of Winnipeg.ʺ

Traffikk Jamm’s repertoire incorporates elements of Classic Rock and Top 40 Music.  This hardworking and dedicated band will make your heart thump and your feet stomp with their energetic covers of famous songs.

When the Original Pilipino Music Legends (OPM) from Manila had a concert here in Winnipeg on March 14, 2015,  Traffikk Jamm was the main front act . Traffikk Jamm is all over the place as guest in most of the big Filipino events like the  Food-O-Rama at the PCCM  last August 6 and 7, 2016 (737 Keewatin St.) and at the 5^th Manitoba Filipino Street Festival (MFSF 2016) where around 15,000 thousand folks filled up Memorial Blvd and Broadway Street in front of the Legislative Building.

So, friends in the Multicultural community, if you want to understand Filipino mainstream music in Winnipeg, try Traffikk Jamm and they will definitely give you a party all night experience. Go check them on Facebook.