Under dim lights and colorful flowing curtains, five men clothed in their finest attire harmoniously played a variety of instruments from a collection of drums to a tiny harmonica to a grand piano. The result was an ode to a popular Filipino dish called "Fried Lumpia and Some Steam Rice" that forced the crowd up from their seats to the dance floor.

Awing the crowd with a mix of upbeat and sensual music, Filipino or Pinoy, jazz and blues band Little Brown Brother performed at Sheba Piano Lounge in the historic Fillmore District on Feb. 25, to promote the upcoming San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival.

"We're very proud to be a part of the Filipino American Jazz Festival and we want to encourage everyone to go," Carlos Zialcita, singer and harmonica player of Little Brown Brother, said. "It's a great opportunity to be a part of history, to let people know that Pinoy jazz does exist."

The festival, a collaboration among different Filipino organizations across the Bay Area including the Filipino American National Historical Society, the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center and the Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc., aims to promote, preserve and celebrate Filipino-American history and culture and to acknowledge past and present contributions by Filipino jazz artists, according to Zialcita, who is also the festival's executive producer.

"Pinoy jazz musicians have contributed a lot to the genre," he said. "Not a lot of people know that."

According to Zialcita, Pinoy Jazz has been described as a "process of self-discovery of the various influences that Pinoy musicians are subjected to, not only from outside, but also from inside their own country and culture."

"It is important to know Filipino history, especially if you're Filipino," SF State Mechanical Engineer major Christian Fernandez said. "It is important to know who you are and where you come from."

Fernandez, who did not know about the history of jazz and Filipinos, found out about the event and the festival from one of his Asian American studies professors.

"It's imperative to showcase different types and interpretations of jazz," Netsanet Alemayehu, owner and executive chef of Sheba Piano Lounge, said. "We're very excited to have (Little Brown Brother) play here again because they bring a different flavor, a different sound to the table. They have their own 'thang' going on."

Keeping true to their Filipino heritage, Little Brown Brother has performed a number of events in the Filipino community including the 2007 Pista Sa Nayon in Vallejo, the 2007 Bindlestiff Theatre Black and White BindleBall, and a benefit concert for Sugar Pie DeSanto held at The Manilatown Center in San Francisco.

The Filipino American Jazz Festival will return to San Francisco for a third year, kicking off with Little Brown Brother's performance at Yoshi's Jazz Club on October 10, 2010.