Nino Ricardo Montenegro Mesina
Nino Ricardo Montenegro Mesina A highly talented Musician with extensive experience in recording and performing for two decades. One of the most respected and well-liked bass players in the business. Which is why he has recorded and toured with famous groups and solo artists in the Philippines and internationally. A member of a well known rock band the After Image and a former bass player of Francis Magalona’s Spyndicate Posse Hip Hop Rap Band and Kanabiz Funk Rock Band.
He started playing the bass back in 1986 when he first saw an mtv of Duran Duran band, he then immediately put up his own band with his fellow classmates in high school which is named “Skattered Piece” in Benedectine Abbey School San Beda Alabang. They performed for house parties, proms and graduation parties.
He began his professional career as a musician in 1990, playing the bass for Binky Lampano’s first solo album, followed by the Big Trouble Band in 1991 that played in different venues around the metro. He was then introduced to the King of Pinoy Rap Francis Magalona by a childhood friend to join the Hip Hop Rap Band Spyndicate Posse, which led to the creation of the “Kanabiz Band”, the first band to set a new trend of funk rock music in the Philippines. Its first hit single, “Meron Akong Ano” topped the charts and became one of the staple style of music in the country. In 1994 after he left the Kanabiz band he joined the well renouned rock band After Image, with his different style of bass playing he gave the band a certain flavor that gave the group an edgy modern sound that propelled the band to make numerous hit songs, that made them an icon in pop rock music in the Philippines.
In 1998 after the band After Image called it quits he and his former guitar player Chuck Isidro formed Liquid Sky with Jamie Wilson on vocals with there origal music they played around the city and toured some parts of the country. In one of there gigs he met the key board player of a funk band Eboy Bautista, and started to jam and formed Gr33n band at 2003, a soul full edgy band that played original music that had regular gigs in the city. In 2004 while hanging out in one of the famous bars in town he met John Brown, a long time friend that played drums, he immediately hooked up with John and formed Southern Grass. A Classic rock band that created an original music with a different flavor, because of each members different influences, they created a whole new wave of music that made them one of the well respected band in the country. They were also included in a compilation album of well known artists, called 6 underground “The Gathering”.
In 2007 he got a call from Lucielle Fedelino, a soon to be manager of After Image. She said that she was very much interested in putting up the band together again. The three original members Nino Mesina, Wency Cornejo and Arnold Cabalza met up and decided to reform the band again. They recruited two new members to fill up the shoes of the old members. They arranged and recorded the songs between 2007 and 2008. The new album was released on april 2008 the album is called “ Our Place Under The Sun” .
After Image is been touring in the Philippines and some parts in asia (Singapore) to promote there latest album. From then until now he continues to play bass, arranges and sings with other famous artist in the Philippines.
He is the managing director/ group I head, who works in a swimming pool construction company, Mesina Brothers Incorporated, a family business firm that started in 1961 founded by his father Arch. Jose E. Mesina. It is one of the first swimming pool construction companies in the Philippines.
Discography/Albums
Bands The Sake Band: Singer Bass Player, Composer, Arranger 1988 Binky Lampano Band: (Pinoy Rock Unang Yugto Album) Arranger, Bass Player on the song (Kwentong Looban 1990) Big Trouble Band: Bass Player, Composer, Arranger 1991 Francis Magalona: (Rap Is Francism Album)Bass Player, Composer on the song (Yo! To Yahweh) 1992, Spyndicate Posse Band Francis Magalona: (Meron Akong Ano Album) Bass Player 1993, Kanabiz Band After Image Band: (Bagong Araw Album) Bass Player 1996 Sun Valley Crew: Bass Player 1997, Rap Hip Hop Band Liquid Sky Band: Bass Player, Composer, Arranger, W/ Jamie Wilson 1998 Andrew E.: Bass Player on the song(Banyo Queen) 1998 Gr33n Band: Bass Player, Composer, Arranger 2002-2003 Southern Grass Band: Bass Player, Composer, Arranger 2004
Various Conributions (6UG Six Under Ground Album/ The Gathering) Southern Grass Band: Bass Player, Arranger, Composer on the song (Halak Hak Sa Ulap) 2006 (Hopia Mani Pop Corn) After Image Band 2007
After Image Band: (Our Place Under The Sun Album) Bass Player, Singer “Brightest Day” 2008 Edu Manzano: (Dance Of The Universe Album), Bass Player on the song (Papayo Yawza) 2008 Southern Musician: Faculty Member Bass Instructor School of Music: (Funk and Rock Style) 2006 to Present
Awards and nominations
1995 - Bassist of the year “WLS.FM Radio”
1996 - Nominated for bassist of the year “NU rock awards”
1997 - BAGONG ARAW
After Image Gold Record
1997 - WALANG HANGGAN
After Image Best Performance AWIT AWARDS
1996 – AFTER IMAGE
97.1 WLS f.m. Top Twenty at Twelve Best Live Performance
1995 - TAG–ULAN, TAG– ARAW
After Image Quadruple Platinum Records
1995 - AFTER IMAGE
Record of the Year KATHA MUSIC AWARDS
1995 - AFTER IMAGE
Best Rock Album KATHA MUSIC AWARDS
1995 – AFTER IMAGE
Popular Group Singer/ Entertainer GMMSE AWARDS
1994 - AFTER IMAGE
Band of the Year NUROCK AWARDS
1993 - AFTER IMAGE
Song of the Year KATHA MUSIC AWARDS
1993 - AFTERIMAGE
Best Rock Recording AWIT AWARDS FINALIST
1993 - AFTERIMAGE
Best Performance by a AWIT AWARDS
New Duo or Group Recording Artist
1993 - TOUCH THE SUN
After Image Gold Record
1993 - BAI Best Rock Song
After Image Catholic Mass Media Award,
Catholic Mass Media Award