Joko Reantso

JOKO REANTASO, BLUES GUITAR WHIZ KID
Kids today are so lucky. Not only with the onset of technology, but also the availability of all the gadgets and guitars around which made it a cinch for youngsters to express their creative side. Take for example Jonathan Marco Reantaso, Joko for short. This 20-year old guitar enthusiast has enough accomplishment to date. And he is not slowing down.
He formed his first band when he was just 11 years old “Sino” in 2011 and won as Grand Champion in Back to Back Talent Contests in San Beda College Albans 2011 and 2012. “I grew up in Las Piñas, and my dad and I would go driving to places listening to Van Halen, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Johnson, that sort of music,  and I kind of grew up liking it”, admits Joko.
In 2013 he formed “Juaneo” in 2013 and was able to get an invite to perform as one of the up and coming bands in the second anniversary of the Philippine Blues Society January 2014. “I took a few lessons here and there, but most of my skills now is I picked up online and a big chunk from the people I met along the way. I basically took everything in and pushed myself to be better everyday”, declares Joko.
“Mean Jay” was his next band formed in 2014. They were the Champion for Greenhills Sessionistas again on the same year.  Their band was selected by the Philippine Blues Society to represent the Philippines in the International Blues Competition 2015, Memphis Tenessee. Coming back home another Grand Champion award was accorded to the band for the Yellow Room Battle of the Bands 2015. He was also took the Best Guitarist Award.
From 2015 to 2017, he became the Brand Ambassador for Fender Guitars (Philippines) and Yupangco Music Philippines, making him the youngest recipient of that distinction, thus far. “I am truly blessed to have jammed with Juan Dela Cruz Band, Louie Talan, Basti Artadi, Perfecto De Castro, Cookie Chua, the list goes on….”, reminds Joko.
He also did some session guitar for French Recording Artist David Abakan’s Manila Album Tour. Plus countless performances with guitar greats in many places. Besides to guitar, Joko can also pound the skin and also play the keyboards. “My collection includes a 1994 Fender Strat Squire, a Fender Classic Jaguar, a Fender John 5 Tele, a Chapman ML3 and a Randy Rhoads Flying V”, says Joko.
Joko launched his solo EP album called ‘Sunny Side Up’ last 2018 in 19East. And another is in the works this year. Currently, his band ‘JOKO’ plays original guitar instrumentals. And with a couple of other bands on the side as well. And all of this are happening while he is a student in College of St.Benilde in Taft Ave. taking up AB-Studio Recording.