Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

LOS ANGELES - "Jazzipino" exponent Charmaine Clamor, the first Filipina artist to place on both the world music and traditional jazz music charts in the US, has released yet another labor of love and passion, "My Harana: A Filipino Serenade."

The CD is Charmaine's follow-up to her "Flippin' Out," which earned favorable reviews and got consistent radio and Internet airplay in America. That album secured her title as the purveyor of "jazzipino" music, her hybrid of jazz and Filipino music and lyrics. This time, the Los Angeles-based Charmaine, awarded as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the US, lovingly tackles some of the Philippines' romantic serenade songs in various dialects.

Backed up primarily by ace musician Richard Ickard on guitar, banduria, laud, kutyapi and kulintang, Charmaine gives soulful interpretations of such lyrical songs as "O, Ilaw," "Minamahal, Sinasamba" (a duet with Mon David, who sings with romantic fervor)," "Malinac Lay Labi" in my native Pangasinense (Hey Charmaine, why didn't you ask me to sing this with you?), "Matud Nila" and "Mekeni King Siping Ku."

A spare arrangement of "Pamulinawen," with Richard providing a simple, exotic counterpoint on kulintang and kutyapi to Charmaine's vocals, makes the Ilocano ditty sound refreshing. This track should guarantee some airplay on world music radio programs.

Charmaine, who grew up in Subic, Zambales, will launch "My Harana" in two high profile events in LA. First, she will sing a few songs from the CD in "Jazzmopolitan: A Celebration of Music," a benefit concert of the Filipino American Library to fund its commendable projects on Oct. 11 at the Aratani Theatre in LA's Little Tokyo (www.jaccc.org). After that is the actual album launch on Nov. 9 at LA's premiere jazz club, Catalina Bar & Grill (www.catalinajazzclub.com).

Below are excerpts of our interview via e-mail with Charmaine about her new CD:

Which dialect/song was the most challenging for you to master? Did anyone coach you?

What was somewhat challenging was singing in Pangasinan for "Malinac Lay Labi." I had to practice how to pronounce "e" and "d." It is different from Tagalog, which is my native tongue.

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