“One of jazz’s rising stars”...Jordan Richardson Blogcritics.com
Charmaine Clamor Has This To Say About Her New CD:
I believe there are two kinds of music: the Good Stuff and everything else. Good can be jazz, or world, or blues. Good can be classical, or opera, or hip-hop. Or funk or soul or even pop.
The labels don’t matter; the sound matters. It’s true, I’m a Filipino-American. It’s true, I’m a jazz singer. I do this musical blending called jazzipino, and it comes straight from my heart. But it’s also true that I’m a citizen of Earth, and I’m a world-blues-funk-soul-pop vocalist who won’t be, can’t be, categorized. I’m me, and this is my music.
You’ll hear my passion for the groove, for swing, for beautiful words and inspiring sounds. You’ll also discover my passion for the blessed planet we inhabit, and which we honor with our Mother Nature Suite. How strongly do I feel about taking care of our environment?
The tray your CD sits in is made of potatoes. If you don’t dig this album, you can bury the whole package in your compost heap. It’s 100% recycleable! We like to think, however, that our music doesn’t qualify for the dreaded “everything else” genre. We’re delighted to share with you Something Good.
About Charmaine Clamor:Celebrated by The New York Times as “a gifted vocalist” and by The Los Angeles Times as “one of the important and original new jazz singers of the decade,” Filipino-American recording artist and cultural trailblazer Charmaine Clamor has earned her crown.
Creating, developing and mastering one musical genre has never been enough for the brilliantly eclectic Clamor [pronounced clah-MORE; rhymes with amour]. Her global recognition reached new heights in 2010 when Charmaine was the only Filipina to appear on the David Byrne/Fatboy Slim concept album, “Here Lies Love” (Nonesuch), about the life of Imelda Marcos. Charmaine was joined on the recording by luminaries such as Cyndi Lauper, Tori Amos, Martha Wainwright, Sia, Santigold, Sharon Jones, Alison Moorer, Kate Pierson (B-52s) and Natalie Merchant.
In the liner notes of Something Good (FreeHam), Charmaine’s upcoming 4th U.S. album, she declares, “I believe there are two kinds of music: the good stuff, and everything else.” To Charmaine Clamor, the categories don’t matter; the labels are irrelevant. Call her a Filipino-jazz-world-soul-pop-funk-blues singer. Call her the Queen of Jazzipino. When she shares her once-in-a-generation astonishingly expressive voice, genres fade away and beauty takes over. JazzTimes emphasized, “Clamor vocally resembles an amalgam of Nancy Wilson and Lena Horne, a sumptuously elegant blend of silk and satin, trimmed with gutsy self-possession.”
Charmaine’s musical journey began at age 3, entertaining passengers -- whether they liked it or not! -- in the back of buses traveling to Manila. Originally from the provincial town of Subic-Zambales, Philippines, young Charmaine provided piano accompaniment while her mother sang kundiman (Filipino torch songs) and English-language classics. These childhood memories inspired Charmaine’s enduring love of American music.
After immigrating to the United States as a teenager, Charmaine graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and went on to earn a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Cal State-Northridge. Throughout her college years, Charmaine worked as a “KJ” (a karaoke hostess). During this time she was discovered by the musical director of Crescendo, a vocal jazz harmony quintet, while singing Whitney Houston songs at a Filipino fried chicken restaurant.
In 2005, following nearly a decade of ensemble singing, Charmaine made her solo recording debut with Searching for the Soul (FreeHam Records), and her “bedroom eyes voice” {All About Jazz} instantly garnered comparisons to legendary vocalists such as Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, Julie London, Lena Horne, and Cassandra Wilson. Several pundits dubbed her “the Filipino Sarah Vaughan.”
Charmaine's critically acclaimed second album, Flippin’ Out (FreeHam Records; 2007), brought her international recognition. On this landmark recording, she introduced jazzipino, her own music brand and style blending jazz with the music from her beloved home country. Charmaine’s artistry was featured on BBC’s “The World” and NPR’s “Weekend Edition,” which described her music as “the perfect bridge of two cultures.”
Her third album, My Harana: A Filipino Serenade (2008), revived the ancient Filipino courtship tradition of harana – serenading a lover beneath her window – but with a twist: this time it was the woman doing the serenading! Charmaine’s bold vision and sublime vocal tenderness solidified her role as her birth country’s most celebrated international musical ambassador.
Through her presence on American radio and incessant touring from Alaska to Florida, Charmaine has been credited with introducing authentic Filipino musical culture to mainstream listeners. To further her lifelong goal of bringing the music of the Philippines to ever larger audiences, Charmaine serves as one of the founding members of JazzPhil-USA, a non-profit organization that promotes jazz artists of Filipino descent in the United States. For five consecutive years, she has lent her notoriety to the popular Filipino-American Jazz Festival, held annually in Hollywood, at the Catalina Bar & Grill Jazz Club, where Charmaine’s appearances with fellow Filipino-American jazz stars inspire standing-room-only crowds.
In 2009, Charmaine was signed to a multi-record deal with Viva Records, one of the largest pop music labels in Asia. As Viva’s first and only jazz artist, her debut album, appropriately entitled Jazzipino, brought Charmaine’s unique sound to millions of new listeners on Filipino radio and television. With two consecutive albums in the JazzWeek World Music Top-10, including the rare feat of simultaneously making Top-5 on both the World (#2 ranking) and Traditional Jazz (#4) radio charts, Charmaine has earned unprecedented praise for her cultural trailblazing. Her many honors include the Asian Heritage Award in Performing Arts, Filipinas Entertainer of the Year, and recognition as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the United States.
But she won’t rest until audiences feel her passion for all kinds of music --and for the blessed planet we inhabit. Charmaine is proudly “green,” serving on the Sierra Club’s Water Committee, and dedicating her song “Flow,” the first single and music video from Something Good, to water advocacy organizations.
Charmaine lives in Southern California, where she tends to an organic vegetable garden, volunteers for environmentally responsible organizations, and works tirelessly at making something good.
Creating, developing and mastering one musical genre has never been enough for the brilliantly eclectic Clamor [pronounced clah-MORE; rhymes with amour]. Her global recognition reached new heights in 2010 when Charmaine was the only Filipina to appear on the David Byrne/Fatboy Slim concept album, “Here Lies Love” (Nonesuch), about the life of Imelda Marcos. Charmaine was joined on the recording by luminaries such as Cyndi Lauper, Tori Amos, Martha Wainwright, Sia, Santigold, Sharon Jones, Alison Moorer, Kate Pierson (B-52s) and Natalie Merchant.
In the liner notes of Something Good (FreeHam), Charmaine’s upcoming 4th U.S. album, she declares, “I believe there are two kinds of music: the good stuff, and everything else.” To Charmaine Clamor, the categories don’t matter; the labels are irrelevant. Call her a Filipino-jazz-world-soul-pop-funk-blues singer. Call her the Queen of Jazzipino. When she shares her once-in-a-generation astonishingly expressive voice, genres fade away and beauty takes over. JazzTimes emphasized, “Clamor vocally resembles an amalgam of Nancy Wilson and Lena Horne, a sumptuously elegant blend of silk and satin, trimmed with gutsy self-possession.”
Charmaine’s musical journey began at age 3, entertaining passengers -- whether they liked it or not! -- in the back of buses traveling to Manila. Originally from the provincial town of Subic-Zambales, Philippines, young Charmaine provided piano accompaniment while her mother sang kundiman (Filipino torch songs) and English-language classics. These childhood memories inspired Charmaine’s enduring love of American music.
After immigrating to the United States as a teenager, Charmaine graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and went on to earn a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Cal State-Northridge. Throughout her college years, Charmaine worked as a “KJ” (a karaoke hostess). During this time she was discovered by the musical director of Crescendo, a vocal jazz harmony quintet, while singing Whitney Houston songs at a Filipino fried chicken restaurant.
In 2005, following nearly a decade of ensemble singing, Charmaine made her solo recording debut with Searching for the Soul (FreeHam Records), and her “bedroom eyes voice” {All About Jazz} instantly garnered comparisons to legendary vocalists such as Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, Julie London, Lena Horne, and Cassandra Wilson. Several pundits dubbed her “the Filipino Sarah Vaughan.”
Charmaine's critically acclaimed second album, Flippin’ Out (FreeHam Records; 2007), brought her international recognition. On this landmark recording, she introduced jazzipino, her own music brand and style blending jazz with the music from her beloved home country. Charmaine’s artistry was featured on BBC’s “The World” and NPR’s “Weekend Edition,” which described her music as “the perfect bridge of two cultures.”
Her third album, My Harana: A Filipino Serenade (2008), revived the ancient Filipino courtship tradition of harana – serenading a lover beneath her window – but with a twist: this time it was the woman doing the serenading! Charmaine’s bold vision and sublime vocal tenderness solidified her role as her birth country’s most celebrated international musical ambassador.
Through her presence on American radio and incessant touring from Alaska to Florida, Charmaine has been credited with introducing authentic Filipino musical culture to mainstream listeners. To further her lifelong goal of bringing the music of the Philippines to ever larger audiences, Charmaine serves as one of the founding members of JazzPhil-USA, a non-profit organization that promotes jazz artists of Filipino descent in the United States. For five consecutive years, she has lent her notoriety to the popular Filipino-American Jazz Festival, held annually in Hollywood, at the Catalina Bar & Grill Jazz Club, where Charmaine’s appearances with fellow Filipino-American jazz stars inspire standing-room-only crowds.
In 2009, Charmaine was signed to a multi-record deal with Viva Records, one of the largest pop music labels in Asia. As Viva’s first and only jazz artist, her debut album, appropriately entitled Jazzipino, brought Charmaine’s unique sound to millions of new listeners on Filipino radio and television. With two consecutive albums in the JazzWeek World Music Top-10, including the rare feat of simultaneously making Top-5 on both the World (#2 ranking) and Traditional Jazz (#4) radio charts, Charmaine has earned unprecedented praise for her cultural trailblazing. Her many honors include the Asian Heritage Award in Performing Arts, Filipinas Entertainer of the Year, and recognition as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the United States.
But she won’t rest until audiences feel her passion for all kinds of music --and for the blessed planet we inhabit. Charmaine is proudly “green,” serving on the Sierra Club’s Water Committee, and dedicating her song “Flow,” the first single and music video from Something Good, to water advocacy organizations.
Charmaine lives in Southern California, where she tends to an organic vegetable garden, volunteers for environmentally responsible organizations, and works tirelessly at making something good.
Jim Eigo Jazz Promo Services T: 845-986-1677 E-Mail: jazzpromo@earthlink.net
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