News: Articles+Reviews
August 30, 2010
"For the Love of Imelda," from Baby Gil with Philippine Star
Truth to tell, my initial interest in this project came about because of Charmaine Clamor. The US- based Filipino jazz artist was one of those whom Byrne picked personally to record for Here Lies Love. She sings Walk Like A Woman and she sounds great. Hers is actually one of the best cuts in the album. Good break for Charmaine because she is among big names like Cyndi Lauper, Tori Amos and Natalie Merchant in an album produced by Byrne and Slim. I thought it would be a collection of songs that we might or might not associate with Imelda. I listened to hear Charmaine and also to find out what Byrne and Slim had done with the music.
Read Full ArticleAugust 26, 2010
"Jazzapino Sounds," from Brick Wahl with LA WEEKLY
Then on Saturday evening at the Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park, well-known "jazzapino" vocalist Charmaine Clamor will do her unique thing: combining jazz standards and spare arrangements of homeland classics, a little pop and some funk even. It's an unusual mix in the stylistically conservative world of female jazz vocalists — her talent and persona (and looks) have gone over real big back at home, where she's quite the star. We're told she'll have a horn section with her at this gig, led by tenor Robby Marshall — who tore it up with Dave Douglas at the Bowl not long ago, and who sounds good on her latest, Something Good (on FreeHam). After, dash over to Nyx in Glendale (156 S. Brand Blvd., 818-545-0333), where Katia Moraes & the Brazilian Hearts perform at 8:30 p.m. Superb and very genuine bossas and sambas, and she'll melt your heart. Free. Read Full Article
July 21, 2010
"Appreciating Musical Talent" from Prosy DeLaCruz with Asian Journal Midweek Magazine
WHEN Fil-Am Jazz Festival was born with Charmaine Clamor and her jazz colleagues, we were impressed, not just with her music, but with her choice of songs which made visible her cultural heritage and her identity. My Funny Brown Pinay, a take on My Funny Valentine became one of our favorites. She had a sultry, sexy style that we knew in time would put her in the mainstream.
In her second concert, she donned a blonde wig while singing this song, and took it off to illustrate her self-awakening that she is now a valuable brown Pinay -- with no need to bleach her skin nor aspire to be blond!
July 15, 2010
"Leading Filipino Jazz Vocalist to Serenade Juneau Tonight" from Klas Stolpe with Juneau Empire
When Juneau hears Charmaine Clamor sing they may feel themselves lifted onto wings of tropical birds and set down upon beaches of white sand with curls of green blue water.
They will imagine the taste of lumpia... the touch of a hand.. the sound of indigenous instruments... all reflected in the shiny ivory keys and black top of a piano in the sand.
They will imagine a little girl with a voice of the stars standing before them in the body of a woman singing to her Kababayan. Read Full Article