CHARMAINE CLAMOR: Flippin' Out

Charmaine Clamor

Flippin' Out

© 2007 FreeHam Records (634479540059)

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A new kind of world music: soulful American jazz and blues meets traditional Filipino love songs ("jazzipino"). As heard on NPR, "Flippin' Out" simultaneously made Top-5 on JazzWeek's World Music and Traditional Jazz charts.

notes

Upon the release of her debut album, "Searching for the Soul"(FreeHam; 2005), All About Jazz predicted that the Philippines-born American singer CHARMAINE CLAMOR "could shake the musical world."

Now she has.

Born in the provincial town of Subic-Zambales, Philippines, Charmaine Clamor started singing at age 3, entertaining passengers in buses traveling to Manila -- whether they liked it or not! Raised in a home filled with beautiful music -- with a mother singing kundiman, the traditional Filipino torch song; with Ella Fitzgerald on the radio; with Mario Lanza records on the turntable -- Clamor [pronounced clah-MORE] was simultaneously immersed in two different but complementary musical cultures. She loved Filipino music and American music equally. And she fantasized of one day blending her dual passions. When she was 16, Clamor's family immigrated to the United States. Despite learning English as a second language -- Charmaine's first tongue is Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines -- Clamor was the valedictorian of her high school class, in Los Angeles. She subsequently earned a Master's degree in physical therapy. But music -- the music of her youth and of her adopted home -- has been her life's calling.

On her new CD, Flippin' Out (September 1, 2007), the first Filipina to find success on American jazz radio realizes her lifelong dream of synthesizing American jazz, blues, and soul with traditional Filipino folk music, instantly creating a new hybrid genre she calls "jazzipino."

Her groundbreaking album opens with "My Funny Brown Pinay," a startling re-invention of the familiar Rodgers & Hart tune, "My Funny Valentine." Combining English and Tagalog lyrics, Clamor transforms a classic love song into an anthem of native pride. Brought up in a culture that often vainly attempts to emulate its colonial conquerers, Clamor fiercely celebrates her Indio brown skin and flat-nose, inspiring anyone who has ever struggled to find her place in the world.

One well-known L.A. jazz writer jokingly described Clamor as "Sarah Vaughan trapped in the body of a supermodel." Her timeless performance of "I Hadn't Anyone 'til You" is Clamor's way of assuring her jazz fans that the straight-ahead torch-singer they adore isn't going anywhere. She's just momentarily Flippin' Out. Backed by the renowned trio of Christian Jacob, Trey Henry and Ray Brinker (the Grammy-nominated Tierney Sutton Band), Clamor recalls a 1930's chanteuse lost in memories of love.

Throughout Flippin' Out, Clamor proudly features Filipino guest musicians. On "Candy," which swings as hard as Barry Bonds going for the fences, the New York-based alto sax virtuoso, Julius Tolentino (Sharp Nine), lends his blazing, bop-influenced style.

Clamor began her American singing career as a "KJ" -- a karaoke hostess! Pop music is in her blood. But U2 never imagined a version of their hit song "With or Without You" made quite so lonely, quite so haunting.

To remind listeners that even nice Filipina girls can sing the blues -- and sing 'em raunchy! -- Clamor takes on the naughty Nina Simone song "Sugar in My Bowl." Charmaine claims that a living legend, her friend and mentor Linda "the Kid" Hopkins, taught her how to perform a "dirty song" properly, because it's not a skill one naturally learns in the Philippines.

The centerpiece of Flippin' Out is the Filipino Suite, five tracks sung entirely in Tagalog or Bisayan, melding the traditional American jazz trio sound with indigenous Filipino music. The Filipino Suite features the kulintang, a percussion ensemble of tribal drums and gongs that have been played in Clamor's birth country for more than 1,000 years, and the ukulele, played by the Hawaiian master Abe Lagrimas, Jr. Clamor includes a harana, a song performed as part of traditional Filipino courtship, a Filipino lullaby (with Filipino guitarist and Naxos recording artist Ric Ickard), and several kundiman, the Filipino version of an American torch song. Late in 2006, when Clamor headlined the 2nd Annual Filipino-American Jazz Festival, in Hollywood, she witnessed countless non-Filipino music lovers moved to tears by her version of the Philippines' most beloved song, "Dahil Sa' Yo." It was then that Clamor became convinced her music could cut across geographical and cultural divides. She was truly performing "world" music.

After a playful scat romp with her Greek colleague Zaxariades (protégé of the great Jon Hendricks), Charmaine Clamor concludes her Flippin' Out journey with the first tune she remembers hearing in her childhood home: Mario Lanza's "Be My Love." Fittingly, she sings the song in both English and Tagalog.

Don Heckman, chief jazz critic of the Los Angeles Times wrote of Charmaine Clamor, "There's no doubt a first-rate jazz talent is present. Her debut album announced the arrival of an impressive new vocal artist." Flippin' Out announces the arrival of an imaginative singer daring to create a category all her own.

reviews

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  • Beautiful & Important
    author: Dr. J.N. Ernesto

    I have many records that I consider beautiful on the ears. It is a rare artist who can be beautiful (voice and looks) and also have a lasting message. In my opinion Charmaine Clamor is one of these singers. My family which includes teenager daughters finds this to be a CD we keep returning to. Highest recommendation.

  • Filippin' Out with Charmaine Clamor
    author: Brian Ball, Director of Music & Talent--WomensRadio

    From Nina Simone covers to Tagalog and Bisayan traditional melodies, Charmaine Clamor’s sophomore release, Flippin' Out is the true definition of world music which upholds a strong sense of self and family and represents a standard that is to be held throughout the 21st century for jazz singers and musicians worldwide. The opening track of Flippin’ Out, “My Funny Brown Pinay,” sees an empowering anthem aimed at women of all sizes and colors that cleverly plays on Rodgers & Hart’s “My Funny Valentine” with re-imagined lyrics and stereotype-defying content that showcases the bi-lingual, smooth and warming jazz style that Charmaine has dubbed, “Jazzipino.” Throughout the highs and lows of this assertive number, we are reminded of our own individual beauty and the reality of society’s misleading definition of beauty and fleeting hold on our world’s population. Change is good. Charmaine has definitely changed the way many will listen to music in the future as well as having updated a few classics… …such as U2’s 20th century pop hit, “With or Without You,” where we are treated to some of the most beautiful low notes our musical scale has to offer, as delivered by one of the most versatile female vocalists of the last 50 or so years. Afterwards, we are left high on a cloud, somewhere between the feeling of being haunted and enlightened, as we move into the middle section of Flippin’ Out. Tracks 6 through 10 make up the most interesting midsection of any album we’ve listened to this year with her ‘Filipino Suite’ while featuring excellent kulintang representation and masterful ukulele playing on “Panahon Na,” along with Richard Ickard’s charming guitar playing and Guinness Book of World Record composition by Lucio San Pedro & Levi Celerio. Don’t be misled, as Ms. Clamor is quite versatile, despite the overall jazz theme, as we find her moving seamlessly through several languages, genres and vocal stylings as we progress towards the end of Flippin Out, along with a group of fantastic musicians further supporting and complimenting her uniqueness from start to finish. “This is the future of music—Today!”—Brian Ball, Director of Music & Talent, WomensRadio

  • WOW!
    author: Curiosityscat123 - BB

    Absolutely mesmerizing CD, Artist, Lyrics & Music! My mom is Philipino straight from Manila, unfortunately I never learned Tagolog, but, I bought this CD (2 actually), because I thought it would be interesting...and to give one to my mom for Christmas. I did and she LOVED IT! As for me, I love Jazz music, so this CD was incredible to hear how Mrs. Clamor mixed American lyrics and jazz music with Tagolog. I unfortunately have no idea what she says when she speaks Tagolog, but, that's okay, honestly, you don't need to translate the words to recognize beautiful when you hear it. Also, it will give my mom and I a chance to spend time together, because I am going to ask my mom to translate the lyrics for me. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent with the World.

  • author: William D. Watson

    Her voice is truly beautiful, and, if only for that reason, I will purchase her earlier CD. But the seriously slow style in which she usually chooses to sing make this CD good mainly for background evening music. However, "I Need A Lot Of Love" is a great Rumba, and the Phillipino section made the CD much appreciated as a Holiday gift to my Phillipino friends. If her earlier CD has only one song on it that I like, it will be worth the purchase price to find out. Because, when she's good, she's very very good.

  • flippin out
    author: nilo F. del Rosario

    I've listen to this album about 10 times and never get tired of it. Wish you would tour and stop by in Chicago.

  • Flippin'Out
    author: Richard Orselli

    Miss Clamor has a fine vocal style perfect for jazz modulations. The "Filipino Suite" component of the CD is a bit long and, for me, the Tagalog voicing loses substance with the familiar jazz melodies. I wouldn't think Miss Clamor needs to create a category all her own...

  • Searching for the soul
    author: yolanda parra

    I love the music the words and the sound of Ms. Clamor voice. truely I love the music words and sound of Ms. Clamor's voice. It's a pleasure to listen to such fine talent. Thank You!!!

  • Flipping Out
    author: Barbara B. Cox

    I heard parts of "Flipping Out" on NPR and am ordering your CD today. I also would like to hear more of the Tagalog language in the form of stories and poems for the Filipino people who live in this land. Thank you very much. Barbara Cox

  • Clamor is an asset to jazz, and a contributor to the continued traditions of wom
    author: John Book, Music For America

    Filipinos. Jazz. A lot of people may find it difficult to know of any Filipinos who have made an impact in jazz in the last 40 years, but one can refer to such people as Gabe Baltazar, Nohelani Cypriano, Bobby Gonzalez and Matt Catingub. Most people may not know this, but the roots of what we now know as jazz touched the Phillipines in the late 19th century, and truly established itself in the 1920's. Filipinos in and outside of the country would take their love of jazz with them, and while not in the forefront, the truth is that they have contributed to the legacy of jazz throughout the 20th century. In the United States there have been countless hits and misses, especially in Hawai'i where being local but playing music other than traditional Hawaiian can make you an outcast from the start. Fortunately for people like Gabe Baltazar, he played with some of the best jazz musicians of the East and West Coasts, came close to becoming a major player in the jazz world with an album that was scheduled for release on Impulse but canceled. For years, what some would call "Pinoy Jazz" has always bubbled under but never managed to crack the mainstream. Charmaine Clamor is someone who wants to change the existing perceptions, and as someone who claims to be the first Filipina to gain success on American jazz radio, she is off to a great start. Her second album, jokingly titled Flippin' Out (FreeHam), is no laughing matter and in fact one false smirk could get you a few stink eye from this Pinay. The album begins with her own revision of "My Funny Valentine", called "My Funny Brown Pinay". Her voice is silky, strong, and bold, and she sings with a lot of authority in this track to where it becomes a defining statement of who she is as a woman, a Filipina, an American, an artist, and a jazz singer. She moves back and forth between singing and spoken word, where she talks about how yes, she does have a flat nose and brown skin, and when she sings a few lines in Tagalog it is very chilling. The next four songs are more traditional in nature, or at least one may assume it is. "Candy" sounds like it could drift off into something very cute with references to the old song "I Want Candy", but instead her love of the candy is much more mature and (perhaps for her) much sweeter than most people know. The same can be said for "I Need A Lot Of Love", which is seductive to the point of being able to melt in her hands. Her cover of U2's "With Or Without You" is very eerie with an emphasis on the "without you" in the title. Most people either stay true to the original arrangement or spice it up with a happy vibe, but with Clamor she takes it to a dark part of her soul to where it sounds too revealing. It sounds as if it hurts, and she lets you know this line by line. The middle of the album begins with a five-song "Filipino Suite", where songs are performed traditionally and with a jazzy touch, including one piece from Clamor herself. This section features the great 'ukulele playing of Abe Lagrimas, Jr., and it's great to hear him continue the traditions maintained by Herb Ohta, Don Baduria, Peter Moon, and more recently Jake Shimabukuro. Even in her native tongue, her jazz still sounds beautiful and one can easily see her doing a full project with other Filipino musicians in the near future. Flippin' Out is a woman who is proud of her upbringing in the Phillipines, and proud to call the United States her home. The music is a perfect bridge of two cultures, and in truth two musical cultures that she cares for the most, done with a passion that can be heard in a voice that should be heard in every jazz venue across the nation, if not the world. Clamor is an asset to jazz music, and a contributor to the continued traditions of women in jazz.

  • A Filipina Diva
    author: Glenn Astarita, ALL ABOUT JAZZ

    Filipina diva Charmaine Clamor grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Mario Lanza and moved to southern California at the age of sixteen. Against spare and tasteful arrangements led by pianist Christian Jacob, Clamor ventures into jazz, world and blues territories while occasionally toggling between American and her native tongue, and she effectively integrates Filipino folk melodies into the jazz vernacular. She conveys a pleasing intimacy on the lullaby-like “Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan,” spiced-up by Richard Ickard’s gentle acoustic guitar, then shows a bit of spunk during the up-tempo Latin groove of “I Need A Lot Of Love.”

  • A Force to Be Recokoned With
    author: Sari Kent, CelebrityCafe.com

    Charmaine Clamor’s “Flippin’ Out” is a record filled with fresh tracks that typify jazz, R & B and blues all in one superb grouping. Fans of all of these types of music will be flipping out over this album, which sets Clamor up as a force to be reckoned with in several musical genres.

  • An Incredible Talent
    author: Karl Stober, EJAZZNEWS

    This Filipina jazz singer exhibits a very pure talent. The ability to express much more than just a tune is unique. Clamor sings to times, feelings, and purpose. A superb performance from a multi-talented gem!

  • Intriguing Approach to Traditional Music
    author: Rudy Menudo

    Many people I am sure will choose to focus on Charmaine Clamor's voice which is a gift from God that she blessed to have. What I would like to say is that on this "Flippin'" album she takes some very old songs of our country (songs from my childhood and even my mother's childhood) and treats them with great respect and honor. They are done in a new and different way unlike the old style. If you know these beautiful Filipino songs like me I predict you will find yourself shedding a tear or two. Charmaine's versions are so beautiful and so touching. I am honored to own "Flippin' Out" which is a play on the word Filipino. Pinoys and Pinays everywhere should add this to their collection for it is bound to become a classic. Salamaat, Charmaine Clamor. You make me proud to be a Filipino.

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