LOS ANGELES—“Jazzipino” pioneer artist Charmaine Clamor is not only winning hearts with her jazzy renditions—the charming and humble Filipina, whose song “Walk Like a Woman” was recently featured on David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s Here Lies Love album under Nonesuch Records along with songs from Cyndi Lauper, Tori Amos, and Natalie Merchant, is also spearheading a water advocacy.We asked the acclaimed performer what inspired her to get involved in this advocacy and what she has done to promote it.
“I grew up in the Philippines, where potable water is not available to everyone,” Charmaine, who is originally from Subic, Zambales, and is now based in Los Angeles, said. “At a very young age, I learned the value of water. Growing up, I became increasingly knowledgeable of the global issue of water through my travels, reading, and viewing, including the excellent documentary film Flow. I’ve promoted this advocacy socially, artistically, and personally.
“Socially, I proudly serve as a volunteer for Food & Water Watch and Sierra Club Water Committee. For a couple of years, we helped educate the community of Los Angeles about our water issues through social media, festivals, and various grass-roots efforts.
“Artistically, on my current album Something Good, we include a Mother Nature Suite in which I address our water problems. Recently, in celebration of World Water Day, I released a music video of ‘Flow’ or ‘For the Love of Water,’ an original song by Bo Razon and Michael Konik from Something Good. ABS-CBN’s MYX started airing it yesterday.
“I’m really grateful to Raffy Lopez for his full support of my water advocacy. This gave me an audience of millions of Filipinos globally! On a personal level, I’ve been conserving water and living green for years. My family and I are in the process of transitioning into using grey-water to irrigate our organic garden.”
Read on for an interview with the Fil-Am jazz vocalist:
JANET NEPALES (JN): You are known as the pioneer in the "Jazzipino" music. Can you please share with us why you have introduced this kind of music and your inspiration for doing this?
CHARMAINE CLAMOR (CC): The birth of “Jazzipino” came about organically. It was the synthesis of my two great loves: jazz and kundiman. My parents introduced both to me when I was growing up in Subic, Zambales, Philippines. I started singing jazzipino during the tour of my first US album, Searching for the Soul, in 2005. At first, it was a novelty, but I started pursuing this new art form more seriously thanks to the feedback I was getting from audiences—both Filipino and mainstream.
“Jazzipino” is the ultimate expression of my artistic self, a Filipino-American. Jazz has always been an immigrant’s music, open to different spices that each culture adds to the stew. This is my Filipino contribution to the continuously evolving unique American art form we call jazz.
JN: You are performing on April 28 for the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) fund-raising event. What is it with SIPA that makes you support its causes?CC: SIPA has served the Fil-Am community of Los Angeles for 39 years through various community-based programs. For me, SIPA is the grandparent of all Filipino nonprofits here in LA, an organization that is inclusive and welcoming. It continues to make sure Historic Filipinotown remains visible and significant in southern California, a mission I strongly agree with and support. SIPA’s values correlate with mine, and participating in its fund-raising dinner is my small personal contribution in making sure SIPA continues to do its excellent work.
JN: You are launching your new CD. Can you please tell us more about it?
CC: Something Good is my fourth US release. I started the promotional tour in November of 2010 and continue to support the album with dates around North America. Next up, Montreal.
The idea behind Something Good is simple. Despite the many different labels, genres, and types of music, there are really only two categories: the good stuff and everything else. Something Good embodies where I am now in my musical journey and the kind of woman I’ve become. It’s playful, serious, sexy, funky, and political. It has jazzipino, jazz, soul, [and] the Mother Nature Suite. The music here is me. I’ll let others decide what “genre” I belong in.
The album features many original songs by some of LA’s great songwriters, such as Mon David, Mark Winkler, Michael Konik, Eli Brueggemann, and Geoffrey Tozer. I’m also very proud of the band on this album, one of the finest in Los Angeles. They’re Eli Brueggemann on piano, who also arranged many of the tunes; Dominic Thiroux on bass; Abe Lagrimas on drums and cajon; Bo Razon on kulintang, percussion, and laud; and Ric Ickard on guitar.
JN: You are a busy body. Where does all this passion come from, and how do you manage to do all this?
CC: We only have one life. I want to approach the end looking back feeling like I made a microscopic dent on the history of mankind that I can be proud of. This is how I live my life, and this fuels the passion in doing all that I do. Most of the time it’s easy because of the joy and satisfaction I receive from doing the work. It also helps to have such a supportive family. I am very blessed.
JN: You are scheduled to go to Paris, Montreal and other places. Can you please tell us more about your future projects and performances?
CC: The tour for Something Good has led me to new and exciting places, such as Puebla, Mexico, where I sang in an opera house before 700 listeners. I recently made my debut performance in Denver, returned to Boston, and soon will have the opportunity to share my music in Paris—ooo la la!—Montreal, and Hawaii. New dates are always being confirmed. I love to sing! Just point me to the microphone. I’ll go anywhere I’m invited.
Creatively, I’m exploring future album projects with two of my favorite colleagues, Ric Ickard and Bo Razon. And, of course, I have this lifelong project we call “woodshedding” whenever I’m home. I work, practice, and work some more so that one day in the future, maybe when I’m 60 or 70, I can play a little. Any musician will tell you, we’re all just trying to get good.
E-mail the writer at jrnepales_624@yahoo.com for your comments or questions.
(Photos courtesy of Charmaine Clamor)
Read more about Charmaine Clamor in these articles:
- Charmaine Clamor: The "Jazzipino" queen on music and the motherland
- Charmaine Clamor releases new music video for World Water Day!
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