Mon competes in int’l jazz tilt

Here’s good news for the music industry!

I got a letter from Allan Fajardo of Candid Records saying Mon David has been chosen one of the 12 semi-finalists in this year’s First London International Jazz Competition for Vocalists. Mabuhay ang Pinoy!

Mon is one of the finest jazz singers in the local music scene. He is in the league of jazz greats Jacqui Magno, Richard Merk, Ray-Ann Fuentes, Tillie Moreno. All but Richard are hardly seen in the entertainment circuit today. Richard is playing jazz godfather to very promising singer Isabella, Kuh Ledesma’s daughter.

I am proud to say Mon has brought his music to higher ground. He is one versatile artist whose talent knows no boundaries. Mon is recognized in the industry not only as a singer but as a songwriter, musician, record producer and teacher.

Mon used to be a drummer and vocal coach of the APO Hiking Society. He also co-produced one of APO’s albums, Mga Kwento ng Apo. He was launched as a solo artist via the concert Out of the Shadows. He has earned music awards from Katha and the Catholic Mass Media Awards. An album, entitled Solitude, won five major awards from the seventh Katha Awards namely: Best R and B Vocal Performance for You’re The Love of My Heart, Best Latin Vocal Performance for After the Rain, Best Latin Composition for After the Rain, Best Traditional Composition for Hanggang Saan Hanggang Kailan, Best Traditional Vocal Performance for Mananatiling Mahal.

A true blue Kapampangan, Mon has a compilation of Kapampangan folk songs entitled Abe Mu Ku. He is also one of the artists featured in Pamalsinta Quing Milabas (Romancing the Past), a compilation of Kapampangan classics. He has been awarded the Most Outstanding Kapampangan in the Field of Arts, Culture and Music by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga.

Mon has jammed with the best, like David Benoit, Eric Marienthal, Peter White, Bonby James and Bobby Enriquez. At the First London International Jazz Competition, where he is one of 12 finalists (from over 25 countries that participated), Mon will compete in the semi-finals on March 18 at Vortex Jazz Club. The panel of judges include jazz vocalist Ian Shaw, pianist Pete Churchill and jazz consultant of Sony BMG Music Adam Sieff. Six finalists will be chosen who will perform on March 22 at Chelsea’s Cadogan Hall, one of London’s most prestigious venues.

The winner will receive the First LIJC Jazz Vocalist 2006 Award, cash prizes and engagements. The Gibson May Award will also be presented to the Most Impressive Performance of an individual song by either a semi-finalist or a finalist.

All the best, Mon!

Reggae from Hemp Republic

Reggae, the music popularized by music icon Bob Marley, is the latest beat in one of the singles by Hemp Republic. Jamaican Bob Marley was a music superstar who made several hits including One Love, I Shot the Sheriff which was revived by Eric Clapton, Is this Love, No Woman No Cry, Exodus, Redemption Song, Buffalo Soldier, Waiting in Vain, Jamming, Could You Be Loved, Don’t Rock the Boat, Get Up Stand Up, Satisfy my Soul, Stir It Up, Soul Rebel, among others.

Members of the Hemp Republic bonded together because of their love for reggae music. One of their first original compositions, Hey Body Rock, was done when the band was starting to be known in the music scene. It is a happy tune with an upbeat rhythm and feel-good message. It is found in the album Silver Shiny Jeepney under Alpha Music.

Hemp Republic is composed of Bunny Liwanag on vocals, Al Sese on drums, Ton Ton Hatol on lead guitars, Mabs Tolentino on bass, Mags Gahol on rhythm guitar, Alfred Pasuyuin on keyboards, Glober Calambro on the trumpet, Arjo Ayende on trombone and Caio Cadiz on the toast.

Hemp Republic has jammed with Brownman Revival and Tropical Depression.