A Cool Change for Jaya

With everybody is doing the covers route, the New Year is shaping up to be just another time for adaptations. This is not very commendable because it discourages the creation of new materials. But you cannot really blame artists and producers. Making music is an art but people also have to earn a living and the easiest songs to sell these days are the oldies. Aside from the fact that the best remembered ones are truly beautiful and have stood the tests of time, these also come with loads of memories for listeners to once more savor and enjoy.

2007 saw what must have been the biggest harvest of covers albums from Filipino artists. Among the best received was the ninth studio album and first all covers collection by soul babe Jaya. Titled Cool Change after the song popularized by the Little River Band, the CD is an eclectic mix of tunes. Some rock, some jazz, some R ’n B and a lot of pop. What unites the diverse lot is Jaya, whose singing is so distinctive you cannot mistake her for anybody else.

Jaya had the good fortune of having been able to build a solid career with the success of original compositions she got the chance to record. Dahil Tanging Ikaw, Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig and Laging Naro’n Ka were among her early hits. She has also done covers in the past. Billy Joel’s Honesty was one of them. This time around though, she puts on the whole lot and comes off with flying colors. I am reminded here of Nora Aunor, who can cover anything and make it her own. It is her voice that makes the difference and Jaya’s has the same combination of fullness and sweet expressive tones.

The voice is the canvas in Cool Change and Jaya provides the colors. Nothing loud or explosive here. The hues are mainly muted to go with the musical arrangements that have been pared down to the basics to allow the melodies to flow naturally. I would really much rather have Jaya do originals but I have to admit that the relaxed mood and the remarkable restraint she exhibits in her delivery make Cool Change a special treat. Take a special note of how she gets to the heart of Chaka Khan’s Through the Fire. Other pop divas would have hung their tonsils out to dry with this highly-charged ballad. Jaya just twist her notes a bit and gets better effect.

The title cut leads the pack in the CD, but it is Is It Over?, which if I remember right comes from a one hit wonder artist named Gene, that turned out to be the first hit single. This track is now providing very steep competition to the hits from the other cover divas of the moment, Kyla with Love Will Lead You Back and Nina with Somewhere Down the Road.

The other songs included in Cool Change are Just Once, originally by James Ingram; Points of View, once a duet by Joey Albert and Pops Fernandez, now recorded by Jaya with girl pal Regine Velasquez; On the Radio by Donna Summer; Girlfriend by Julia Fordham; Just Because by Anita Baker; Rannie Raymundo’s Why Can’t It Be? now a duet by Jaya and Janno Gibbs; Living Inside Myself  by Gino Vanelli and two takes from Kenny Loggins, For the First Time and Cody’s Song.

Pinoy Soul Movement

Speaking of soul sounds, you might want to check out Pinoy Soul Movement. The new CD features some of the best bands around doing their originals soul style. These songs, I am happy to note, are also among their best works. I heartily recommend this to those who love recordings of contemporary Filipino pop artists but are watching their budgets. This album works like a sampler. Listen to the tracks and then get the whole album of the bands you like. You will not be disappointed.

Cuts are Sino? by Sinosikat?; Bahid by Salindiwa; Lazy Daisy Remix by UP Dharma Down; Telerama by Kapatid; Grateful by Julianne; Maynila by Sound; All Star Nation by Kala; Turn My Head (Nu Born Flip Remix) by Nyko Maga & Playground featuring Flipperbaby; Wham by The Chillitees; PNP (Panis na Panis) by Cosmic Love; and the George Estregan Blues Explosion by the Radio Active Sago Project.