Charmaine Clamor - Something Good (2010)

From Charmaine Clamor, the queen of jazzipino: I believe there are two kinds of music: the Good Stuff and everything else. Good can be jazz, or world, or blues. Good can be classical, or opera, or hip-hop. Or funk or soul or even pop. The labels don't matter; the sound matters.

It's true, I'm a Filipino-American. It's true, I'm a jazz singer. I do this musical blending called jazzipino, and it comes straight from my heart. But it's also true that I'm a citizen of Earth, and I'm a world-blues-funk-soul-pop vocalistwho won't be, can't be, categorized. I'm me, and this is my music.

You'll hear my passion for the groove, for swing, for beautiful words and inspiring sounds. You'll also discover my passion for the blessed planet we inhabit, and which we honor with our Mother Nature Suite. How strongly do I feel about taking care of our environment? The tray your CD sits in is made of potatoes. If you don't dig this album, you can bury the whole package in your compost heap. It's 100% recycleable! We like to think, however, that our music doesn't qualify for the dreaded "everything else" genre. We're delighted to share with you Something Good.

Recording information: JJ Blair Studios; Moonwine; Perfect Hollywood; Stagg Street.

Zaxariades, Mon David, Our Lady of Refuge Children's Choir, Linda Hopkins, Mark Winkler, Michael Konik (vocals); Bo Razon (guitar, tres, congas, percussion); Richard Ickard (guitar); Robby Marshall (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Mike Stever (trumpet); Vikram Devasthali (trombone); Eli Brueggemann (piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ); Dominic Thiroux (acoustic bass, electric bass); Abe Lagrimas, Jr. (drums).