Though she’s hardly a household name around these parts, Fil-Am Charmaine Clamor has already made a mark abroad with her new style of music called “Jazzipino.”

The chanteuse’s inimitable style has even caught the ears of American jazz critic Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times who wrote “her debut album, announced the arrival of an impressive new vocal artist.”

Further, the revered Jazz Times magazine describes the Filipina as “a dynamic new compass point in world music.” 

Despite the accolades, Charmaine simply describes her music as a fusion of American jazz and traditional Filipino music, Kundiman.

In an exclusive interview with Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online, Charmaine said that like most singers, she started her career by mimicking the voices she heard on Top 40 radio.

“I sang Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin songs because that’s the kind of voice that I have,” said she.

It was her parents, however, who first influenced Charmaine to become a jazz artist. “They introduced me to Kundiman, Jazz and Opera  because that’s the kind of music that’s coming from our living room when I was growing up.”

Coming up with a musical style all her own came gradually to the singer; far easier, she said, compared to the hardship she endured in trying to break into the Los Angeles music scene.

“It was hard at first kasi kailangan mo ng following,’” she shared. “You really have to work…to get people come to your shows. I needed a lot of support from my family, friends and my management team.”

It was while in Los Angeles that Charmaine learned how to set herself apart from other musicians, and to improve in her craft by listening to jazz records and watching other jazz musicians.

“I also got advice from the living legends of jazz like Tierney Sutton, Barbara Morrison, (members of) The Kurt Elling Band, Sheila Jordan (who used to play with Charlie Parker), James Moody, Linda Hopkins (the first African American Tony award winner) and even Etta James.

“Parang bata ako (nun). Natutuwa sila sa kin [kasi] parang ‘Sino ba itong Pinoy na ito nanghihingi ng advice?’ “I’m like their little protégé and they were really generous in sharing their wisdom with me.”

Charmaine became so good that she was given the chance to cut her first jazz album titled, “Searching For A Soul,” an all-English album filled with jazz standards.

However, it was in her second album, “Flippin’ Out,” that “Jazzipino” came to be.

“Yun ang nagbigay sa akin ng mas malaking recognition nationwide (U.S.) because it was different,” said she.

Charmaine recalled the first time her Tagalog song got played on a U.S. jazz format radio station.

“I first heard “Minamahal Kita” on the airwaves while I was in L.A. Many Filipinos e-mailed the radio station after that. They said the song brought them to tears kasi they were very touched.

“Kasi alam mo, mga immigrant kami eh – there’s a huge piece of us that’s missing and music is one of the greatest ways to connect us to our homeland.”

Surprisingly, though, mixing Jazz and Kundiman was inspired by Charmaine’s American audience.  “They were the ones who encouraged me to do this because those watching my shows were mostly non-Filipinos who listen to jazz. Hindi naman panay Pinoys lang ang audience ko in the beginning,” said she.

Many of these non-Filipinos told Charmaine that Tagalog sounds romantic.

“At the start of Jazzipino, unti-unti ko nang kinakanta yung ‘Dahil Sa ‘Yo.’ I’ll play it straight ballad, and Americans will come after the show and say, ‘I was so touched by that melody--what is that song?’ And then I proudly say, ‘That’s Tagalog, it’s one of our classics.’”

Indeed, the song “Dahil Sa’Yo” casts a certain effect on her American audience.

“The Americans come to me after the show with tears in their eyes—I’m not exaggerating! That’s their reaction…” said she.

She mused: “Kundiman is like Opera in that some people don’t know what the words mean but the emotions being poured into the music, dun sila nadadala.”

Charmaine is in Manila to promote her album titled, “Jazzipino,” which contains her versions of the traditional Filipino songs  “Dahil Sa’Yo,” “Minamahal Kita,” “Pamulinawen,” “Dungawin Mo Hirang,” and “Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan,” among others.

“I’ve been singing the songs in this album for 3-4 fours years now  and thank goodness it’s being embraced by my kababayan and Americans alike.

“Still, I feel that this music really belongs here. And for Filipinos to embrace my music--that will be the greatest reward.”