[Dixielandjazz] Mon David wins London International Jazz Competition (Vocal)

[Steve barbone]

Hello Pat Ladd:

Is this for amateurs like "American Idol"?

Cheers,
Steve


Philippine Daily Inquirer; Mar 24, 2006 - by Tonette Orejas

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO--ONCE again, a Filipino is the best of 'em.

Jazz singer Mon David won the grand prize in the prestigious London
International Jazz Competition (LIJC) last Wednesday, besting 106
vocalists from 27 countries.

The 52-year-old native of Pampanga began his performance at the
finals-held at the Cadogan Hall in London's Sloane Square-with a few
bars of an ethnic chant, singing a cappella the first lines of "Nature
Boy," and then crooning "My One and Only Love" and "Lullaby of
Birdland."

As LIJC Jazz Vocalist 2006, David will receive 1,000 euros (nearly
P90,000) and take on engagements at the Jagz in Ascot and the 606 Club
in Chelsea.

Confirming on Thursday news of his winning, David told his friends in
Pampanga that in his spiel, he shared his "amazement at how music can
transcend borders and cultural differences, how it can bring people
together, how it can truly set us free."

Said David's 19-year-old daughter Nikki: "We were asking him if he had
felt like he won it after he performed. He said he knew he had
connected with the audience and with his band. He was able to get them
hooked from the beginning. He wasn't consumed by nervousness and
anxiety because he really enjoyed performing. At a certain point, he
said he was in a trance."

Only Asian

David was the only Asian among the 12 who made it to the finals. (At
the March 18 semis, he sang "Waltz for Debby," "No More Blues" and
"Skylark.")   He outdid Dan Barnett and Karlie Bruce of Australia,
Torsten Goods of Germany, and Heidi Martin and Alison Wedding of the
United States.

The finalists were scored on intonation, jazz vocal sound, time feel,
interpretation and phrasing, innovation concept, improvisation and
convincing stage presence.

The judges included Lee Gibson and Tina May, described as "two of
Britain's finest jazz vocalists and educators," LIJC executive
director Ursula Malewski, jazz vocalist Ian Shaw, and Pete Churchill
and Adam Sieff, jazz consultants with Sony BMG Music International,
Dune Records and DDE Records.

According to the LIJC, the contenders from Britain, Armenia, Austria,
Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Spain,
Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States were of "an
exceptionally high and professional standard."

Revival advocate

David, who is due to return to the Philippines on April 5, is expected
to get a grand welcome in Pampanga where he is an advocate of
Kapampangan culture revival, according to Robby Tantingco, director of
the Center for Kapampangan Studies of the Holy Angel University.

A recipient of the 2004 Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award (in the
arts, culture and music), David supported the revival of folk songs
recorded in musical compact discs by the Crissot Foundation, ArtiSta
Rita Foundation and the center, and their inclusion in his recordings
and concerts.

Smart Communications president Manny V. Pangilinan helped fund David's
trip to London.