LOS ANGELES-"Jazzipino" exponent Charmaine Clamor, the first Filipina artist to place on both the world music and traditional jazz music charts in the US, has released yet another labor of love and passion, "My Harana: A Filipino Serenade."

The CD is Charmaine's follow-up to her "Flippin' Out," which earned favorable reviews and got consistent radio and Internet airplay in America. That album secured her title as the purveyor of "jazzipino" music, her hybrid of jazz and Filipino music and lyrics. This time, the Los Angeles-based Charmaine, awarded as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the US, lovingly tackles some of the Philippines' romantic serenade songs in various dialects.

Backed up primarily by ace musician Richard Ickard on guitar, banduria, laud, kutyapi and kulintang, Charmaine gives soulful interpretations of such lyrical songs as "O, Ilaw," "Minamahal, Sinasamba" (a duet with Mon David, who sings with romantic fervor)," "Malinac Lay Labi" in my native Pangasinense (Hey Charmaine, why didn't you ask me to sing this with you?), "Matud Nila" and "Mekeni King Siping Ku."

A spare arrangement of "Pamulinawen," with Richard providing a simple, exotic counterpoint on kulintang and kutyapi to Charmaine's vocals, makes the Ilocano ditty sound refreshing. This track should guarantee some airplay on world music radio programs.

Charmaine, who grew up in Subic, Zambales, will launch "My Harana" in two high profile events in LA. First, she will sing a few songs from the CD in "Jazzmopolitan: A Celebration of Music," a benefit concert of the Filipino American Library to fund its commendable projects on Oct. 11 at the Aratani Theatre in LA's Little Tokyo (www.jaccc.org). After that is the actual album launch on Nov. 9 at LA's premiere jazz club, Catalina Bar & Grill (www.catalinajazzclub.com).

Below are excerpts of our interview via e-mail with Charmaine about her new CD:

Which dialect/song was the most challenging for you to master? Did anyone coach you?

What was somewhat challenging was singing in Pangasinan for "Malinac Lay Labi." I had to practice how to pronounce "e" and "d." It is different from Tagalog, which is my native tongue.

For all the dialects except Tagalog, I had a "coach"-a friend or family member who speaks that dialect fluently. I listened to recordings as well.

Richard Ickard is a true master of the guitar. If you can shout out a thing or two about Richard, what would you say?

Richard is indeed a world-class guitarist, a fine arranger and composer. He arranged most of the songs on "My Harana." We have one original song-the last track on the album called "Labis." Richard has exquisite taste in music and this is one of the reasons it is pleasurable to collaborate with him. We have been collaborating for three years now.

He is also very creative and plays many instruments. He is originally from Davao but now lives in Los Angeles with his family. Richard is 100 percent Filipino and has made our country proud by releasing an album of classic Philippine music on an international classical label called Naxos Records two years ago.

Tell us about recording "Minamahal, Sinasamba" with Mon David. If both of you were still single, would you open your window if Mon was the one serenading you in your house?

"Minamahal, Sinasamba" is typically sung solo but Mon thought it would make a fine duet. He came up with a haunting arrangement.

Which lady would not open her windows to Mon after hearing him sing? And yes, I will ask him to sing more!

You, Richard and Michael Konik came up with a spare, striking arrangement to "Pamulinawen."

We have been presenting this kind of music to performing arts presenters at various art conferences in the US and the response has been tremendous. One of the standout is always "Pamulinawen." Michael and I came up with the spare arrangement and the idea of using kulintang, which Richard played with such great taste. We also used the kutiyapi on this track.

Which track is your personal favorite?

Every piece on this album is special to me because the research for this project took about six months. I wanted to make sure we covered as many regions as possible but with songs that really speak to me. I had to ask assistance for translations of these tunes so I can interpret them with integrity. We have many great harana songs but I could only record 12.

If I had to choose one, it would have to be our original harana song, "Labis (Too Much)." I wrote the lyrics and Richard came up with the beautiful melody. I believe that this modern harana song embodies the ultimate romantic love story.

Which of these songs will you perform in the Filipino American Library's gala concert, "Jazzmopolitan: A Celebration of Music" on Oct. 11?

I will be singing four songs. I want to make it a surprise. I will be doing materials from "Flippin' Out" and my new album, "My Harana: A Filipino Serenade" but also one that has not been recorded yet. Among the performers are Mon David, Tateng Katindig and his quintet, Becca Godinez, Three of a Kind and Michael Paulo. I will have Richard Ickard as my special guest during my set.

Can you sum up your experience portraying two characters in "The Vagina Monologues"? And how was it to say your lines in Tagalog?

Being part of "The Vagina Monologues" was liberating. It felt so good to have that freedom to speak and scream repeatedly those words that are considered "taboo" and to celebrate my sensuality. Doing the Tagalog version was even funnier and for me, more honest and direct. That was my first taste of acting and I had an amazing experience.
I was the musical director for both the San Francisco and New York productions. I provided the interstitial music between the monologues. The best part was being able to raise funds for our lolas of Lila Pilipina (the comfort women) and other organizations that fight domestic violence against Filipino women.

E-mail the writer at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com and read his blog, "The Nepales Report," on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.