OPM concert live in the Big Apple

Suzanne Lansangan-Sabangan and Hermie Angeles of “Sounds of Manila” perform the music of Bay Area composer Cecile Azarcon. PHOTOS BY ELTON LUGAY

• Cecile Azarcon, OPM Band, Sounds of Manila in sold-out show

• Concert launches album “SOM sings Cecile Azarcon.”

NEW YORK, New York — Soft-spoken Cecile Azarcon took a selfie onstage and opened her heart, telling everyone at her tribute concert Sunday night that writing love songs was much easier when she was 19.

“I was young and vulnerable then,” she confessed.

Azarcon, a renowned pianist, singer and songwriter based in Northern California was in town to celebrate her 35 years in the music biz.

She was joined by ‘Original Pilipino Music’ band “Sounds of Manila” who also used the occasion to launch their maiden album “SOM Sings Cecile Azarcon.”

Cecile Azarcon takes a selfie onstage. Photo by Elton Lugay

The concertgoers loved Cecile’s candid performance. “Ngayon di na po ako makasulat kasi happy ako” (Now, I can’t write because I’m happy), mused Cecile.

From her very first composition in the ‘80s, the inspiring “Lift Up Your Hands” to the soulful “Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga,” it was a treat to listen to her live. And knowing that she was the composer of these classic songs was just a bonus.

Later in the show, she would dedicate the never-before released songs “Awit Kay Lola” and “A Journey Of A Thousand Songs” to her Lola who now has trouble remembering her name.

“She is the reason why I became an artist,” she told the audience at the nearly sold-out Symphony Space in Manhattan, on Sunday, April 27.

When SOM vocalists Suzanne Lansangan-Sabangan and Hermie Angeles’ turn came, they continued the program with a few of Cecile’s masterpieces namely, “How Did You Know,” “Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin” and the most recent “One More Try” originally performed by Kuh Ledesma in the hit Filipino soap “My Husband’s Lover.”

“These songs are included in the CD,” Suzanne told the crowd. “We are indebted to Miss Cecile for her tremendous assistance in the making of our first album.”

The album that took three years to finish was a labor of love by the band, Azarcon and musical arranger Lorrie Ilustre.

Suzanne and Hermie would travel back and forth to California to get coached vocally by Cecile and record the songs with Lorrie.

Local front acts Tony Gado, Arnel Arcedo, Tiffany Viray and Jared Martin each paid homage to OPM. Special mention to Martin for singing his first single, “Thank You For Your Love.” The song was for and about the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban, Philippines.

The OPM concert was a maiden presentation by Ron and Grace Labaguis of Synergy Productions.

Sounds of Manila will be having a tour to promote their album to various cities across America and the Philippines. Visit the group on Facebook to be in the loop.