much ado about MISHKA ADAMS

January 29, 2007

 

 

The New Jazz Generation in 2005 has resulted to a multitude of young jazz singers who were dubbed as the next Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.  Usually on their pre-teens and early twenties, the names of Norah Jones, Jamie Cullum, Renee Olstead and Michael Bubble surfaced in the international music scene, clad with jazz standards as their main repertoire with fresh and new arrangements.  The ‘jazz phenomenon’ swept the islands of the Philippines with albums occupying the Top 10 slot all over the metro.

 

But sadly, a Filipino has yet to produce one.

 

Alas, as if the heaven opened up and saw an angel whose name is ‘Mishka Adams’.  It was a Courtney Pine’s concert that I’m supporting since his lead guitarist, Cameron Pierre, has an album under our independent label. 

 

She has this innocent British look that would rival any foreign blooded models in the country but the moment she fluently utter ‘magkano to?’ in straight tagalog… my jaw dropped. 

 

Dread locks (hope i spelled it right) has majestically crowned her shoulder length hair and quaint smile lights up her face. 

 

The concert started.  I was still outside of the venue selling the CD’s our company provides then I heard that old familiar song by the jazz minstrel Billie Holiday ‘God Bless The Child’.  I am amaze with her vocal control – sensual yet groovy version, far from its original.  I hurried to get inside the venue and I’ve seen the very same face who bought CD’s awhile ago.

 

Through Susan Arcega of The British Council, I ask her assistance if I could meet this wonderful angel.  After a few more meetings with her step dad Billie Bonnevie (since she is still 17 or turning 18 by that time) and famed sculptress Agnes Arellano, we closed a multi-record deal spawning her highly acclaimed debut off from a memorable song that led her to a ‘shining new star’ – truly God bless the child.   

 

And the rest, as what they always say, is history.

 

Achievements:

WINNER - 2005 Best New Female Recording Artist (local counterpart for Grammy)

WINNER - 2005 Aliw Awards Best New Female Artist of the Year

WINNER - One of the 10 ‘I Am Super Awardee’ (Music category)

Nominee – 2005 Awit Awards Best Jazz Recording for her original Mama’s Garden and War of the Skies

 

Graces the cover of the following magazines

BusinessWorld

Mirror

Metro Magazine

The Jazz Rag

 

Music Festivals

2006 Candid Music Festival – SM Mall of Asia, Manila

2005 Candid Jazz International Festival – The Podium Mall, Pasig

2004 Candid Jazz International Festival – Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Pasig