MON DAVID

February 16, 2006

Throughout the years, the Philippine music industry has flourished with a myriad of performers who are at par with the world’s best. At the very core of the industry, one can find exceptional song stylist and musician MON DAVID – a multi-talented artist. Unsurprisingly, Mon is recognized as one of the country’s top rate singers, as well as a remarkable songwriter, musician, and record producer. His versatility knows no bounds.

In the mid-eighties, during his stint with the APO Hiking Society as a drummer and vocal coach, he went into record production, co-producing their album “MGA KWENTO NG APO”. In October 1991, he was launched in his first solo concert aptly titled “OUT OF THE SHADOWS” at the Music Museum and his phenomenal talent finally emerged into the spotlight. Years of wisdom and experience were brought into play, and packed into a sensational performance which showcased Mon David as a virtual virtuoso.

To date, Mon has produced and recorded his own albums, namely “SALAMAT SA ALAALA” for Universal Records which includes the KBP songfest finalist “MINSAN PA” and “ONE WOMAN MAN” which won for him the CMMA Award for Best Local Jazz Recording. His album “SOULITUDE” released under Multi-Directional Music Productions which was honored by the 7th Katha Awards won 5 major awards including Best R & B Vocal Performance of “YOU’RE THE LOVE IN MY HEART”, Best Latin Composition “AFTER THE RAIN”, Best Latin Vocal Performance “AFTER THE RAIN”, Best Traditional Composition of “HANGGANG SAAN HANGGANG KAILAN”, and Best Traditional Vocal Performance of “MANANATILING MAHAL”.

Both albums include most of his original compositions.

All throughout his career, Mon has exposed himself to various types of songs, whether it be pop, rock, ballad, the standards, Broadway or classical. His mellifluous baritone enables him to render jazz pieces and all-time favorites with a great amount of soul. Mon can take any song, deliver it as well as the original and take it even further – breathing his soul into the song and making it his very own. He has also developed a unique style of scatting, masterfully playing with melodies through his ingenious improvisations, yet adhering to the song’s original simplicity. It is this dynamism which makes his performances so thoroughly enjoyable.

On stage, he is pure electricity as he interprets and delivers each number, he sings with so much feeling and expression.

Needless to say, Mon is totally immersed in the music industry and this dedication has not gone undetected or unrewarded. An award winning artist, he has performed with the best singers and musicians of local tinsel town. He has performed with the wacky quartet ANG- 4 (Pinky Marquez, Isay Alvarez, and Dyords Javier) for Filipino communities in the U.S.A., Canada, Asia, and Europe in the “ANG GALING NG PILIPINO” world tour series. He has also been invited to showcase his talents in various key destinations abroad such as Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 1st and 2nd ASEAN JAZZ FESTIVAL and The Hague, Netherlands for the famed NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL. He has performed as special guest artist for international Jazz luminaries such as DAVID BENOIT, ERIC MARIENTHAL, PETER WHITE, BONEY JAMES and the “wildman” himself BOBBY ENRIQUEZ.

In the mid-90’s, Mon tried his hand on stage musicals. He essayed the role of Porgy in the black opera “PORGY and BESS” in the musical tribute to George Gershwin “BY GEORGE”. Last year, he played the role of King Dasaratha in the highly acclaimed musical “RAMA at SITA”.

Mon is part of “ROMANCING THE PAST”(PAMALSINTA QUING MILABAS), a first ever recorded compilation of Kapampangan classics, where he interpreted “HIMNO NING KAPAMPANGAN”, “MALAGUNG CACUNG PALSINTAN” and “ARO CATIMYAS”. “HIMNO NING KAPAMPANGAN” is being played regularly with “LUPANG HINIRANG” in all government institutions and public schools in Pampanga.

His renditions of Kapampangan classics such as “MALAGUNG CACUNG PALSINTAN”, “ARO! CATIYAS NA NITANG DALAGA” and “HIMNO NING CAPAMPANGAN” in the CD ‘PAMALSINTA QUETANG MILABAS” continue to elicit warm appreciation from his cabalens in his native province PAMPANGA.

Inspired by the resurgence of interest in Kapampangan music of his kabalens, Mon produced and released his own CD compilation of tradional kapampangan folk songs and his original compositions. ‘Abe Mu Ku’, one of the cuts, is the title of the cd. Just recently, Mon was honored as the Most Outstanding Kapampangan in the field of Arts, Culture and Music by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan .

His 4th solo effort, released under Candid’s new sub-label ISLA aptly enitled ‘Life & Times’ encapsulates the artists pure dedication to his art and family offering a diverse mix of English, Tagalog and Kapampangan songs with folk, jazz and ethnic influences. The album also boast of a stellar line-up of studio heavyweights and jazz instrumentalists including sax legend Tots Tolentino, Cesar Aguas, Bond Samson, Colby dela Calzada, Edgar Avenir, Joey Quirino, Elhmir Saison, Koko Bermejo, Mark Lopez, Noel Mendez and Meong Pacana.

The albums liner notes, written by long-time musical colleague and friend Jim Paredes of the APO Hiking Society, described Mon’s music as: ‘sweet, pure, refreshing and nourishing of many of our musical tastes and wants. Life & Times has integrity, freshness and a vibrancy that towers above the musical flatlands in this new millennium. Its an album made by one who breathes, lives and loves music in all aspects and wishes to express it in the way it moves him. This album is a triumph…’

Even at the peak of his career, Mon continues to constantly strive to develop his skill. The endless search for opportunities of learning and growth. His commitment to music goes beyond innate talent and guts. It is his discipline, planning and intense love for music that makes him a true and exemplary artist.