MON DAVID

Sat., July 19.  MON DAVID.  Winner of the 2006 London International Jazz Competition, Mr. David’s spectacular vocal prowess has been recognized by JazzTimes Magazine’s Christopher Loudon, who said, “Every once in a rare while a singer arrives clear out of the blue and knocks you out.  Such a revelation is Mon David.”  Don Heckman of the International Review of Music has marveled at “a remarkable voice able to leap octaves in a single bound combined with a world class scat singing style,” and jazz critic Roger Crane has written, ”Like Mark Murphy, whose singing he at times resembles, David can swing you into bad health and then turn around and break your heart with a ballad.”  Among several multi-award-winning albums to his credit,  Coming True (Freeham Records) was voted one of the Top 10 jazz vocal CD’s of 2009 by JazzTimes.  “…a smooth vocal quality reminiscent of Tony Bennett without a rasp, [David] has a penchant for playing with vocal sounds a la Bobby McFerrin and the ability to scat and sing in his native Tagalog.”—Marcia Hillman, All About Jazz, New York.  “…a vocal technique that is ingenious, swinging, daring in places; cool in others.”—Brick Wahl, LA Weekly.  And this from Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene:  “A major jazz vocalist who can sing any type of music with credibility, creativity, heartfelt emotions, and wit.”  But perhaps the most effective, albeit understated, endorsement comes from our own discriminating Tom Culver, who turned to us, and nodding in Mr. David’s direction, stated simply, “You know…that guy’s really good.”