ishka Adams is a new discovery by Alan Bates, who has a reputation for discovering and recording new jazz singers who rapidly move into the ‘star' category. At only 20 years old Mishka Adams, singer/ songwriter/ saxophonist/ guitarist is already a name to look out for. As the youngest singing to Candid Records in a multi-record deal, she is often compared to legendary vocalist from the golden era of American Popular Songbook.

Mishka was among the performers in the landmark Philippine concert organized by the British Council Philippines featuring Courtney Pine. That concert proved to a turning point for this talented young artist. On this album she displays a maturity and confidence rarely seen from one so young in the jazz music scene. “If I wanted fame, then I would have done something like Britney Spears.” said Mishka. And true enough with her unique talent and beautiful Filipino-British features she could have gone that route, instead she has decided to play jazz, albeit more contemporary and infused with other genres like rock and world music and even a touch of pop.

When it came to choosing which songs would be included in the album, Mishka says “I chose songs I felt I made to be my own.” For the covers, she and her band didn't just lift the arrangements. “I had ideas I wanted to play around with.” These ideas lend smong other, a plaintive Change Partners, a groovy version of Summertime, and haunting rendition of Somewhere over the Rainbow. Her version is stripped down – just with guitar, mostly playing harmonics which ring and float throughout the song, her voice like an echo of loss that gives the song a character that it has never had before. Her originals display the character in her music. Mishka says that Mama's Garden is deeply personal, and Marrakech was inspired by a backpacking holiday she took with boyfriend Ariz Guinto with whom she produced the album. Then there's the irresistible groove and sing-along ability of Where Do We Begin which sounds like a classic already. With her originals she seems to use jazz as a springboard from which to innovate, letting the song take its course her voice leading the way.

The collective whisper in the street suggests this young jazz minstrel British-Filipina, immaculately pretty and blessed with vocal prowess is predestined to be a star.

Grab a copy now available at all Tatak Pilipino store outlets and websites.- -