You've come a long way, Bessie!

New York, New York: Sultry vocalist Bessie Alejandro developed her unique blend of jazz and traditional vocal pop with hints of bluesy country and contemporary folk in her early stints with the Binhi Band in Ilo-ilo. That's some 12177 Nautical Miles away. Bessie came to New York City in May of 2001, and she's just getting used to the cold weather and being recognized on the streets. While she always found the city very exciting, music she says, had always been intriguing and comforting. She had been in Hong Kong as a soloist in the past. Never putting her vocal talents on the back burner, Bessie came to the US for all the opportunities and worked towards achieving her goal of making it as a singer in New York. She accepted the opportunity to record with 888 Records. Although she fully intends to do Broadway too. For now, the lure of her first CD Album launch and concert performances proved too strong. Bessie will appear with Jerome Gentolia at New York's famous Dillons Lounge and Restaurant located at 245 West 54th Street (between 7th/8th Avenues) on Friday, March 18th, 2005. It is dubbed as an evening of music and romance, East meets West.

Katha Music Awardee and member of National Recording Academy, (which constitutes the Grammy's every year), Archie Dairocas states that his colleagues in the Songwriter's Guild of America thought Bessie's singing style is black gospel and "they admire her soul". Bessie and Archie have good chemistry and both have a couple of things they have in common. They share the same emotion in music and the attitude in musicianship. Both like alternative, R&B, pop, dance and soul. Bessie's album is titled "GENRE" (Zhun-ra) as it represents the different styles in music. There's a special song in the album that she and her circle of friends and fans love most, "YES!". As for Archie, his personal favorite is the remake of the Stylistics' song "TEARS AND SOUVENIRS." There are 4 other beautifully written songs in the album and then there's the kind of a crazy song called "FOOL" which she co-wrote the Lyrics with Archie, and the re-make of "SAY IT AGAIN." All the songs are mixed by Steinberg's Nuendo and Mastered in ProTools. Bessie even used an "U87" by Neumann mike in her vocal tracks. All guitars were performed with utmost delivery by Robin "Berklee Boy" Macatangay. This is another musical showcase from Cool Music Productions and 888 Records, NY. Produced by Archie Dairocas and Eugenia Tiamzon.

The combination of her striking beauty and the fact that she is a hardworking musician will place Bessie in excellent position in the music world. Not to be dismissed as another pretty face, and/or another "newbie" riding the coattails of Fil-Am idols, Bessie in "Genre" indicates a new direction for Fil-Am music. Perhaps paving the way for one day, a Filipino artist shining in the mainstream USA and Europe through hits and awards. That is a dream Archie is striving for.

For now, being tagged as "One of New York's finest female singers", Bessie smiles and indeed has come a long way.