A loyal fan base, a solid gigging sked and a repertoire of hits has done wonders for MYMP's Juris and Chin. Their visibility is enhanced especially this time behind a new album that now features the hit-certified single "With You." Ivory Music and Video recently presented MYMP, a gold record award for their latest album "New Horizon." The duo was presented their gold record plaque at the most watched variety show in the US, "ASAP '07."

New Horizon, is a 13-track album that is bannered by the single "With You." The song, written and composed by Juris Fernandez, is currently a staple of several FM radio stations, music channels and record stores.

Amidst their busy sked, the duo of Juris and Chin, took time to launch their album. In attendance for the launch were members of the press that has been more than supportive of the duo that made it big last time with their album "Versions & Beyond." A short set followed that highlighted the tracks from the new album. Among these songs are :"Only Reminds Me of You," "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship, "Crazy for You" by Madonna and Mariah Carey's "Last Chance" and The Jets' "You Got It All."

New Horizon was released last December and was certified gold after two months. Upon learning of their latest accomplishment, singer-composer Juris Fernandez gushes, "I'm deeply overwhelmed wherever our works are recognized. Especially for this album -- I wrote a couple of songs for this one and I feel like I have a part of me in each CD;" referring to the three new songs she contributed" the lead track with single "With You," and the perfect wedding theme "Sa'yo Lamang" and "So Perfect."

Chin Alcantara says, "I'm happy with that we did with the album,. It is widely known that we only play only as an acoustic pair but for New Horizon, we recorded everything with our band." The guitarist-musical arranger co-writes with Juris in the track "Forever and a Day" and arranges all songs on the new album. The guitarist also takes solo singing duties on "Every Breath You Take" and duets with "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now."

With Juris and Chin are MYMP's bandmates: John Angeles (drums/percussions); Oja Jomenez (keyboards) and Emil Rivas (bass). Three other original songs "Love Stood Still," "And Pagibig Mo and "Back Home" completes the new album.

Come August 4, Saturday, MYMP headlines the show "Jamming It Up" with Philippine diva Kuh Ledesma and popular band, Orange and Lemons at The Grove of Anaheim. This concert is executive produced by KATZ Entertainment Group. Tickets are up for grabs and priced at $55.00 and $75.00.

For info, you may call KATZ at 562-529-8680; 562-787-9030; Maridul at 626-475-9489 and Maybelle 213-446-9265; Goldilocks Bakeshop in Cerritos and West Covina; Pinoy Bistro (Cerritos); EG Hobbies in Artesia and Kalesa Grill in Anaheim and Panorama.

Tickets are also available at the Grove Box Office at 714-712-2700.

This concert is also brought to you by Seafood City Supermarket, Kalesa Grill, Brookshire Dental Center, Gandi Skin Care, I-Matrix Inc and Forex Cargo. Official hair and make-up stylist for the concert is Peterson.

The Sweet Melody Mix of Kuh Ledesma and M.Y.M.P.

I recently received a text from Kuh who just wrapped up a very successful show in Boston with unica hija, Isabella Francesca. La Ledesma is very busy doing shows here in the US and Canada. Her most recent tour also involves Concert Queen, Pops Fernandez in a back-to-back show billed “Diva2Diva.”

The last time I got together with both Kuh and Pops was was during their promo tour in San Diego and we did nothing but eat and laugh. Both Kuh and Pops took some light moments with their promoters and fans before the latter went home to Manila. Come October, Kuh and Pops will be featured by KATZ Entertainment in yet another exciting back-to-back concert.

Meanwhile, Kuh will be busy preparing for her concert with M.Y.M.P. (Make Your Mama Proud) and Orange and Lemons. The three big named artists will join forces to jam in an unforgettable night of music and harmony. The show produced by KATZ Entertainment Group is set on August 4, Saturday, 8 p.m. at The Grove of Anaheim. Tickets are priced at $55.00 and $75.00 and are available at KATZ (562) 529-8680. “I hope that LA concertgoers do come and watch this show as we have prepared very special numbers with Juris and Chin.

Orange & Lemons is equally a talented and famous band. This show is quite a treat,” says Kuh. M.Y.M.P. (Make Your Momma Proud) is one of the fave acoustic acts in the country today. The band plays smooth soothing renditions that would surely heighten your appetite for good acoustic music. M.Y.M.P. had come a long way from a 4 piece all guy rock band to a show band to a trio, which opened their doors to having a debut album. They had their biggest break when Raymond Ryan, the station manager of iFM watched their gig and met up with a producer to produce their debut album, Soulful Acoustic which is now a Certified Platinum Record. Ivory records then became their recording company. M.Y.M.P.'s debut album was released on Ivory music and video's 20th anniversary. M. Y.M.P. did make us fall in love with their debut carrier single "A Little Bit" which bagged the People's Choice "Favorite Song" Award in Awit Awards last 2004. They did let us wait for their rendition of Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain" to be played over the radio and video channels... More over they had their own version of Sting's "Every Little Thing" and of course who could miss their originals like Miss You and Could Be Wrong.

The trio did click but, MYMP became a duo when one of their members decided to leave the group in February 2004 yet this did not stop them from sharing their honest music. The duo set-up did great and as they enjoy their ride in the Philippine music scene, a new and improved MYMP had emerged, A quartet together with Andrew and John as bassist and kahonista. They surely enhanced the sound of MYMP as they go beyond soulful and acoustic music.

The edge of M.Y.M.P. from others who joined the acoustic movement is their passion to create music, which is audible and high quality and the honesty in every performance. Other than that, they can actually perform solo. Juris with her effortless soprano voice makes it all and Chin on guitars, you'll never ask for anything else except to crave for more from this band. Late last year, MYMP achieved an unbeatable feat when their concert at The Grove of Anaheim sold-out weeks before the concert date. A second show was mounted to accommodate all the concertgoers.

The music of MYMP, a diversity of genre. Juris has the taste for Rn'B and Pop, the likes of Alicia Keys, Destiny's Child, Avril Lavigne, and Patti Austin. While Chin goes for blues-based rock like Eric Clapton's kind of music and Sting. M.Y.M.P. has turned their world upside down when they decided to choose join the music industry. Juris Fernandez should have been in the medical field following her mother's footsteps after earning a degree in Psychology and Chin Alcantara on Communication Arts while Andrew and John had chosen this path while supporting their families. They truly made their mothers proud even though they did not end up with the dreams of their moms, they still brought pride of being somebody who inspire others to live their dreams.

Adding excitement to this concert is the presence of OPM rock and roll biggie, Orange and Lemons (ONL) – who is today’s biggest name in the band scene in Manila. Their signature hit includes “Hoy Pinoy Ako” which was the TV theme song for Pinoy Big Brother. This is the first time that the band will perform in the USA and already the early announcement of their gig here is creating quite a stir.

Watch out as they bring you their own kind of music on Aug 4 with MYMP and Ms Kuh Ledesma. The concert is also sponsored by Seafood City Supermarket, Forex Cargo, Brookshire Dental Care and I-Matrix for Thirteenminute Magazine.

Side A-Freestyle: Back2Back-mania Hits Bob Hope Theater

Bob Hope Theater, Miramar San Diego - Two shows complete the first stop of Side A and Freestyle that kicked off inside the Miramar base at Bob Hope Theater. Both show times were filled with excitement when the reigning top bands of the Philippines performed a variety of tunes which cater to the tastes of every music lover.

Unlike most concert production brought over to the USA, Side A and Freestyle present a gamut of production numbers which never fail to elicit the applause and cheers of the crowd. The numbers were all carefully handpicked and arranged meticulously by Naldy Gonzales.

The performers on the other hand are driven with passion, angst and energy in delivering each number with gusto. These are the traits lacking from most entertainers from the Philippines. They come here and perform like they are in a school program. Aside from Side A and Freestyle, other seasoned concert artists who leave you clamoring for more are Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Lani Misalucha, Basil Valdez, Kuh Ledesma, Sarah Geronimo, South Border, Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar and Sharon Cuneta. Although these artists are of different genre, they each perform in their own vocal and original music artistry.

Side A and Freestyle show titled "Back2Back: Part II" opened with a bang! Two drummers, Ernie Severino and Gerd Banzon both kilabot ng chicks (read: lover boys in the group) set the upbeat tempo. The opening number is a production in itself with both bands on stage. They set the stage on fire when via Top 40 hits such as "Déjà Vu;" "So Sick;" "Smack That" and "Crazy in Love." The girls went berserk with Joshua (the newcomer in Freestyle) who sang Apl de Ap's "Bebot" to the delight of the younger crowd in the audience. This Joshua guy is definitely a welcome surprise!

What followed next is another highlight which consisted of original recordings of the band in "Set You Free," "This Time," "I Believe in Dreams," "Till I Found" and "Got to Believe." Of course, the crowd adored the Joeys in the group (Joey G and Joey B). They loved this segment where they everyone sang to the to the songs they have learn to love most while they were in the Philippines and watched Side A lord it over in the bar circuit.

Then Freestyle held its own spot - bringing us all down memory lane with their first few recordings of "Bagets," "So Slow," "Taft" and an array of OPM songs which were all familiar to the OPM freaks in the crowd.

Jinky, the lone female vocalist came equipped with soothing vocals and gave us quite a heaping of the best love songs. Some of the more memorable ones "Half Crazy," "Later" and "One Hello."

Joey Generoso (our personal fave) set the night with another "be-prepared-to-rock-the house" number in "All I Need."

What followed next is Side A's unmistakable winning performances of "Akin Awitin." "Sana Na Nga," "Irish," "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" and the famous songs of Queen.

As if this is not enough to carry on the evening, both bands came on stage and simply "rocked the night away." Of course, this is the part where people don't want to sit anymore and just wanted to dance and sing with both Side A and Freestyle. And why not? This segment carried the best of the dance beats from the 70s with Donna Summer's "Last Dance" to Michael Jackson's "Beat It!" to Madonna's "Borderline." The next dance numbers will surely delight your senses and keep you tapping your toes. And that's all right - go with the flow. After all its not a Side A and Freestyle show - if you don't get up on your feet and feel the groove.

As for the finale, I cannot help but give it away. Imagine a pandemonium breaking out with songs such as "Forevermore," "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang," and "Tell Me" among other hits - that is when the crowd don't want to let go of the bands anymore. The exchange of hit songs between two bands were enough to send the crowd clamoring for endless encores!

Did I hear encore? Well, you still have a chance to catch on the "Back2Back-mania" fever when Side A and Freestyle continue their tour on June 1 at The Grove of Anaheim. There will be two show times at The Grove. The first is 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. and the next one is 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets (not much to go anymore) are still selling at $55 and $75 at KATZ Entertainment (562) 529-8680/ (562) 787-9030 and All Access at (909) 223-2409 and (818)395-9941.

Side A is composed of Joey Generoso, Joey Benin, Ernie Severino, Lee Von Cailiao and Naldy Gonzales. Freestyle on the other hand are Jinky Vidal, Tat Suzara, Mike Luis, Joshua Desiderio, Gerald Banzon, Nikki Cabardo and Rommel dela Cruz.

Side A and Freestyle are also set to conquer the concert audiences of San Francisco on June 2 at McCormack Hall in Vallejo and on June 9 at Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Don't miss out on this show! It's a thrill to be back at Manila's show circuit via the songs and performances of Side A and Freestyle. Simply put, the bands r-u-l-e!

Members of Side A and Freestyle bands shown backstage after a winning performance at Bob Hope Theater in San Diego. Catch the back2back-mania on June 1, Friday at The Grove of Anaheim; June 2, McCormack Hall, San Francisco and June 9, Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

(Ed’s note: Jackie Regala-Katigbak has been writing and doing promotions in the entertainment business since the 1980s. The past two decades saw her columns and articles published in the Philippines via the Manila Bulletin, Panorama, Manila Standard and Philippine Times Journal. Currently her articles are published by www.CarouselPinoy.com, the Asian Journal publications and in various newspapers in Southern California. For correspondence, you may send her an email at JackieRegala@verizon.net. Thank you.)