Jasmine Trias is 18
Go4Women

Jasmine Trias (middle)

American Idol finalist Jasmine Trias must be feeling the happiest and luckiest girl in the world today. She is definitely in Cloud 9 as she turned 18 on Nov. 3. With everything happening so positively well right now, Jasmine couldn’t ask for any other birthday gift. She hopes to continue this very progressive and lucrative career in the music industry.

But for this lady charmer, life is just starting. In spite of a hectic schedule in the Biz, Jasmine is bent on pursuing a College degree and hopefully lands a profession in the medical field. Right now the offers are pouring in – from movie roles to TV shows and to recording.

Jasmine’s big shebang of course took place at Sheraton Waikiki Hotel with only family, relatives and very close friends in attendance. The Grand Luau Party also featured Jasmine entertaining her guests with her signature songs “Inseparable” by Natalie Cole and “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston.

Aside from being very excited on her Big -18 affair, Jasmine is all so eager to do her first solo concert in Los Angeles come Nov. 20, Saturday, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium.

Aside from today’s popular hits by Usher and Alicia Keys, Jasmine Trias will be performing a variety of tunes in her forthcoming concert, “Jasmine Trias…Live in LA.” She is set to do R&B with Jay-R as well as sing standard love ditties and dance beats on her own.

Executive Producers of the concert are KATZ Entertainment and Media3Five6. This concert is made possible by Music Management International.

One of the several highlights of the concert is Jasmine jammin’ it up with acoustic stars, Nyoy Volante and Paolo Santos. As we all know, acoustic is very “in” both here and in Manila. It allows you to enjoy music unplugged and relaxes you to the rhythm of the guitar.

Nyoy Volante not only is the “crush-ng-bayan,” he is also a mega seller in terms of hit records. Nyoy’s musical influences include Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Will Smith, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Before he hit it big as an acoustic artist, Nyoy started by performing in school programs.

In college at De La Salle University’s College of Saint Benilde (CSB), where he took AB Technical Theater, Nyoy began performing with bands like Twist of Fate, Sundae Traffic & White Colony.

After graduating, Nyoy resumed his career in 2000 when he released his first album. It was also during that time he expanded his talents in theater such as “Dreamgirls” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Today, Nyoy has become one of the top acoustic artists in the Philippines. He won the Best Male Performer in Hotels, Music Lounges & Bars during the 17th Annual Aliw Awards where he bested Jimmy Bondoc and Jed Madella for the honor. He also won other awards such as Top Entertainer awardee in the 20th Annual Year Ender Excellence Awards; Best Acoustic Balladeer of the Year 2003; and B est. Acoustic Artist in the 11th Annual Asia Pacific Award in 2004.

His second album with the Mannos received a Platinum Record Award, which includes his own composition “Tanggap Ko.”

Then there’s Paolo Santos, easily dubbed as “Mr. Akustic.” He is arguably the best thing that ever happened to Manila’s bar scene. While everyone was trying to put together an alternative band or some electronically abused musical group, Paolo was, is, and has always been an acoustic performer. He made it on his own through sheer determination and lots of God-given talent. Playing almost nightly in bars extending from Alabang to Makati to Ortigas and to the tip of Quezon City, it has always been an acoustic act and a tough one, at that, to follow.

During his school years, Paolo’s interest in music was but an engaging hobby. His parents thought of it as an outlet to break the monotony of scholastic activities. In his high school years Paolo joined a band of other musical hobbyists doing covers of popular foreign and local artists during that time. This marked his earliest attempts at musical exposure.

Upon graduating from high school, he would have wanted to go to the Music Conservatory but instead was prevailed upon to take up a more career-oriented course. Therefore, Paolo enrolled in the De La Salle University as a B.S. Economics student. This would not stop him, however, from further incursions into the world of music. In fact, it was during his college years, that he nurtured and developed his musical skills. Paolo would start learning to play the guitar, the piano the bass and drums, all by his lonesome. Paolo never took any single formal musical lessons.

After graduating from College, Paolo was offered a fellowship in international relations in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1997, after his Geneva stint, he immediately was signed up by the corporate world. Paolo immersed himself in his work and glimpsed his future in the corporate world. This translated into landing a strategic position in a major multinational financial institution.

However, his latent musical self would soon re-surface. Through constant prodding from his friends, he picked up his guitar and auditioned for a spot in Art Ave, a bar restaurant in Ortigas Center. True enough, his musical talent would produce for him a regular weeknight performance in Art Ave.

As fate would have it, Paolo soon developed a regular crowd aching to see this acoustic upstart. Other bars started to engage his services through a combination of various network of friends and word of mouth advertising. His nightly musical load increased and pretty soon his regular day job was affecting his nightly gigs and vice versa. Ultimately, he resigned from his work and just continued playing music.

Significantly, it was in Tapika Bar, located at Katipunan Avenue, where his target audience would become evident. The college set that frequents Tapika would give Paolo the ultimate rush in terms of appreciation for his music. This would encourage Paolo to believe in his capabilities as a performer.

A single of his original song, “Play With Me” has been released and the resulting album to follow suit. The album reflects his past and present musical influences; namely James Taylor, Michael Tomlinson, Kenny Loggins, Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz and John Mayer.

“Jasmine Trias…Live in LA” is also presented by SMART IDD 40cents; West Covina Toyota, Seafood City Supermarket, Mariedel Leviste Dermatological Clinic and Kalesa Grill.

Major sponsors are Countrywide Realty/Dominguez Brothers; Citibank, Premiere Healthcare Solution, Department of Tourism, Manila In USA.com, and Tribune USA.

For concert info, please call KATZ Entertainment at 562-529-8680 and Media3Five6 at (909) 263-8351 or All Access at (909) 223-2409.

TOP