The New Year is the best time to try out new things. This year, I resolve to get out of my music comfort zone and explore other genres and artists.

It seems the universe is with me on this. Last week I got a call from a friend who invited me to check out Filipino jazz artist Maritess Salientes.

Maritess, or Tess to her friends, calls herself a balikbayan and balikmusikera. When she was 16, she won first place in the Philippine Yamaha Electone Festival and represented the Philippines as the youngest contestant at the 10th International Grand Prix Concours in Nemu-No-Sato, Japan where she won the Distinguished Performance Award (second prize).

She pursued studies at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston and graduated with a Composition Degree, Magna cum Laude. At Berklee, she taught Harmony, Ear Training and Small Jazz Ensemble briefly while composing and performing with her own Fusion Jazz Band, Apple Pie and Mother.

She left music for a while to join a real estate company in the United States but came back home in 2005. Today she is the musical director, composer, arranger, and keyboardist for Joyful Jazz and Quintessence, which play in swanky establishments around the city.

She puts her passion for jazz on display on January 24 at the Manila Polo Club with special guests Andrew Fernando and Charito.

For inquiries, email < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. > or call 0918-9190491.

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Speaking of passion for music, a new batch of hopefuls will chase the dream of becoming the next American Idol this month. If you think you’re over the show, now going on its 12th season, the fact that there are all sorts of new stuff this year might change your mind.

For one thing, there’s a new set of celebrity judges, including country music star Keith Urban, the quirky and fun pop superstar Nicki Minaj, best known for her hits “Super Bass” and “Starships,” and the eternal diva Mariah Carey. Of course, music producer Randy Jackson is still there, as well as host Ryan Seacrest.

Some new twists have been made to the audition process of America Idol Season 12 to stir things up a bit for AI hopefuls. The first is the “American Idol Small Town Audition Bus Tour,” which will bring the auditions to 10 small towns in America for those who can’t make it to the auditions in the big cities.

Another type of audition is the “Nominate an Idol” program, where friends and family members can secretly nominate someone by filling up an online form and submitting an existing video of the person singing solo and a capella. A film crew will turn up on location to surprise the chosen nominee and give them a chance to advance to the next round. Online auditions were also held for the show in late 2012. With these new ways to get onto the show, American Idol fans can anticipate an even wider demographic of performers to be showcased—from the most talented singers in America to the weirdest wannabes.

Despite numerous pretenders to the throne, American Idol is still the biggest reality TV show. It set a record when it 132 million votes were cast for the Season 11 finale, which pit Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez. Of course, I’ll be tuning in to premium cable channel Star World when the new season of AI premieres on January 17 at 6 p.m. (with replays at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.). Star World brings the show live and soonest, with timely screenings and exclusive specials that add value to the viewing experience and satisfy the hearts of even the wildest, most die-hard fans of American Idol.

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