Guitar goddess Orianthi dazzles Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Australian guitar hotshot Orianthi, seen all over the world rehearsing with the late Michael Jackson for the latter’s supposed comeback concert in 2009, has been in Manila doing a number of intimate shows to promote her latest single Every Road Leads Home To You.

While she herself is a singer-songwriter, it is her expertise in playing the guitar that has earned her so much attention wherever she goes. Guitar enthusiasts and even regular music fans expressed delight at seeing her in the flesh performing.

“It’s my first time here and I find that people are very nice,” she told the press during a chat at the Hard Rock Café where she performed yesterday.

Last Aug. 25, the Adelaide native played at 19 East in Sucat located in southern Metro Manila. She already performed at Chef & Brewer in Ortigas Center last Aug. 22 and two days before that, appeared as guest at a band charity concert held in Resorts World Manila.

Orianthi’s stint during the rehearsals for MJ’s ill-fated This Is It concert series somewhat turned her into an instant familiar face.

In addition to feeling so honored after she was personally asked to play in the said tour by the King of Pop himself, she acknowledged the impact of that exposure with much gratitude.

“I’m very grateful to have worked with MJ. It was a crazy time, especially that we did not go beyond rehearsing. But we had a good time,” she shared. “I’m a huge fan and being with him on stage was surreal. I learned so much from him.”

That same year MJ died, Orianthi released her major label debut Believe, which spawned the platinum single According To You. Her latest hit Better With You is ranking high in the charts as she is now promoting the new single written by Richie Sambora — likewise popular as lead guitarist for Bon Jovi. She just performed with the latter in both Korea and Japan. Japan was also where she released her Best of Orianthi album.

Last year, she released a package called Heaven In This Hell with producer Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame. She said of the collaboration: “We had a lot of fun jamming and hashing out a variety of songs and sounds until we found the grooves that inspired us.”

Apart from those already mentioned, Orianthi also worked with the likes of guitar masters Steve Vai and Carlos Santana, A-list acts Steven Tyler, Alice Cooper, Michael Bolton, Prince, John Mayer, Adam Lambert, ZZ Top and Carrie Underwood with whom she shared stage with at the 2009 Grammy Awards — a gig that made her a YouTube sensation.

“I’ve learned something valuable from all the artists I have had the privilege to work with,” she related.

Guitar Planet Magazine dubbed Orianthi as a “staggeringly dexterous player, capable of mastering next to any style and out shredding anyone.”

Interestingly, Orianthi, who picked up a guitar at age six, is being handled by the US-based Sanre Entertainment, which also manages Journey vocalist Arnel Pineda. She hinted at doing a major show with the noted Pinoy vocalist. She said of him, “He’s an incredible singer with an incredible range. It will be great to perform with him.”

Asked for her piece of advice to wannabes, “Never give up. Keep going because if you have the talent, there’s no one who can tell you that you can’t do it.”

Orianthi’s Every Road promotional tour is in local partnership with Primeline Management & Production, Inc. headed by Ronnie and Ida Henares.