MANILA, Philippines?Talent searches and singing competitions on the boob tube don?t always get their winners right, but nobody doubts their ability to jumpstart lucrative performing careers for their truly talented participants.

Outstanding singers like Jennifer Hudson (?American Idol?), Charice Pempengco (?Little Big Star?) and Madonna Decena (?Britain?s Got Talent?) started their performing careers via the talent-search route, but they were prematurely knocked out of their respective competitions. Fortunately, people clamored to see more of their unique gifts long after they were shown the door. (Interestingly, we remember acting with the petite but vocally impressive Madonna in Musical Theater Philippines? ?Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal?? in the late ?90s.)

Beyond reproach

A refreshing addition to the list is ?Britain?s Got Talent? semifinalist, Charlie Green, the 11-year-old Filipino-British singing wunderkind who recently paid his mother?s native country a visit?and left it with his self-titled debut album, ?Charlie Green,? an 11-track collection that doesn?t disappoint.

Like Michael Bublé, Green?s skills in vocal improvisation and note-perfect singing are beyond reproach: In Bart Howard?s ?Fly Me to the Moon,? he shows off his jazzy flair in big-band fashion, and gives the tune a floating, swaying rendering.

The poignant optimism of Louie Armstrong?s ?What A Wonderful World? gets a more hopeful boost and beckoning from the prepubescent singer?s endearing British lilt, his clipped, crisp words and slurred r?s adding a sense of child-like urgency to its timeless message.

High notes

But, more than his easygoing style and natural aptitude for performing, it?s Charlie?s bell-like voice that truly sets him apart from the rest of the talented pack. Its clarity and tonal quality remind us of Lea Salonga?s in her ?I Am But A Small Voice? heyday. Take Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons? ?All of Me? or Johnny Mercer?s ?Summer Wind.? There?s nothing better than hearing Green hit and sustain these songs? high notes in all their crowd-pleasing glory.

The boy?s impressive breathing technique is evident in both ballads (?Hands Around the World?) and upbeat numbers, and especially notable in his rollicking covers of the Yuletide ditties, Johnny Marks? ?Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree? and J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie?s ?Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.? Add to that the fact that he transposes portions of his repertoire with adjusted, scat-heavy, jazzed-up notes that nevertheless stay in synch with their melodic patterns?very Bublé, indeed!

OPM fans will get a kick out of his lovingly rendered version of Mike Velarde Jr. and Dominador Santiago?s ?Dahil Sa ?Yo,? in which he demonstrates the lush beauty and inherent poetry of the Filipino language.

The album reaches its cohesive peak in three tracks: Green gives Charlie Chaplin?s ?Smile? a youthful musical glow. Cedric Whitehouse?s ?In My World? is as beautifully arranged as it is hauntingly sung.

And, in the album?s most fun-infused number, ?Mama Said So,? the young performer gets to sing his age in Richard Poon?s inspired pop-jazz composition?a tune that vividly captures Charlie Green?s playful, adolescent energy and impeccable sense of rhythm.

Popular balladeer

We asked the popular balladeer how he came up with the song. Did he write it specifically for Charlie? Richard replied: ?Star Records asked me to write something for him. I wanted the song to sound like a standard, using a theme that suits his age. It shows how his young mind contrasts to that of his folks?.?

A word to Charlie?s handlers, though: Please keep those records coming?before the voice-altering effects of adolescent hormones kick in!