Aloha mai!I received some fun and interesting email from Professor Amy Stillman, who has taught a course at UC-Santa Barbara for the past four years on "Hawaiian Music and the Hawaiian-American Experience." She will be moving to University of Michigan this fall, and her Hawaiian music course is moving with her. All you homesick kama'aina at UMich, take note!
I have received queries about the annual Aloha Jam festival in Southern California. To the best of my knowledge, it will be held again this year (dates below), but the lineup has not been announced. I will list it when it is!
The group Pure Heart whose debut CD I previewed last time (hope you were able to play the sound clip!) has been doing very well -- two weeks so far at the number one slot on KCCN-FM's Top Ten CD list.
I have listed all the coming concerts of which I am aware, plus some far, far into the future (Dennis Pavao on the Mainland in May! Ho'okena in Washington in August!). Check it out, and enjoy!
Recordings
Larry Rivera, Beautiful Rainbow (Coco Palms Records CP-CD2) You just know a CD is trying a leetle too hard when it's subtitled "12 beautiful, heart-warming songs composed and sung by Kaua'i's own Larry Rivera." Frankly, this CD, with its synthetic string accompaniment, sounds a lot like a taped karaoke session. [shrug] The vocals didn't thrill, the accompaniment clunked, and the song selection was all over the place, including "Can't Help Falling in Love with You," "What a Wonderful World," "Limahuli," and "Kamalani," subtitled "The Legend of the Frog." I'd pass.
Makahilahila, Makahilahila ( Ho'omakamaka Music HMCD 9873). Umm. Sam Makahilahila's vocal style may best be encapsulated by calling him the Tom Jones of Hawai'i, and your reaction to his CD will probably depend in large part on whether you think that's a compliment or not. I will say that too many of the songs are marred by a fake, very overproduced echo effect. He brings in guest vocalists Melveen Leed, Loyal Garner, and Roland Cazimero. Songs are very similar, except the interesting "Tita Boogie Woogie," which at least provides relief from the drama. Songs include "You Were Always on My Mind," "E Hihiwai," "Lehe Lehe Man," "Pua Lilia," and "Ku'u Pete."
Nathan Liberato Kahikolu Kahapea Kalama, The La'i Patch(Kahikolu Productions) This recording has a "green side" and a "red side": the green is Nathan's traditional side, and the red his contemporary side. This is a very idiosyncratic recording that you will either embrace or detest. Each song is preceded by a slow, very deliberate provenance of the songs -- who it's dedicated to, when it was created, that will make some people feel like they're at a personal concert, while it will drive others off the wall. Some of the songs have catchy hooks, like the intricate percussion clapping and 'oli in the "Japan Airlines Hula," and the "My Daddy is a Bible-Totin', Holy Ghost Preacher Man," which will grow on you. Others probably won't. Songs include "Na Wahine U'i O Kaua'i," "Kekaha Nani E," and "You Party Hula Boy."
-- Susan
Like Hawaiian music? Find out the latest concerts and releases on Susan's Hawaiian Music Page, now at:
http://www.nahenahe.net/susanmusic/current.html or
http://www.interpac.net/~nahenahe/susanmusic/current.html
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