Aloha mai!May! What a month! HOT LIX on May 3 -- free, even! The Na Hoku Hanohano awards on the 17th! A new release from Iz on the 20th! The Makaha Bash on the 23rd! Check this page out for details on these and much, much more!
As I told you in my last page, rumor had it that there would be a posthumous CD from the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Mountain Apple had announced that such a CD has been made and that it will be released on Israel's birthday, May 20. It appears that it will be called Iz, The Man and His Music in Concert. Other Mountain Apple releases slated for May is the newest from Amy Hanaiali'i and Willie K, entitled Contemporary Hawaiian, and one from Aunty Irmgard Aluli and Puamana, entitled From Irmgard, With Love.. I'll keep you posted on these as well.
It's May, the Na Hoku Hanohano award month! This means two things: one, I will delay my mid-May page so that I can report the Hoku winners to you as soon as I can, and, for those of you itching to buy the great CDs that you're reading and hearing about, check out Tower Records if you're in Hawai`i. Tower traditionally puts all their Hawaiian music CDs on sale in May in honor of the awards. CDs generally run $11.99 and $12.99. I confirmed with store personnel that they will offer this sale again this year, although no one knows the dates yet. Call the stores to find out!
And for those of you off-island, soothe your Hawaiian-music fix by checking out The Hawaiian Music Island. Good prices on CDs and shipping, and extremely reliable.
I've received email asking about the Hamakua Music Festival. What I hear so far is that it's slated for October, and that Keali'i Reichel will be performing. More details when I get them!
Recordings
(all concerts are in Honolulu if not otherwise specified)Darren Benitez, Mother of the Sea (Fat Katz Productions FKP 5002) Darren Benitez and his inimitable falsetto are back in a CD guaranteed to please fans of his first CD. Darren exercises his falsetto in multi-part harmony in two of his originals, "Aloha O'ahu" and "Nanea Holo Malie," as well as in "Lanikai" and "He Mele Lau La'i." The sound is just glorious. He pays homage to his Puerto Rican heritage with "El Burro Socarron" (catchy, but not the monster hit "Palo Palito" was). His original "So Lonely" is pure C&W, and he concludes with a gospel tune, "I'd Rather Have Jesus." Good fun!
Bill Kaiwa, Na Mele Pulama 'Ia (Kawai Records KCD 4001) This CD alternates between two styles that Bill is very comfortable with: the back yard kind of chalangalang style -- very open, energetic rather than sophisticated, and what I call Hawaiian Nightclub -- very smoooooth and backed up by the superb steel guitar of Bobby Ingano. The accompaniment is great, but the vocals are unpolished. Songs include "No Aluna Ahiahi," "Beauty," ""Ku'u Lei Ilima," and "He Inoa No Ka Manu Ho'olaukanaka."
Various artists, Lifesong (Mountain Apple MACD 2048) This is a benefit CD for the Life Foundation Hawai`i, featuring not previously recorded songs from an array of Hawaiian musical talent. Some of the songs are just ok (did we really need another C&W cover from the Ka'au Crater Boys?), while others are catchy and have been getting a lot of airplay, notably Na Leo Pilimehana's medley "You've Got a Friend/Lean On Me" and Willie K's "When Will You Know." Other artists include The Brothers Cazimero ("Somewhere in the Night"), Glenn Medeiros ("You Don't Have to be Alone"), Don Ho ("Don't Forget"), and Manu Boyd and Lehua Galuteria with a great opening 'oli (chant) ("Kali'ulaokala").
Kua'Ana, Beautiful Days (Loco Moco Records 5002) Wow! This CD was really the surprise in the bunch. Never heard of these guys, and the cover graphics are some of the ugliest I've seen all year. BUT -- what great sounds! This is gonna become an instant favorite for all you lonesome-college-kids-stranded-on-the-Mainland-and-dying-for-a-taste of home. It's upbeat, it's catchy, it's really good! I'm not at all what you would call a reggae fan, yet the reggae touches on this CD are just blended into an irresistibly catchy whole, with great harmonies and a danceable beat that I really enjoyed. Most of the songs appear to be originals by "K. Napoleon." Rock on, K! Great stuff!
Songs include the title track, "Journey," "'O 'oe No Ku'ulei," Ka'ale'a," "Nanakuli," "Moloka'i," "Across the Sea," and "Sinking Deeper." Yee-hah!
--Susan
susanj@lava.netLike 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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