Mid-May 1998
(© 1998 Susan Jaworowski)

Aloha mai! This is the big month for Hawaiian music fans worldwide -- May is the month for the annual Na Hoku Hanohano awards, and I've got the winners right here! Don't forget to check out the previews of two new CDs below, including the latest from Amy and Willie!

But now the news you've been waiting for....

And this year's winners are:

Congratulations to all the nominees!

Recordings
(all concerts are in Honolulu if not otherwise specified)

Amy and Willie K, Hanaiali'i (Mountain Apple MACD 2050). Fans of Amy Hanaiali'i Gillion will be delirious over her new CD, which builds on the promising base of her second CD, Hawaiian Tradition, which long-time readers will remember that I recommended as one of my CDs of the Year for 1997. Amy has two strengths -- her amazing voice, which Wayne Harada has defined as sounding like she was "channeling some long-ago auntie," and the impeccable, gorgeous arrangements and playing of the equally talented Willie K. Although most songs are in Hawaiian (with the exception of the amusing hapa-haole "Ala Moana Auntie," penned by Amy's grandmother Jenny Napua Hanaiali'i Woodd, the same woman who wrote the huge hit, "Hale'iwa Hula" from her second CD), Willie tints "Ma Mua Paha" with a Spanish inflection, tinges "'O Ke 'Ala o Na Pua" with jazz, adds Bobby Ingano's smooth as glass steel guitar to "Ku'u Pilikua," and handles the tender guitar work on the intimate "Pua 'Alani." The accompaniment is just brilliant, showcasing the many and varied moods of Amy Gilliom. There's only one duet, the last number, "'O Ko'olau Ku i Ka Lani," an introspective, almost classical piece that makes you wish that the next CD would be an Amy/Willie duet CD. Until then, many astute listeners will find this eminently satisfying.

Opihi Pickers, Fresh Off the Rocks (Po'maika'i Records Hawai`i POM 98H-2) I try not to be too opinionated in my reviews. After all, one man's meat is another woman's poison, and I try not to come down too hard on anyone because I realize than fans come in all shapes and sizes. So I wasn't originally intending to make the uncomplimentary observation that the lead singer in this group sang like he was 14 ... until I found out the lead singer _is_ 14, or thereabouts. [sigh] I was swept away by the first instrumental cut on this CD. Dual 'ukes, really cooking, good backup (think Ka'au Crater Boys with two 'ukes. [g]). However ... the group is composed of four kids between the ages of 14 - 17 year olds, and they really have no business recording vocal numbers. After the fast, fresh instrumentals, it really detracts. The song selection has its clunkers as well. Did we really need an 'ukulele version of "That's the Way (Uh-huh) I Like It?"? That said, I actually would recommend this CD, for its fun instrumentals (hey, programming around tracks is why we have CDs in the first place, right? [g]), and the vocals wouldn't be too out of place if you used the CD as party music (uh-huh, uh-huh). C'mon back with an all-instrumental CD, 'Opihi Pickers, and you'll have a real CD cookin'. Instrumentals include "Koni Au i Ka Wai medley," "'Opihi Bamba" (after "La Bamba"), and "Stars and Stripes Forever." Vocal numbers include "Noho Paipai," "Daniel" (the Elton John song), "Lights (Honolulu) (a remake of the song "Lights" ("when the lights/go down/in the city")," and "Hot Fun on Hawaiian Time" (also a remake of "Hot Fun in the Summer Time.")

--Susan
susanj@lava.net

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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