Aloha mai!Ah, summer is the perfect time for Hawaiian music! There are concerts bustin' out all over, from Honolulu to Las Vegas, to Chicago and Wisconsin, including a slew in Japan (thanks to Auntie Maria of the Hawaiian Music Island for the info on the Japan concerts!). If there are any coming concerts in your neck of the world, please drop me a line at susanj@lava.net.
There are a bunch of great new recordings out too! I wanted to profile the new Pure Heart and the new Ho'opi'i Brothers CDs for you this time around, but when I went to Borders to check them out for you, Pure Heart was completely sold out (yes, it's that good!) and the CD player for the Ho'opi'i Brothers was broken. I hope to be able to bring them to you next time. Meanwhile, I have descriptions of two other great CDs below.
A new video of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is scheduled to be released on June 22. Entitled "Island Music/Island Hearts: Iz, the Man and his Music," it will be sold in music stores around the State. For those of you elsewhere, the Hawaiian Music Island will be selling the video. The link is at:
http://www.mele.com/vc/info/1500.htm
Two of the biggest summer concerts in Honolulu have been announced: Blue Hawaiian Moonlight on July 10 (my birthday, no less!), and the KCCN Birthday Bash on July 31. Check 'em out if you're in Honolulu!
Recordings
Vaihi, Can You Imagine (TCDF Production Koa001CD) I recall liking Vaihi's previous CD, Puko'a Kani 'Aina, quite a lot, and they've produced a CD even more impressive than the first. Long-time readers of this page (I'm coming up on four years doing this!) will recall that in general I dislike those piecy CDs, with a little of this and a little of that, songs thrown in in a desperate attempt to please everyone and find the one hook that will sell the CD. Bleagh. However, every now and then, it works, and whatever magic there is in pulling that trick off, Vaihi has it.
This is a very well-done CD, with great music done with style and bounce. It takes a certain amount of chances, like the dual rap/ballad nature of the title cut, and pulls them off effortlessly. There are great vocals in "Stop the Rain," the new age intro of "Hush" flowers into a harmonic ballad, and the vintage doo-wop of "What's Your Name" are all appealing, as is the beautiful ballad "Ku'u Kapena Kele," the lush, gorgeous solo vocals in "Ka Maka Liko Lani," and the lively duet "Me and My Baby." The only flaw -- and it's a minor one -- is the use of synthesizer in "Te Rime O Te Hau" and "When I'm Alone." Vaihi doesn't seem to have a lot of studio clout behind it, and so I don't hear it very much on the local stations, but this CD deserves to be heard and enjoyed. Do yourself a favor and check it out at the local listening stations at Border and Tower.
Noelani Kanoho Mahoe and the Leo Nahenahe Singers, Folk Songs of Hawaii (Tradewind Records TWCD 9901) This all-female group, clearly from an earlier era, offers vibrant spirit and up-tempo beat to Hawaiian classics. This CD is not to be relegated to the ranks of quaint relics of the past! The harmonies are lovely, with the traditional steel guitar accompaniment on songs like "Sassy," "On the Beach at Hanalei," "Penei No," "Humpty Dumpty," and "My Island." Fans of the traditional will like this one.
See you in early July- a hui hou!
--Susan
susanj@lava.net
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