Aloha mai!More recordings this month! A lot of options for Hawaiian music lovers. Good news for Robi Kahakalau lovers -- I heard that she waill be releasing a third CD on October 17, entitled "All I Want" on the Kana'ia Record label. I'll try to get a copy to preview for you in November.
One CD I won't be recommending in the near future, however, is a new release from Quiet Storm. The label is urging people to buy it so that "YOU can be a part of World Music History as [this CD] attempts to be the first record from Hawai`i to debut at #1 on Billboard's World Music Chart." Inother words, they want you to buy a copy in the first week to artificially inflate the numbers so that they can be #1, no matter what the quality. I suggest, if you receive a copy of this transparent PR ploy, that you get yourself to a listening station at Borders or Tower and listen to it and make an informed choice, not just participate in this regardless of the worth of the CD. Maybe someday Keali'i or Na Leo or another fine Hawaiian group will debut as number 1 on merit. I'll cheer on that day. Not this one.
And speaking of Keali'i Reichel, his fans can start making plans for February: Kukahi 2001 will be held at the Maui Arts and Cultre Center on February 16. If you're planning in advance, I also have the rest of the 2000-01 Hawaii Theatre Hawaiian Music Concert series listed below.
Recordings
Leokane Pryor, Maunahele (Naupaka Records). This is a good news-bad news CD: Leokane does have a very sweet falsetto, with a lyrical style reminiscent of Uluwehi Guerrero. I might quibble with some of his song choices (the Carpenters "Close to You" in particular, but he's a real singer. The bad news is the _terrible_ engineering of the CD that ruins it for me. For some reason, there is a distinct, karaoke-like echo added to the main vocal track, which is odd as Leonkane's voice does not need it. The instruments and the background vocals are not given such tacky treatment, and as a result sound jarring with the weirdly echoey vocals. It's as if the instruments are right before you at the mouth of a cave, and the singer is inside, way at the back of the cave. I hope he gets better engineering next time - he deserves it. Sonds include two originals, "Ehukai" and "Maunahele", "Kipahulu", "Pohakuloa/Beyond the Reef", "I'll Remember You", "Ku'u Pua Paoakalani," and a very original and striking version of the traditional folk song "All the Pretty Horses."
Sean Na'auao, Neutralize It (Poi Pounder Records PPR 7003) This is Sean's best CD to date. He has been pulled between Hawaiian music and Jawaiian music, and in this CD he combines both successfully. The title track, "Neutralize It", is a reggae song with the plea to accept all kinds of music. He does a beautiful, sonorous "Ka Pilina" -- there's a touch too much vocal echo, which is not needed for these serene vocals. Robert Kekaula joins him on the jaunty "Lu'au Feet", and the doo-wop "Three Little Birds" is a flexible, snappy, catchy finger-snappin' number. "Kupu'eu" is also very well done, a chalangalang style number in the classic mode, with steel guitar and close, dead-on harmonies. Delicious! "Ka'ililauokekoa" is bright and breezy, but the number that best illustrates Sean's talent is "Pua Lililehua". This is very simply done - beautiful guitar work, solemn rich vocals, undecorated and supremely right. Pick this one up -- you won't regret it.
Various artists, Hawaii Slack Key Christmas (Dancing Cat Records 08022-38044-2) Dancing Cat brings out some of the most popular artists in its ki ho'alu (slack key) series as well as some fresh faces to present cheerfully seasonal music. While they are all well done, notable are Keola Beamer's original "Away in a Manger" in his trademark gently lulling yet percussive style, and Joanie and Ruth Komatsu's "O Holy Night (Po Hemolele)", a beautiful track with guitar, recorder, and vocals. Willie K owns that song, but Joanie's exquisite, tender rendition is a pleasure. There are 11 instrumental and 3 vocal tracks, including "O Come All Ye Faithful" (Bla Pahinui), "Jingle Bell Rock" (Ozzie Kotani), "Jingle Bells" (Led Kaapana and Bob Brozman, "Joy to the World" (Moses Kahumoku), "Winter Wonderland" (Condy Combs), "My Hawaiian Christmas" (Dennis Kamakahi), and "We Wish You Merry Christmas" (Leonard Kwan).
Concerts
(all concerts in Honolulu unless otherwise stated)September
September 24 (Kauai): Benefit concert for the Mahelona Hospital Auxiliary, "An Evening of Ki Ho'alu" - Slack Key Guitar Music and Stories of Hawaii by Doug and Sandy McMaster. At the Mahelona Hospital Auditorium, 4800 Kawaihau Road, Kapaa. Doors open 6:30 pm, program starts 7:00 pm. Tickets: $18 Adults, $15 Seniors, $12 Children Tickets available at Mahelona Hospital (822-4961), Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop (823-4162), and Kathy (822-3647). All proceeds go to support Mahelona Hospital patient activities.
October
October 7: Alana Dung Fundraiser, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. Performers include Keali'i Reichel.
October 7: Aloha `Aina Party presents a political rally, concert, and craft fair, with Sudden Rush, Sean Na`auao, Robert Cazimero & Halau Na Kamalei, Richard Ho`opi`i & Friends, Tony Conjugacion, Sonny Ching & Halau Na Mamo o Pu'uanahul, Hokulani DeRego & Halau Hula o Hokulani, Leina'ala Kalama Heine & Halau Na Pualei o Likolehu, Vicky Holt Takamine & Pua Ali 'i 'Ilima, and Michael Casupang, Veto Baker & Halau I Ka Wekiu, at the Waikiki Shell. Gates open at 3:00pm. Tickets available at the Neil S. Blaisdell Box Office
October 14 (Hawai'i) Hamakua Music Festival, Honoka`a. Performers include Keali'i Reichel.
October 20: Willie K and Amy at the Hawaii Theatre.
December
December 2 (Maui): Willie K and Amy at the Maui Cultural and Arts Center.
December 16 (Las Vegas): Willie K and Amy at the Roxy Theatre, Fiesta Hotel.
January
January 26: Makaha Sons at the Hawaii Theatre.
February
February 16 (Maui): Kukahi 2001 with Keali'i Reichel at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.
March
March 2: The Brothers Cazimero at the Hawaii Theatre. April
April 6: Na Leo at the Hawaii Theatre.
May
May 11: Ho'okena at the Hawaii Theatre.
See you in October!
--Susan
susanj@lava.net
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