Wow! The great Hawaiian music concerts just keep on coming! California is quickly becoming a regular venue for many Hawaiian music performers, but Hawaiian music is being heard all over. There's a big concert set for Texas in November, and I heard through a kind lurker that Keola Beamer was very well received at his recent concert in Switzerland. I understand that I have readers who live in that area who saw the notice of the concert on this page. Not only did they go to the concert, but they were kind enough to tell Keola afterward that they heard about it from the page. Thank you so much! It makes my job easier if you do that.
Usually I list only a few weeks in advance, but this time I've listed concerts through November. I hope you can find something to see in your area!
Keali'i Reichel's eager anticipated third CD, Eo Mai, is slated to be released on October 7. His first two, Kawaipunahele and Lei Hali'a, were smash hits that propelled Keali'i to a recording contract with Atlantic Records and concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. Here's a little advance news about the CD from Punahele Productions: The album opens with a Maui chant, and leads to the title track, a song Keali`i wrote as homework for a composition class at UH taught by his friend Puakea Nogelmeier, composer and lyricist of the "Toad Song" and "Lei Hali'a." "Eo Mai" extols the many virtues of fresh water - a sign of wealth in ancient times, as well as a metaphor for the pleasures of romance - a subject Keali`i is fond of in his music. Following the trend of his first two albums, the third cut from the CD is an original, contemporary song, "My Love Is A Natural Thing," teaming Keali`i with Maui singer Vanessa Rodrigues in a soaring love ballad with gospel overtones. "I like to keep our listeners wondering what will come next. An album without surprises, where all the songs sound the same, is boring to listen to!" says Keali'i. More about the CD in the mid-September page.
Thanks to all the folks who took the time to drop me a note. I appreciate all your comments. A couple folks each month email me asking for additional info on some events. I always post all the info I have: if I don't list ticket prices, for instance, it's because I didn't get that info from my source. I try always to get a contact number, but sometimes I don't get that either. In that case, your best bet for info is to call the venue.
I have sad news to share with you. Jim Corioso passed away recently, according to Coletta "Pixie" Corioso Bolitiski. Jim was a frequent poster about Hawaiian music on alt.culture.hawaii (back before we had alt.music.hawaiian) and had a great Hawaiian music page at www.connect.net/jcorioso/mele. Pixie says that she is hoping to transfer his files to a new website, and I will pass that information along as I receive it. You may contact her at ata@ncentral.com. A hui hou, e Jim!
Recordings
Valley Boys, Valley Boys (Dino Mountain Productions DMCD 1967) Wow! This is an astonishingly good first CD for such young entertainers! While I quibble with some of their song choices -- there's nothing particularly inspired about some of their remakes, such as "Just When I Needed You Most" or "Paper Roses," they show *wonderful* assurance and beautiful falsetto work on Hawaiian classics such as "Ku Wa Li'ili'i" (you may remember this as the "hupe kole song [g]), "Eclipse," and "Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua." Wow again. I'd love to hear an all Hawaiian CD from this group.
Jon Osorio, Randy Borden, and Steve Brown, E Ho'i Mai (Wing and a Prayer Productions WPP 1000). The duo Ron and Randy is back, with added input from Steve Brown. This is a non-Hawaiian Hawaiian CD. There is a touch of Hawaiian language on here, but more of the songs are contemporary in the classic "Hawaiian Eyes" vein. A notable exception is "Pule No Ke Ea," done in almost a plainsong style, with additional ripples of harmony on every verse. One of the biggest English hits is going to be the evocative "From a Dancer" that's getting huge and justificanle airplay. Other songs include "Ea Kaho'olawe," "Breath Upon the Wind," and "Ka Hulina Au."
Kelly Villaverde, Emerald House (TJP 00162). Well, here's another not-quite- Hawaiian CD. Talented local musician Kelly Villaverde (which means "green - or emerald - house") shows off a lot of the facets of his undeniable talent, but the resulting CD could have been produced anywhere. There's nothing particularly Hawaiian about the bluesy "Still Yours," the multiply-harmonized, crisp hand percussioned "Miracle," or the strictly contemporary "Afraid of Falling in Love." I'll let you guess what genres are represented by "Bossa for Benny" and "You Like Carib, Sahib." A nice, complex CD, but not local.
Sandii's Hawaii (Sushi Records - SUSHI H1). Run, do not walk, *away* from this CD. It appears to be a Japanese import, a kind of karaoke version of classic Hawaiian and hapa haole songs. Minimal vocal quality and unimaginative settings. Songs included are: "Green Rose Hula," "Kimo Hula," "Waikiki," "Aloha 'Oe," and "Pupu Hinuhinu."
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