Hawaiian CDs

 I have to admit: when OUR BELOVED LAND arrived in the mail I was hesitant to give it a listen: two different cultures, two different artists I both enjoyed, jammed together - it could never work, it would sound forced.  Though a big fan of Nakai's solo work, I was not a big fan of all of his collaborations. But eventually I had to do my job and listen - thirty seconds into the first track I was hooked on this haunting music: it reminded me of the drier, less populated sides of the four largest Hawaiian Islands.  The secret may be the simple percussion and Beamer's beautiful chanting with its echo of yodel.

 Like most folk I was very aware of Keola Beamer's slack key guitar playing and his singing - but had never noticed his chanting.   These sparse arrangements really bring it out.  In my opinion Nakai always does better in a sparse arrangement. Also, for years we've noticed a similarity between Hawaiian chant and Native American chant: OUR BELOVED LAND really captures that element.

 Thor Heyerdahl (of Kon-Tiki fame) would have loved this recording - you should, too. We sure did!

Pali has to be one of the best all-male harmony groups I've ever heard regardless of genre: their sound harkens back to the vocal groups on the mainland in the 1950s and 60s: The Four Lads, the Four Aces, the Brothers Four and even the Beach Boys (who are named after a Hawaiian tradition after all).

 If the group has a flaw, it's the fact that all six men also get to sing lead: naturally some are better than others at this. Having been in groups where the lead vocal is shared among several members, I can relate to the problem.   All six sing fabulous harmony, all six play at least one or more instruments.

 The group has a steady gig and if that's the group's goal, keep things the way they are - but if the group wants to go big time with all its fame and problems and painful decisions, it will have to be decided who sings lead and who doesn't.

 Speaking of great vocalists, Auntie Genoa Keawe guest spots on lead vocal, harmony and ukulele.  If you want to know what heaven sounds like, listen to Genoa Keawe backed up by the awesome vocal harmony of Pali: it doesn't get any better than this.

 The group also does a bang-up job backing John Keawe and Jay Kauka.

 If I was still singing, I'd want Pali doing my harmony back up vocals: they could use Pali in Nashville!

 The subtitle of PURE HAWAIIAN is pure Hawaiian: well, as I maintain, there's no such thing as a pure music style anymore; listeners will find parallels and reminders of mainland musical styles on some of the tunes here, including jazz, country western, Hollywood soundtracks and more.   On the other hand, Hawaii has had a big influence on these other styles throughout the years: an influence few people today realize.

 So how is PURE HAWAIIAN 'ELUA's compilation? In a word: GREAT!

 Old-time favorites and demi-gods Gabby Pahinui with the Sons of Hawaii and Genoa Keawe with Pali appear alongside new superstars of the Hawaiian vocal scene such as Darlene Ahuna and Robi Kahakalau (the best thing to come out of the Hawaiian reggae scene).

 Listen to the vocal group styling of the Makaha Sons of Nihau: fabulous harmonies reminiscent of the Brothers Four, but better.

 For something different we have Charles Ka'upu, the traditional Hawaiian chanter for the group Hapa, on 'Waika'. Solid vocal performances by so many performers abound here.

 The big surprise for me was the outstanding female vocalist Raiatea Helm, whose knockout rendition of 'Alekoki' opens the album.

 If you love Hawaiian vocals, PURE HAWAIIAN 'ELUA could become one of your all-time favorites.

  Dancing Cat Records really started something with their solo slack key instrumental albums: now other home-grown Hawaiian label such as Palm Records are releasing fine material from the likes of Sonny Lim (of the well-known Lim family from the big island).

 Most of the tunes in SLACK KEY GUITAR: THE ARTISTRY OF SONNY LIM are very mellow and well-executed, but just so you don't fall asleep, Sony throws in a rag ('Pau Hana Rag'): the Reverend Gary Davis goes to Hawaii! Delightful!

 Listening to SLACK KEY GUITAR: THE ARTISTRY has a very calming effect and that's ok with Sonny, as he comes from a fairly mellow cattle-raising part of the big island where slack key evolved.

 Sonny has played all over with many Hawaiian signers, musicians and groups for decades. He lets his fingers do the talking here - you'll be glad you listened.

1. Various Artists:

    Hawaiian Style
    Hawaiian Style 2
    Hawaiian Style 2
    Hawaiian Style 4

2. Fernandez, Troy: Hawaiian Style Ukulele

  Fifteen or more years ago we began to hear about a style of music that perplexed us: reggae music from Jamaica being played over in Hawaii by people who were blending in the unique Hawaiian sensibility.

 Although we were fans of both reggae and Hawaiian music, the two styles seemed diametrically opposed: how could such a blend ever work? No, we were against it - but admittedly curious - so we listened, at first appalled; but as the years went by this style started blending more and more into the Hawaiian mainstream - and we began liking it more and more.

 Indeed, many of the tunes on these four various artist 'Hawaiian Style' compilations have been big hits in Hawaii.

 Listeners will also notice that over the years the reggae side of the music has become more Hawaiian and less obviously rooted in Jamaican music.

 Beautiful harmonies for which Hawaii is famous, many songs of love and the importance of family, and a love for the islands of Hawaii: you rarely ever hear a reggae singer singing the praises of Jamaica!

 Some of Hawaii's current signing stars came out of this movement, and many are featured in these cds.

 To hear how the music has changed over the year, listen to the first volume - very reggae - then listen to Volume 4 - very Hawaiian; but the reggae influence is there; just more implied than upfront and obvious.

 Can the music from two tropical island cultures separated by thousands of miles be successfully blended?   Apparently yes: they can - and some great talents are to be discovered in these fantastic HAWAIIAN STYLE volumes.

 "WOW!" was all we could say when we first heard Troy Fernandez's outstanding instrumental cd HAWAIIAN STYLE UKULELE.

 Are you old enough to remember the great guitar instrumental cds of the 1950s by such artists as Chet Atkins and Les Paul, among others?  Troy Fernandez reminds me of those great recordings: shades of jazz, country, Hawaiian and pop.

 Troy is a virtuoso player who chooses to play ukulele instead of guitar: if you can solo on a mandolin, why not ukulele?   He's been recording for years and is an important member of several Hawaiian groups, but now he  leads his own sessions: twelve acoustic cuts backed up by guitar, bass, percussion and keyboards - all played so subtly you may not notice they're there - but you sure will notice Troy.

 His playing knocked our socks off.   We have a new hero here: no singing, just licking - awesome picking.

 HAWAIIAN STYLE UKULELE is now one of our favorite recordings of all time.

 Chet, Django - move over; you've got company!

    For fans of Hawaiian music, especially instrumentals, it's hard to beat this dynamite combination of ace acoustic steel guitarist Bob Brozman and slack key guitarist and singer Cyril Pahinui.

 Bob Brozman can slide a bar across the strings as good or better than anyone who's ever lived. He favors older styles reminiscent of the 1920s and 30s.

 So much of the music on FOUR HANDS SWEET & HOT has a bit of an antique quality to it - plus, Bob has a strong sense of humor which comes out in his playing. Just compare the music on SWEET & HOT to the recording by Barney Isaacs and George Keo (also on Dancing Cat): Barney usually played electric steel, so his playing was more modern than Bob's.

 As Blach Pahinui's next younger brother, Cyril Pahinui often got overlooked by fans of slack key guitar - big mistake.   Cyril can play with the best and sings nearly as well as baby brother Martin. The guy is a double threat.

 Of the 16 cuts on FOUR HANDS SWEET AND HOT, only three are vocal - and it's all Cyril doing songs he learned from his dad, the legendary Gabby Pahinui.

 FOUR HANDS SWEET AND HOT would be a great addition to any Hawaiian music collection: in fact, it's a 'must have' acquisition.