Lindsey’s songs
from the heartFor Every Heart: Zanuck Kapala Lindsey (Brown & Tan Records)
ZANUCK Lindsey released a charming Christmas single, "Last Kiss on Christmas," with Ginai Kapualani Hill in 1996. "For Every Heart" is a successful step forward for him.
Lindsey and producer Mark Mattson took an impressive gamble in their choice of material. This mainstream oriented local album contains no local pop rehashes of Top 40 classics. Lindsey and Mattson wrote or co-wrote every song but one.
"Moments Such as This," a duet with Hill, is as polished and appealing as many national releases that get major play here. If Hawaii had a station playing classic soul music, "Imagination" would be in high rotation.
Lindsey's repertoire draws on gospel, funk, jazzy pop, and classic mid-'60s Atlantic/Stax/Volt soul. He sings it all with natural conviction.
Credit Hill and Michele Weir for an imaginative light-jazz rearrangement of the "Hawaiian Wedding Song" that fits in perfectly.
Synthetic instruments occasionally pop up where live instruments would give a richer sound, but Lindsey is ready for a national campaign.
Pure Heart: Pure Heart (Four Strings Productions)
JAKE Shimabukuro and Jon Yamasato play guitar and bass. Add percussionist Lopaka Colon and factor in Shimabukuro's virtuosity on ukulele and the result sounds a little like several groups but still feels fresh. Most of Pure Heart's selections are remakes but the trio and producer Tracey Y. Terada usually find new perspectives.
An imaginative rearrangement of "Bring Me Your Cup" is a strong opener. It could have been recycled as formula local-style pseudo reggae. Minimalizing the bass and speeding up the tempo creates a fresh version. Jumping from there to a Hawaiian standard and then to a Barry Flanagan instrumental establishes the trio's versatility.
Shimabukuro's "You Came Into My Life" cleanly articulates the frustration of loving and losing. He and Yamasato share credit for "Ka'u," an instrumental in the tradition of Martin Denny's "exotica" sound. "Europa" is reborn with ukulele as the featured instrument.
Whether bird calls and jungle noises improves "Moloka'i Sweet Home" is a matter of taste.
The inclusion of stereotypical ethnic voices on "Mr. Sun Cho Lee" is more problematic; the trio's instrumental lead-in is more interesting than hearing a transvestite Miss Momi Lomi Lomi.
"Hey Baby" may appeal to kids unfamiliar with the original Bruce Channel hit.
See Record Reviews for some of John Berger's past reviews.
See Aloha Worldwide for locals living away.
John Berger, who has covered the local
entertainment scene since 1972, writes reviews of recordings
produced by Hawaii artists. See the Star-Bulletin's Home Zone
section on Fridays for the latest reviews.
