BB Shawn finds his
way in latest effortNo Boundaries: BB Shawn (Flying Solo Music)
THIRD time is a winner for "BB Shawn" Ishimoto. His 1996 debut album, "Finding My Way," didn't capture the spirit that made him a hit at the Pier Bar. Last year's "Live & Kickin' " was a simple serving of local bar band fodder. This aptly titled album puts his talents in perspective and displays his range as musician, song stylist, arranger and producer.
"My Romance" is easily the most divergent and also one of the most interesting. BB Shawn as a lounge act singing Rodgers & Hart? Believe it!
Acoustic soft rock is evidently one of his passions. A Beatles classic, two relatively obscure James Taylor songs, and "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone," brightly define that facet of his repertoire.
"E Ku'ulei" is significant as an original co-written with Kelila Morita; it appears a second time as an instrumental. Catchy arrangements of "Eleni (Can of) Mackerel" and "Ni Lutu Na Yakavi" add South Pacific numbers.
The one clunker is a routine remake of the Coasters' 1957 hit, "Young Blood." There must be a way to do something original with this song, but the previous efforts by Bad Company and Bruce Willis also came up short. Oh well.
Imaginative artwork, photos of the artist from infancy to the present, and complete lyrics and performance credits complete this landmark album.
Slender Line of Lavender: Kim Char Meredith (Passionate Women Records)
KIM Char Meredith was a bright spot on last year's "Lei of Dreams" Christian anthology. This tremendous album establishes her as a mainstream talent. What a talent she is! All 14 songs are well-written originals. Diversity of style, range, power, emotion, a beautiful voice -- Meredith has it all.
Those who expect a Christian album will find that Meredith is an articulate secular lyricist too. The imaginative arrangements of Kelly Villaverde and Ben Vegas are built around Meredith's expressive voice and acoustic guitar. The other instruments expand the melodies without manhandling them.
"Java Java Cafe" celebrates the wondrous joy of love in driving acoustic blues-rock style. "The More Excellent Way" frames a call for tolerance in soft but defiant tones. The enigmatic title track contains shades of meaning understood only by the composer and her closest friends, but Meredith writes beautiful love poetry. Her songs touch the heart of anyone able to love.
The cover art, the order of the songs, and the changes in instrumental style that occur along the way, add further shades of meaning to her performance. What a masterpiece!
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.
