Pleasing blend
in Kaapana’s
new ‘Waltz’Waltz Of The Wind: Led Kaapana & Friends (Dancing Cat)
LED Kaapana's second Dancing Cat album finds him outside the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters series and exploring a new blend of Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian music. He recorded his album in Nashville with an eclectic list of studio guests.
Kaapana doubles on guitar and autoharp opposite fiddler Stuart Duncan for a fresh perspective on "Koke'e." George Winston plays piano as he and Kaapana improvise beautifully on "Honeysuckle Rose." Ricky Skaggs sings lead and plays mandolin on "Move It On Over," and Sonny Landreth's steel guitar adds grit to Kaapana's take on "Ku'u Ipo Onaona." The other songs are equally interesting.
A 20-page booklet adds extensive information on Kaapana's importance as an artist, the history of slack key, and the concept of this remarkable album.
He Mana'o He Aloha: Ka la'i Stern (Kawai)
KALA'I Stern won the Frank B. Shaner Falsetto Contest in 1996. "Ke Beauty A'o Manoa," "Ka Ipo Lei Manu," "He Aloha No Wai'anae" and "Kauoha Mai" are falsetto highlights on his debut album. Producer Kenneth Makuakane shows good judgment in framing Stern's voice with clean synthesizer-free arrangements.
"Ku'u Pua Lehua" shows Stern's promise as a composer, but a Jawaiian rehash of "Stuck On You" offers no original ideas. Combining "Fire & Rain" and "Pane Mai" is more creative. Unfortunately, Makuakane provides no information on the medley, other song lyrics or the traditions of Hawaiian falsetto.
Watercolors: Daniel Ho (Aire Music)
EXPATRIATE local composer/producer Daniel Ho teamed up with artist Wyland (funds and graphics) for his jazz-pop instrumental album. Ho is the main musician; he plays keyboards and several other instruments. Other players add percussion, bass, sax, and brass.
The songs are originals. Ho's arrangements offer a variety of tempos and textures. The tunes could be background music, but the instrumental interplay makes them interesting listening. (A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wyland Foundation.)
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.
