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"Na Hulukupuna"

Kamakele "Bulla" Ka'iliwai
Ululoa

It's no surprise that Ka'iliwai's second album is as perfect as they come in Hawaiian music. It follows his 1997 win in the Big Island's Clyde "Kindy" Sproat Storytelling and Falsetto Singing Contest, and the release of his impressive debut album, "Ka'iliwai," in 2001. No surprise then that "Na Hulukupuna" is certain to delight traditionalists everywhere.

Beyond the beauty of Ka'iliwai's voice, his album makes an important cultural statement. Each song was selected to honor cherished ancestors and the traditions they passed on to him. He establishes the theme with his opening chant, then uses the liner notes to explain how songs such as "He'iea" and "Hi'ilawe" relate to members of his family.

Several new songs share Ka'iliwai's experiences and thereby bring the musical traditions he embodies forward another generation.

ululoa.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "He'eia" "Hale o Nai'a" "Hi'ilawe" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"In Dreams"

Nick Castillo
Orange Tree Productions

It's the technique of ha'i -- emphasizing the transition a singer makes when moving in or out of falsetto register -- that differentiates Hawaiian falsetto from falsetto traditions elsewhere. Nick Castillo is doing something unusual, though, by singing Hawaiian and hapa-haole songs without the usual emphasis on ha'i. He's also successfully reinterpreting several Hawaiian and pop standards with imaginative new arrangements.

Castillo introduces his Hawaiian/"New Age"/techno concept with a Hawaiian original honoring his home island of Kauai. Other standouts include a romantic Jawaiian-lite reworking of "I Only Have Eyes For You," a dreamy rendition of "Blue Hawaii" and a memorable rearrangement of "Koke'e."

Castillo's reliance on electronic tracks succeeds where most local artists fail. His cross-cultural album is soothing and relaxing throughout.

orangetreeproductions.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Kauai" "I Only Have Eyes for You" "Blue Hawaii" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"JRoq vs. Dr. Trey"

JRoq
Immense and Intense Productions

So who is JRoq? That's the mystery posed by this impressive collection of original hip-hop and smoothly mixed "urban" music. A line about the advantages of being "size zero on heels" when looking for a break in the music business could be significant. A song about being left "for a baby under 16 years old" suggests that JRoq must be much older than that. Whoever she is, JRoq and producer/engineer Dr. Trey are a powerful creative team.

JRoq sounds like several female artists but never like she's trying to copy them. Trey goes way beyond local hip-hop frontiers with his use of live horns, acoustic rock, central European rhythms, Arabian melodies and the blues. In short, this is premium hip-hop, but there's more going on here.

Despite the title, there's no apparent theme or story line, just unconventional mainstream pop music worthy of national exposure.

doctortrey.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "World Traveler" "Get Down" "Tiny Bubbles" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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