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Ekalesia Praise

Various artists
(Ekalesia)

This home-brewed Christian album marks the debut of Kapena De Lima as an all-around record producer at 16. De Lima created all the music tracks in his home studio and then brought in his sisters, parents, and other members of the Ekalesia congregation as vocalists. He also engineered the project and sang lead on one song.

There's a limit to how far keyboards and computer software can successfully substitute for live musicians, but De Lima shows his imagination by recording in a variety of musical styles and instrumental effects.

In short, there's a lot more going on here than the "elevator music" heard on some other locally produced religious albums. Nothing here hits with the roof-rocking power and fervor that Kapena, the band that Kapena De Lima is named for, brought to the 2000 Hoku Awards with "Jesus Got A Hold of My Life"/"I Came to Praise the Lord," but there are several songs that certainly deserve play on Hawaii's Christian radio stations.

All in all, this is a fine step forward for Kapena De Lima too.

Write to: Ekalesia
P.O. Box 634
Kaneohe, HI 96744

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Ka waiwai O Ke Ko'olau" "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" "It Is Good" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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Hi-Fi Steel Guitar

Jerry Byrd

Jerry Byrd's death earlier this month, and the recent release of "The Master of Touch and Tone" by The Mountain Apple Co., is certain to heighten interest in all aspects of his unique legacy in Hawaiian and country music. That makes the reissue of this album from 1957 timely indeed.

Produced for reissue by DeWitt "Scotty" Scott of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, in St. Louis, Mo., it captures Byrd's celebrated mastery of touch and tone perfectly and documents his use of tunings as well.

Byrd's repertoire is represented with an eclectic mix of country, pop and hapa-haole melodies in several moods and tempos.

"Moon of Manakoora" demonstrates his early interest in hapa-haole standards. "Slippery Elm" adds an original to the collection.

Smith writes in the liner notes that the final song, "Paradise Waltz," wasn't included on the original vinyl record, but that Byrd considered it his best demonstration of harmonics. That's reason enough to include it. (Available at www.scottysmusic.com.)

www.scottysmusic.inc

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Steelin' The Blues" "Moon Of Manakoora" "Dance Of The Golden Rod" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Hawaiian Style Ukulele"

Troy Fernandez
(Neos Productions)

Troy Fernandez has been eclipsed by other ukulele virtuosos in recent years despite his self-produced projects after the break up of the Ka'au Crater Boys. His new affiliation with Neos Productions should put him back in the spotlight.

Someone made an odd choice in showing Fernandez on the back side of the CD and not on the front, but this is otherwise a fine showcase.

Producer Bob St. John keeps the focus on Fernandez's instrumental charisma throughout. Salaam Tilman (percussion) and Tazra Vega (guitar and bass) provide all the instrumental backing necessary; the keyboards rarely intrude on the organic traditionalist ambiance.

Fernandez applies his formidable picking and strumming to 17 island melodies that represent roughly a century of popular Hawaiian and hapa-haole music -- "Nani Kaua'i," "Blue Hawaii" and "Wahine 'Ilikea" to name three. Among the others is one that Ernie Cruz Jr., wrote while they were working together in the Ka'au Crater Boys. Including Cruz's song is a classy touch!

www.neosproductions.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Ka'aahi Kahului" "Hawaiian Soul" "Blue Hawaii" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info