Island Mele

By John Berger

Friday, May 7, 1999

Rivera pays
touching tribute

A Mother's Love
By: Jesse D. Rivera
Label: Fire Records Hawaii

JESSE Rivera debuted as a recording artist with a track on a low-budget local karaoke contest anthology. His first self-produced album was a big leap forward for him. His second improves on the first.

The title song honors his late mother. So does "Gone To The White Light," which will comfort many who have lost a beloved parent. His liner notes explain his remake of Bread's 1972 hit, "Everything I Own," also expresses his feelings about his mother. Rivera does a beautiful job with it.

Rivera's "Oh Come Lately" is Caribbean flavored whimsy. He goes to the country charts for a moving remake of "A Long Line Of Love." He and Pierre Grill do a fine job blending various instruments and low-profile guest artists, while the liner notes help put Rivera and his songs in perspective.

Kaona
By: Akoni & Da Palalapai Patch
Label: Leo Nui Productions

The spirited interplay between falsetto vocalist Akoni Malacas, his musicians and featured guest singer Mama Lois Akao makes his second album a delight. Whether playing old-style Hawaiian music sweet or zesty they do it beautifully. Producer Alika Odom does a great job capturing the vitality and acoustic purity of their music.

Some of the songs tell classic tales of discreet romances. Some of Malacas' originals hint of similar but more recent affairs (Hawaiian lyrics and translations aren't provided but his liner notes will give mainstream listeners the basic idea).

It isn't all about sex. Malacas closes with "Because He Lives," a beautiful statement of Christian faith.

Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha
By: Makaha Sons of Ni'ihauu
Label: Poki

After losing two members, the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau regrouped and returned in top form with this 1984 album. It won two Hoku Awards in 1985, and is now a beautiful time capsule on CD. The recordings are classics, and producer Lea Uehara adds value with updated annotation that puts the release in historical perspective.

See Record Reviews for some of John Berger's past reviews.

See Aloha Worldwide for locals living away.

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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.