Iz's album was the graphic art winner.
Best of the best in
By John Berger
Hawaiian music
Special to the Star-BulletinONLY the most passionate of music collectors would attempt to purchase all the local music released in a year. Others may be curious about new releases, but want assurance that they'll like what they're paying for.
If it's the official word you were waiting for, the Honolulu Academy of Recording Artists named the following 18 albums the best in their categories at Sunday's Hoku Award ceremonies.
Pure Heart's self-titled debut album and "Hanaiali'i" by Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom & Willie K, were the big winners. Here are short reviews of all:
"Hanaiali'i" Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom & Willie K (Mountain Apple). Winner: Group of the Year; Hawaiian Album; Engineering (to Milan Bertosa); Song of the Year ("Palehua")
Amy and Willie successfully expand the popular retro-Hawaiian sound that resurrected her commercial prospects with her second album in 1997. The chemistry between classically trained Amy and the uniquely talented "Uncle Willie" Kahaiali'i makes their work together appealing. Her beautiful voice is the common dominator throughout.
Most of the songs are remakes but the trio usually finds new perspectives. "Bring Me Your Cup" could have been remade as formula local-style pseudo-reggae but paring the bass and speeding up the tempo created a fresh version. Jake Shimabukuro's "You Came Into My Life" articulates the frustration of loving and losing, while going from a Hawaiian standard to a Barry Flanagan instrumental shows the trio's versatility.
Anyone looking for authentic traditional Hawaiian music need look no farther than this album. Kumu hula Nalani Kanaka'ole and Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele received both the adjudicated Hoku Awards for use of the Hawaiian language. As produced and packaged by John Keoni Fujitani, this is a perfect introduction to their Big Island halau.
This album will delight anyone who loves Territorial Era Hawaiian music. Cockett has never sounded better, the clean acoustic arrangements compliment his voice and the interplay between pianist Eddie Ogawa and the rhythm section is particularly nice.
Natural Vibration's second album broke no new ground in local reggae circles but it hit big after "Put A Little Love" got airplay. The work of guest trombonist Buck Rogers shows the group could become reggae innovators.
The ambience is acoustic, McCall is magnificent and several of Hawaii's top jazz musicians gave excellent support. This is easily one of the best local jazz albums of the decade.
Na Leo's Christmas album is a spin-off of its popular TV special and contains six songs first heard on KGMB in 1996. Three original songs three deserve to become island Christmas classics.
Pomaika'i and Loeka Longakit present languid synthesizer-based testaments of Christian faith. Most were written by their father Lloyd Longakit; his guitar adds welcome texture to the enervating ambiance of synthetic strings and percussion tracks. Pomai and Loeka are both impressive vocalists.
Augie Tulba has come a long way since his early efforts as one of I-94's Local Boyz! Most local comics still exploit the legacy of Booga Booga and Rap Reiplinger, but Tulba has some fresh ideas, and his musical numbers aren't all the usual low-grade local song parodies.
Auntie Irmgard and her "girls" play these beautiful songs as she intended when she wrote them years ago. "Puamana," co-written with her German-Hawaiian father, Charles Kekua Farden, is one of several signature songs.
Producers Michael Cord did an excellent job restoring and digitally remastering recordings Alfred Apaka made for Bell and Aloha Records in the late '40s. Harry B. Soria Jr.'s excellent annotation provides an overview of Apaka's life and the songs' significance.
Executive producer de Mello put familiar songs in fresh perspective with this collection of concert performances recorded between 1993 and 1997. He and producer Gaylord Holomalia add fresh facets to this musical portrait with each selection. De Mello's graphics are striking.
Kapono Beamer honors Helen Desha Beamer and takes the family musical legacy past the millennium as he presents her melodies as soothing acoustic instrumentals. The arrangements are uncluttered but never simple.
Kekuhi Kanahele's second album is as impressive as her first. Twelve new Hawaiian songs display the spiritual depth and lyric inventiveness of Kanahele and her husband, Kapio Frias. On some selections she sings and growls with the primeval presence that made her first album such a landmark in 1996; she sounds refined and sweet on others. Acoustic instruments emphasize the impact of her unique voice.
The songs are classics. Ahuna sings them beautifully. Arranger Randy K. Sugata avoids synthetic electronic effects in favor of a clean natural sound.
A chant written by kumu hula Manu Boyd defines one end of the musical spectrum on this Life Foundation fund-raiser. A rocker by Brother Noland marks another. The Ali'is, Robert Cazimero, Hapa, Don & Hoku Ho, Willie K, Pandanus Club, Jeff Rasmussen, and Zanuck & Ginai were among the others who contributed songs.
Sunburn's first album found it ready for national attention. It was on a national tour when "Mana" won. The band addresses familiar topics of political cynicism, lost love and social alienation with wit and passion.
Third time is a winner for "BB Shawn" Ishimoto. This aptly titled album puts his talents in perspective and displays his range as musician, song stylist, arranger and producer.
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