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Island Mele
Friday, October 6, 2000
Kaaihue re-examines
old tunesHENRY Kapono Kaaihue marks two decades of solo success with a beautiful retrospective that offers fresh arrangements of some familiar songs. This isn't the first time he has done this; and once again he succeeds in sharing new insights into old material. Evolution of Poi:
By Henry Kapono (Eclectic ELC 2000)Kapono's biggest hits here have been ballads. Most of these songs are in that style but "It's the Way" shows he also rocks.
A basic remake of "Montego Bay" reflects his 20-plus year interest in Caribbean music and that facet of his repertoire. "Is That Peace I See?" closes the album in a tranquil and spiritual mode.
http://www.henrykapono.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
The third "Pride of the Islands" is a fine showcase for winners of the successful KCCN/FM100 talent search, but changes made in the disc's format aren't all good.
By various (KCCN KCCN2003)Earlier albums featured the winning songs as well as duets pairing each winner with an artist they admired. Some tracks here scrap the concept.
FM100 has also dropped the requirement that contestants use original, unrecorded songs in competition.
As in years past, the winners' originals are more interesting than the often jejune reggae-beat remakes added by most of the celebrity guests. Janel Akana (female vocalist winner) and Melvin Butch Starkey (male vocalist) debut with fine island pop tunes; Starkey wrote "So I Can Change" and deserves major play on FM100.
It's unfortunate that they and the other winners' voices are so deeply buried in their "duets" with the stars that they are rarely noticeable.
Starkey is used as an extra voice behind Ho'onu'a. Slack-key winner Lori Nagasako is so completely submerged backing Keali'i Reichel that she might as well not have been there.
Kozo Dallison, lead vocalist of Ewa's Own (group vocals), has the same fate as an extra guitarist backing Imua. On the other hand, Ewa's Own didn't get a second song!
A memorable coup was scored here by the producers, KCCN staffers "Radical Rob" Onekea, David "Davey D" Daniel's and Rhoda-Ann Kihikihi, in including the solo debut of Jon Yamasato. Yamasato, who left Pure Heart in a very awkward spot when he quit the group less than a year ago to concentrate on school, sounds as good as ever. Yamasato overshadows Richard "Dickey" Cantohos Jr. (ukulele) on "Cherry Oh Baby" but "Waipahu" gives Contohos a chance to show what he can do.
Simple but elegant cover art makes "Pride 3" a distinctive FM100 calling card.
http://www.kccnfm100.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Janel Akana
Richard "Dickey Boy" Cantohos Jr.
Melvin Butch Sharkey
Ewa's Own
Lori Nagasako
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
See Record Reviews for some 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 Today
section on Fridays for the latest reviews.
