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Island Mele
Friday, October 20, 2000
Tokioka’s ‘Happy’
strong debutKAUAI resident Tommy Tokioka's impressive self-produced debut album should get him play statewide and beyond. Eight of the songs are originals and he proves an imaginative and versatile writer. Reggae-beat music may be Tokioka's main interest but his strength in rock and pop should transcend "local artist" status. Happy to Be Living:
By Tommy Tokioka (Royal T TT1465)Tokioka tapped the Bishop Museum archives for Hawaiian classics that reflect another facet of his repertoire. A reggae-beat remake of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind" should suffice to get him play on Hawaii's remake-happy radio stations but is more notable for the fact that he played almost every instrument on it.
Email: tommy@hawaiian.net
MP3 Audio Clips:
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
ONE of the most beautiful albums of the year is this one by China-born island resident Cindy Wang, producer/composer Pierre Grill, David Zou, and the Shanghai Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Wang's glorious soprano is complimented by lush orchestral arrangements and imaginative production. Her repertoire draws on Han Chinese classics and music of non-Chinese minorities in modern China presented in striking new forms.
By Cindy Wang (Shanghai Audio & Visual Publishing Co. CD 99017)The beauty of the music transcends language, but English annotation includes the basic meaning and context of each song. This unconventional alternative in "world music" is exquisite throughout!
Email: wangzuoxin@aol.com
MP3 Audio Clips:
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
GUITARIST Beano Shots holds a spot in local rock history as a member of the Squids, Hawaii's most substantial "New Wave" band of the 1980s, and for his later work with Peter Bond of Hat Makes The Man in Oriental Love Ring. Shots has been low profile for over a decade and this six-song project was released without formal announcement earlier this year. It finds him maintaining the pure traditions of pre-grunge guitar rock with some aid from old friends such as Kit and Gerry Ebersbach (aka Kit Ebi and Rubella Shotz of the Squids).
By Beano Shots (Black Hermit Beans Hawaii)Shots has continued to evolve as an artist. Hawaii rock fans will find the self-styled "black bean hermit" remains a major player.
Email: beanoshots@aol.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
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.
