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Island Mele

Friday, November 24, 2000

By John Berger

Duo in new ‘Groove’
as Colón

The Groove Machine
Colón (Four Strings Productinos FSCD7491)

IT was a year ago tomorrow that Jake Shimabukuro and Lopaka Colón learned through a news report that Jon Yamasato was quitting Pure Heart to concentrate on school (Yamasato in fact launched a solo career). Colón and Shimabukuro have retired the group name and continued with Guy Cruz (guitar/vocals) and Andrew McLellan (bass) as Colón (The name honors group mentor Augie Colón, Lopaka's father).

Yamasato's solo work has hewed close to what he did with Pure Heart, but Colón (the group) is exploring new territory. The songs here blend varying elements of pop, folk, blues, Hawaiian and acoustic rock in interesting ways. Cruz's voice is an engaging focal point, but it's also clear that Lopaka Colón is exploring new percussive ideas and Shimabukuro is redefining the sonic limits of the uke.

An acoustic rock take on "No Woman No Cry" shows their imagination as arrangers. "Drift Away" evokes memories of previous Cruz family projects while "Stars and Stripes Forever" adds a Shimabukuro concert favorite to the package.

http://www.fourstrings.com

MP3 Audio Clips: Alright Stars And Stripes Forever A Little Bit Of Love Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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FLYING
Kohala (Palm PRCD4013)

GUITARISTS Charles Michael Brotman, Charlie Recaido and Kevin Teves celebrate memorable local melodies in beautiful style with their third album. Their choices include tunes by Mackey Feary, Henry Kapono and Malani Bilyeu. The acoustic arrangements are fresh without losing the spirit of the originals. The ambience is relaxing and romantic throughout.

http://www.palmrecords.com

MP3 Audio Clips: Nightbird Friends Follow Your Road Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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Resurrection
Hawaii (Aaron Records)

WITH Jawaiian and local-style reggae dominating the local music scene, it is hard to imagine a time when local musicians were playing and recording industrial-strength hard rock. This album commemorates the legacy of Hawaii, a band that hit here with its "Out of the Dark" album in 1980, then returned with a slightly different roster in 1985 as Endangered Species.

This rerelease contains songs from both projects. The most notable is "Lady of My Heart" which was a hit here in 1980. This local rock time capsule is certain to appeal to those who recall the era.

Phone (808) 235-4305

MP3 Audio Clips: Judy (Don't Change Your Mind) Lady Of My Heart Cold Hearted Woman Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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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.