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Island Mele

Friday, December 15, 2000

By John Berger

Family ties carried
on by new duo

Hawaiian from the Heart:
By Keoki Kahumoku and Herb Ohta Jr. (Roy Sakuma Productions RSCD 2888)

HAWAIIAN traditionalists have cause to celebrate as Keoki Kahumoku and Herb Ohta Jr. advance two musical legacies another generation with their first album together. Ohta has previously recorded as a solo artist; Kahumoku is the son of slack-key master George Kahumoku Jr. The duo debuts with fresh acoustic interpretations of 12 Hawaiian standards. Each selection is a valuable addition to the Hawaiian discography.

Kahumoku is instantly notable as a natural vocalist in the old-style. Studio sidemen Ocean Kaowili (bass) and Bobby Ingano (steel guitar) embellish the arrangements but never overshadow the duo. This is beautiful Hawaiian music.

http://www.ukulele-roysakuma.com

MP3 Audio Clips: Wahine U'i Hi'ilawe Hawai'i Aloha Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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Third Degree:
By Third Degree (King Street Records MACD 2070)

THIRD Degree approaches the blues as serious local musicians akin to the Rolling Stones of the early 1960s since neither group grew up in the blues culture but both groups love playing the music. James Ronstadt (harmonica/vocals) has been prominent in the local blues scene for years and easily recognized by his trademark black leather hat. He and Chris Planas (guitar/vocals) wrote four songs each for this labor of love and both guys prove adept at addressing such basic blues topics as infidelity and broken hearts. Each adds an uplifting song or two as well.

Planas and Ronstadt share the instrumental spotlight with the equally talented Bailey Matsuda (keyboards). Milan Bertosa (bass) and James Ganeko (drums) provide a solid foundation. When all five stretch out on Ronstadt's "Do You Know What It's Like?" there's no question that these local boys can play the blues.

MP3 Audio Clips: Every Other Day My Babe Do You Know What It's Like? Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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Tribute to My King:
By Native Roots (Tropical Jam Productions TJP00282)

NATIVE Roots delivers an evangelical Christian message with reggae rhythms that capitalize on the insatiable appetite for reggae in Hawaii. One song mentions Jah but the others make it clear that it is Jesus Christ that this group hails as the living son of God.

That theme makes this album very timely for the Christmas season. The quality of the music makes it one of the best local religious albums of the year as well.

Phone: (808) 678-6998

MP3 Audio Clips: Garden of Eden My King Lake of Fire 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.