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Island Mele

Friday, January 26, 2001

By John Berger

Jam session style
works on album

Waiahole Ditch Band:
By Waiahole Ditch Band (Atherton Pacific Productions APP-042)

IMAGINE guys jamming on someone's back porch. That's the "let's go for it" ambience of the Waiahole Ditch Band. The group plays originals and remakes with equal zest in a style reminiscent of the many acoustic rock groups of the '70s. The band is also plugged into contemporary island music in using Jamaican rhythms to deliver a message about land use and water rights in "Waiahole Ditch Band (Down In The Ditch)."

"Malama Ka Aina" likewise addresses nationalist issues and decries greed-driven development and the destruction of rural communities.

The casualness of jamming may explain why the album art shows four guys but the credits list five members plus two "guest musicians" and two "new editions." Whoever they are this week the Waiahole Ditch Band will please fans of local acoustic rock.

http://www.olindaroad.com

MP3 Audio Clips: Malama Ka Aina Wahine Ilikea Waiahole Ditch Band (Down the Ditch) Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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Hawaiian Love Songs:
By George Kahumoku Jr. (Dancing Cat 38050-2)

THIS is the fourth solo album in recent years by George Kahumoku Jr. It finds him exploring fresh ideas. His opening passage on "The Queen's Prayer" sounds more like an Arab oud than a guitar, and he imaginatively reworks the familiar "Hawaiian War Chant" with a light acoustic blues sound. He tops both when doing "Moloka'i Slide" as a duet with Bob Brosman on acoustic steel -- it's the best version of the song ever done and avoids the problematic elements of the original hit arrangement.

Information on slack-key tunings is essential for full appreciation of the musical genre. That information and much more is found in the liner notes booklet that makes this a perfect introduction to Kahumoku and to slack key in general.

http://www.dancingcat.com

MP3 Audio Clips: The Queen's Prayer Moloka'i Slide Hawaiian War Chant Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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Paddle to the Rising Sun:
By 'Elua Kane (Hula CDHS-612)

HOKU Award-winning 'Elua Kane excels at blending modern and traditional hapa-haole music in fresh ways.

Damien Farden (guitar) and Tau Grieg (acoustic bass) neatly rework island standards while also sharing vignettes of contemporary Hawaii.

Studio musicians add textures but never obscure the duo's manly harmonies and classic acoustic format.

http://www.hawaii-calls.com

MP3 Audio Clips: Paddle to the Rising Sun On A Coconut Island Aloha 'Oe A Hui Hou 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.