Latest release
preserves essence of IZ

"Alone in IZ World"
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - BBCD 5907
(Big Boy/The Mountain Apple Co.)

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Review by Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

I ADMIT that I had my doubts about this album. Considering the iconic status of IZ, the man and his music, to all of Hawaii, I thought it would have been easy to exploit his memory with a posthumous compilation of reworked rehearsal tapes never meant to see the light of day, all in the name of the almighty dollar.

Well, there's no doubt this album's sales will gladden the collective hearts of the Mountain Apple staff, but what makes "Alone in IZ World" work is that Jon de Mello and the Hobo House on the Hill group keep the preternatural quality of IZ's voice and music intact.

COVER STORY

During the accompanying interview with de Mello, the producer mentioned that "a 21st century sound" had been added to such previously released songs as "Kaleohano," "Starting All Over Again" and "In This Life." The "enhanced arrangements" add a bit of synth gloss that makes them radio-friendly, but thankfully don't detract from the songs' power. Their best work is on "Mona Lisa," transforming what sounded like a tossaway take into a magical little number, filled with nostalgia.

The album's finer moments are the ones with just IZ and his uke. House engineer Milan Bertosa did yeoman's work on an alternate take of "'Ulili E," and in mixing in Barry Flanagan's guitar accompaniment on IZ's vocal track on "Hi'ilawe."

But the essence of IZ, his musicality and gentle humor, are what we cherish, and are evident on the solo, acoustic "Henehen Kou 'Aka" and "Panini Puakea" (what a fine ukulele player he was!). "La 'Elima," a song that honors the people and place of Miloli'i on the Big Island has a vocal by IZ that will just break your heart.

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