Island Mele

Friday, January 18, 2002

By John Berger

"Someday"

Darrell Labrado
Monkeypod

Darrell Labrado's "Master Blaster (Jammin')" CD-single got him on Billboard's national Maxi-Single chart last month and primed Hawaii for the release of his second album. This is it.

"Someday" finds Labrado and his producers continuing to challenge Hawaii with imaginative alternatives to the one-size-fits-all Jawaiian-"island music" routine. Most of the songs are originals. That also puts Labrado ahead of the local pop pack. "Thinking of You" stands out as an example of Labrado's new cosmopolitan sound. "Two Hands and a Prayer" adds a smooth-grooving gospel number to the collection. He does that one well, too.

There's no doubt then that Labrado has made good his metamorphosis from the local "lad" known for "Shaka the Moon" three years ago to a serious and credible artist. He and his team clearly plan to go far beyond the limits of the local pop market.

Mpeg Audio Clips: Someday Kiss On My List Thinking of You Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

www.monkeypod.com

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"Dreamy"

Loretta Ables Sayre
Portlock

Vocalist Loretta Ables Sayre was one of Waikiki's brightest jazz stars when she was working with Bruce Hamada and Jim Howard in the Lewers Lounge at the Halekulani. She's been much less visible since their musical partnership ended. This album, her debut as a recording artist, finds her reunited with pianist Howard in a smoothly arranged set of 11 jazz standards. Since many are relatively unfamiliar, the collection has a fine, fresh ambience.

Sayre sounds as sweet and romantic as in her Lewers Lounge days.

The last song, "I'll Remember You"/"She's Gone Again," with Robert Cazimero as guest vocalist, goes against the acoustic jazz theme in order to feature co-producer Bryan Kessler on guitar. Sayre's duet with Cazimero is beautiful, but the instrumental arrangement belongs on another album.

Mpeg Audio Clips: Dreamy Crazy He Calls Me You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

www.lorettaablessayre.com

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"To Honor a Queen"

Ozzie Kotani
Dancing Cat

Ozzie Kotani's second album for George Winston's "Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Masters" series is welcome indeed. It's been six years since Kotani's first. As for the theme and concept, no alii is more deserving of honor than Lili'uokalani. Kotani isn't the first to record an album of her songs, but it is excellent in all respects.

Lili'u was by far the most accomplished Hawaiian female composer of the 19th century. "Aloha 'Oe" is her best-known work, and it is one of the 14 melodies Kotani interprets as slack-key instrumentals. Kotani's meticulously crafted arrangements do justice to all of them.

Producer Winston enhances the listening experience by providing a wealth of information on Lili'u and her music, Kotani and his contributions to the development and perpetuation of slack key, and the overall importance of slack key in Hawaiian culture.

Mpeg Audio Clips: He 'Ai No Kalani Aloha 'Oe The Queen's Prayer Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

www.dancingcat.com

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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.