Island Mele

Friday, February 1, 2002

By John Berger

"I Remember"

Malia
Royal-T

Record producer Matt Young introduced Malia Rosa Kahahawai 13 years ago as a member of Leahi and then Sistah Sistah. Leahi eventually left Young's label, but the duo's later work was derivative of his style. Those old pop-lite roots are evident here, but with Tommy Tokioka as her new musical partner, Malia is moving forward as a one-name solo entity.

Malia gives Maxine Nightingale's "Lead Me On" a fresh, bouncy feel that avoids a generic Jawaiian sound but should still get her radio play. "Killing Me Softly" is less impressive since it is a variation of the Fugees' approach, but "O Kaleo" is noteworthy as a Hawaiian-language song with a Jawaiian beat.

"There Is a Way" shows Malia's newfound maturity in a more mainstream pop context, while "Push Push" and "Big Love" should grab fans of her Sistah Sistah days.

maila@Royal-T-Records.com

MP3 Audio Clips: Lead Me On Push Push There Is A Way Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

"Revelations Everywhere"

Jesse Dawn & The Kind
World Changing

Reggae in its purist form is grass-roots music rich with political commentary and Rastafarian consciousness. None of Hawaii's reggae, Jawaiian or "island music" artists exemplifies those principles more strongly these days than Jesse Dawn and the constellation of musicians known as the Kind -- James McWhinney and "Bruddah Walta" Aipolani among them.

Dawn's arrangements and production values are sparse but sufficient as he addresses local issues with songs opposing irradiated food and the destruction of Hawaii's natural beauty for "development" schemes.

"Healing Hilo Heiau" calls for preserving a historic Hilo site. Other songs encourage avoidance of "chemical injections."

Dawn isn't likely to get much "island music" radio play, but this apostle of pure grass-roots reggae deserves to be heard.

Telephone: (800) 736-3922

MP3 Audio Clips: Dancing Smile Healing Hilo Heiau Jah Jah Aloha Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

"Blues In White Satin"

Rachel Gonzales, Les Peetz, Ernie Provencher and Lew Maddox
OK No Name Productions

The impact of modern technology is seen in the availability of this CD recording of a 1998 acoustic jazz gig by Rachel Gonzales (vocals), Les Peetz (piano), Ernie Provencher (bass) and Lew Maddox (drums). The quartet explores nonstandard material as diverse as Gershwin's "Prelude No. 2," Mary Travers' "Single Girl" and a short version of the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin." The arrangements are both eclectic and interesting.

A stark and dark take on "At the River" establishes Gonzales as Hawaii's most underacknowledged female jazz singer. She gets great support from her talented partners.

The technology angle is that this is a do-it-yourself release that's more substantial than an MP3 download but available on CD only through Peetz. Call 732-0946 for ordering information.

MP3 Audio Clips: At The River Prelude #2 Twisted 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.