|
It seems odd that the Seventh Annual Jammin Hawaiians Concert -- a celebration of reggae-beat Jawaiian and "island music" derivatives of Jamaican and African-American "urban" music -- has been designated as a tribute to Dennis Pavao, a man who never jumped on the reggae train and remained in touch with the roots music of Hawaii. Fiji’s spot at Jammin Hawaiians
a work in progressBy John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comOdd perhaps, but why not? So the six-hour Saturday show that starts at 4 p.m. is being presented in his honor, and every island but Niihau -- that most Hawaiian of all, perhaps still Jawaiian/"island music"-free -- will be represented by at least one act. The list includes Darrell Labrado (Molokai), Hawaiian Time (Lanai), Malia & Tommy Tokioka (Kauai), Ekolu and Sly Dog (Maui). Harold "H-Dawg" Kama Jr., and some combination of Ho'aikane alumni, will represent the Big Island.
B.E.T. (Big Every Time), Fiji, Mana'o Company, Sean Na'auao, and O-shen top the hometown contingent. Pati is coming off his recent double win at Johnny Kai's Hawaii Music Awards (New Artist and Album of the Year), B.E.T. will be featuring songs from its upcoming album, O-shen is riding his recently released "Rascal in Paradise" album, and Mana'o Company is reported to have a new show set ready for the fans as well.
|
Even with these accolades, Fiji seems the obvious headliner. After all, four years after his 1997 breakthrough album, "Born and Raised," established him as a local "island music" superstar, no one in "island music" is more sought after as a guest artist. And no one rocks an "island music" concert crowd harder than Fiji.And Fiji is one contemporary artist with firsthand knowledge of the music and cultural mana'o (knowledge) of Dennis Pavao.
"I had the opportunity to tour with Dennis Pavao several years ago and was honored to share a lot of moments with him, (so) it's a honor to dedicate my show this weekend to him," Fiji said shortly after returning from a concert date in Samoa.
"(In) some concerts we don't get much time, but Jammin Hawaiians is giving us (enough) time to show what we can do, and we're grateful to Mass Appeal for that."
In concert, Fiji works with a line of Fijian dancers carrying traditional Fijian weapons -- a stage show that reflects his commitment to bring his cultural heritage as a native Fijian into his music and live performances. (Pati, who is Samoan, and O-shen, a Caucasian who was raised in Papua New Guinea and speaks Melanesian pidgin as his first language, also incorporate cultural references in their performances.)
"I'm very proud to be an American, but I'm never going to neglect my birthright. I think that's part of being here," Fiji said. "I think it's the real American way to come from where you come from and make something out of your life. That's the reason why I always keep it on the real. You have to be proud of who you are (and) be proud of where you're at."
Presented by Mass Appeal Productions, featuring: B.E.T. (Big Every Time), Believe, Ekolu, Fiji, Hawaiian Time, Ho'aikane, Harold "H-Dawg" Kama Jr., Kanalo, Darrell Labrado, Mana'o Company, Mr. Van Ray, Sean Na'auao, Norm, Native Blend, O-shen, Opihi Pickers, Pati, Sly Dog, Ten Feet, and Malia & Tommy Tokioka 7th Annual Jammin Hawaiian Concert
Where: Waikiki Shell
When: 4 p.m. Saturday; gates open at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 pool, $18.50 second terrace, $16.50 first terrace and $10 general "grass" seating, available at Blaisdell Box Office, UH-Manoa Campus Center, Ticket Plus outlets, and by phone at (808)526-4400
"I'm very proud to be from Hawaii."
Fiji also has a recently released album, "Transition." As with "Born and Raised" and "Grattitude" before it, the blend of reggae rhythms, African-American rap and "urban" music also includes Fijian-language songs and other references to Fijian culture. Fiji has never stepped too far ahead of the local Jawaiian/"island music" mainstream, but with "Transition" he has continued to explore new musical ideas.
The Jammin Hawaiians concert will be the first time that he'll be presenting some of the new songs from "Transition" in a concert setting.
Fiji's not an artist to play it safe. "At this point in time, the last thing we want to do is be scared," he said. "I think if anything, we should be taking more chances and spreading more love with what's going on in our world today. We need the transition, and whenever you're in transition I believe you're going to be rocking some boats. You're definitely going to be looked at as maybe you're crazy, but I think this is part of it.
"The thing I love about this album is that once again, we're showing a lot more. Every time we're coming out with an album, you're going to see a whole 'nother side of me. (It's) a lot of hard work and a lot of collaboration."
Fiji was getting radio play on the "Transition" album before it was released. No surprise there. And, there were some familiar songs on it. He'd decided the time was right to redo some of his earlier material.
"The first half (of the album) is revised versions (that show) the way I wanted some of the songs that had been released earlier to be. I like the originals, but this is kind of another point of view," he said.
"All throughout the album there are little inserts -- interviews -- that kind of take you through the whole album. There are a few (inserts) before certain songs that let you know how I'm feeling about where I'm at and how I feel about where we should be heading.
"The second half (of the album) is a transition from me being a local artist who's well rooted but at the same time venturing out into R&B and hip-hip, which is something that I've been pushing for a couple of years now."
The past four years have seen Fiji appear as a guest on so many local artists' albums that his collected "assists" would fill at least one full album. In turn, he describes "Transition" as a vehicle for him to showcase Hawaii's more forward-thinking artists -- his guests include B.E.T., AZ and Junior Maile.
"I believe they're very, very gifted also, and I'm excited about this whole process. If it goes well it's going to help a lot of the R&B-feeling singers to go for it. So many groups -- I watch them come out and they want to do R&B, but they're so scared of failure and (lack of) acceptance from the radio.
"If we keep at it, it's only going to get better, but (the album) is definitely breaking more boundaries."
Ideally, he says, local artists should work together in taking their music to the national and international audience.
"I want to share -- not just for my experience of what I know they would do -- but there were so many more guys I wanted to get on the album. Pati, and Jamin Wong, and I wanted to feature more of Damon Williams. You never know if the public is going to dig it or not, but it's definitely from my heart, and I've never been one to try to please the crowd. I just do what I do and hopefully they listen, and if they like it, God bless 'em, and if they don't, maybe it's not meant to be."
Fiji's priority since "Transition" is "broadening our market."
"I'm in it for all of us. I'm not in it just for me," he said. "So many people have come to me and told me, 'Why don't you go to the mainland and make it?' (but) I don't see going to the mainland as an asset. I believe the mainland -- the whole world -- is coming here, so why don't we make it all happen here?"
Click for online
calendars and events.
