Island Mele

By John Berger

"Aloha Festivals
Falsetto Contest Winners Vol. III"

Various artists
Hula Records

The label's third compilation is another perfect souvenir of the contests that do the most to promote Hawaiian falsetto singing: The Clyde "Kindy" Sproat Storytelling & Falsetto Contest and the Frank B. Shaner Hawaiian Falsetto Contest (see related story on Page 8). The previous albums in the series won back-to-back Hoku Awards in the compilation category. This one is just as good.

All the winners from 2000 and 2001 get at least one song, but the emphasis is on Le'a Kukona-Pacheco. He tied for top honors in the 2001 Sproat contest the day after he won the Shaner contest. Among his four songs is "Hula O Makee," his Shaner contest winner. Contest namesakes Sproat and Shaner contribute one song each. Detailed annotation adds all the personal and cultural information needed to make this a valuable addition to any collection of modern Hawaiian music.

www.Hawaii-calls.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: A He Nani Moloka'i Blue Darlin' Mele Hinalea Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"On The Rise"

Epic Sessions
Island Fire Productions

Epic Sessions joins the horde of Jawaiian bands playing teen-oriented island music and pop-lite ballads. Several songs show promise, but the reggae- beat stuff is generally routine, the faux-Jamaican posing tedious and most of the ballads earnest but flaccid. In other words, this group should be a big hit on island music radio stations!

The nadir is reached with an unimaginative Jawaiian rehash of "I Must Be Dreaming" that falls far short of Neil Sedaka's original. (The whole lame Jawaiian remake thing has gone well beyond stale, now that Fiji, Chief Ragga and O-shen are charting bold new vistas in progressive island music.)

However, a soft-pop version of Meredith Wilson's "Till There Was You" (made popular by the early Beatles) is nicely done. Composers' credits aren't listed but the other songs sound like the earnest efforts of young local writers.

Call: (808) 780-1975

Mpeg Audio Clips: I Must Be Dreaming Tonight Till There Was You Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Hawaiian Suite"

Ohta-san
Victor Entertainment

This month's Ohta-san album, a Japanese import, offers both new recordings and archival material -- eight hapa-haole songs originally recorded with an assortment of local jazz musicians back in 1995, and four originals recorded early this year with pianist Bob Albanese and bassist Bruce Hamada. The new and old tracks make for a perfect blend.

The standards allow appreciation of Ohta's skill as an interpreter of familiar melodies. Sidemen, such as Lyle Ritz and Noel Okimoto, are among the best and the absence of synthesized filler enhances the beauty of the arrangements. The originals show where Ohta is as a composer.

Japanese record labels are known for thorough annotation. A bilingual booklet (English and Japanese) completes this excellent addition to Ohta's extensive discography.

www.jvcmusic.co.jp/

Mpeg Audio Clips: Jungle Rain Waikiki Hawaii Calls 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.