An almost inescapable aspect of the Christmas season is the release of another batch of new Christmas music. Christmas samplers run
from simple to sublime
By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comFew of these tunes turn out to be enduring. For every Christmas pop song that becomes a standard -- "White Christmas," "The Christmas Song" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," to name three -- dozens more are quickly forgotten.
And for every album that offers a fresh perspective on familiar songs -- Phil Spector's 1963 masterpiece, "A Christmas Gift for You," being the modern benchmark -- countless others do no more than recycle the same old ideas.
It's no different locally. How many Hawaii Christmas songs come to mind after R. Alex Anderson's "Mele Kalikimaka" and Eaton "Bob" Magoon's local-style version of "The 12 Days of Christmas"?
The odds against creating a new classic have never stopped local artists and local record labels from coming out with new holiday songs and albums.
Four new titles vie for consideration this year. Two have been floating around since before Halloween, and the others were released around Thanksgiving, but December is the time for Christmas music. Here they are in alphabetical order:
Hoku Award-winner Sean Na'auao's album is a family project. He co-wrote four original songs with wife Kau'i, their three sons chime in on one of the songs, father Lani helped with the vocal arrangements and the recording was done in Na'auao's home studio.
"A Kanaka Christmas"
Sean Na'auao (Poi Pounder)The most interesting songs are the originals. Na'auao handled instrumental work with an assist from Greg Sardinha (steel guitar) and Jan Luna (keyboards and synth tracks).
The title track recycles a bit of Na'auao's "Fish & Poi" concept in telling how he leaves out "ono pupu" like fish and poi for Santa -- and also how good local food is an important part of a Christmas celebration. "Secret Santa," the other standout, neatly blends light reggae rhythms, rap, an appealing story line and an affirmation of Christian faith.
The others are less remarkable, but Na'auao's renditions of "White Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Silent Night" are nicely sung even when Luna's synth string tracks clutter the instrumental arrangements.
Quiet Storm has been known in recent years for its series of hybrid anthology albums that contain previously released local recordings, previously released national recordings and new material. That makes this Christmas compilation album a change of pace for the label, as it consists of new recordings. All but one features a vocalist or vocal group backed by a studio band headed by producers Bryan Kessler (guitar) and Stephen Jones (bass).
"Classic Island Christmas"
Various artists (Quiet Storm)The singers are a hodgepodge of well-known and relatively unknown vocalists, who, with one exception, let Kessler and Jones do the arrangements (Azure McCall and Tennyson Stephens opted to do "Winter Wonderland" without the producers' or musicians' input).
The best matches of artist and the producers' arrangements are Keli'i Kaneali'i and "The Christmas Song," Justin and "What Child Is This," Robi Kahakalau and "That Spirit of Christmas" and Pa'ahana -- the duo of Douglas Po'oloa Tolentino Pakala Fernandes -- singing a striking bilingual version of "We Three Kings."
Other songs range from the simply pleasant to generic.
The problem with several is that the more strongly a contemporary Christmas pop hit is associated with a specific pop artist -- Eartha Kitt, Jose Feliciano or the Carpenters, for example -- the more pointless it becomes for an artist or a producer to recycle the familiar idea. Credit McCall and Stephens with crafting a fresh version of "Winter Wonderland" even though it's been years since the song has been associated with a particular artist.
Local record industry legend Jack de Mello defines music as "any rhythmic sequence of pleasing sounds." He embraced the possibilities of electronic music years ago, approaching the medium of electronically sampled musical sounds ("electronica") from the perspective of an orchestrator and arranger.
"Instrumental Christmas Classics"
Jack de Mello (Mountain Apple Co.)This double CD is soothing Christmas mood music. Disc 1 contains a mix of Christian hymns and pop standards ("Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer" appears to be the newest). On Disc 2, de Mello goes international with melodies representing the holiday in other lands.
The imaginative use of pure electronic music is at its infancy in the local record industry. Too often, electronic instruments and music programs are used simply as sonic filler or as a low-budget substitute for live musicians. De Mello's beautiful arrangements show how substantial and finely detailed pure electronic music can be in and of itself. This album is also the perfect antidote to the stress and tension that usually accompanies a contemporary Christmas.
Tiny Tadani's third album of Christmas remakes is his best overall project. The CDs come with enough free pizza coupons to tempt some to buy it just for the food. Tadani won't complain!
"Tiny CD 3: Xtreme X-Mas"
Various artists (Afterthought Entertainment)The musical content is a hodgepodge. Melveen Leed is the biggest "name" artist. Tadani's current affiliation with Afterthought Entertainment ensures that all their artists get at least one track on the album; the Afterthought production team handled instrumentation and vocal arrangements for their guests. Tadani's obligatory showcase number, "Christmas Time Is Here," is his best vocal outing to date.
Also noteworthy are Dita & Ells singing "The Gift," Tiffany Thurston's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," 'Ale'a and Roy Hamada collaborating on "The Christmas Song," and an exquisite rendition of "Amazing Grace" by Kimi and Kevin -- not a Christmas song, but beautifully sung.
Other selections would be more interesting if they didn't copy the original hits so slavishly. Tadani emphasizes Christmas in the disc's cover art, liner notes and the choice of songs and artists, but songs such as Crystal Mateo's vapid "Treasures from Home" and Epic Session's "Help Me to See" don't mention Christmas in any context and don't belong here.
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