Island Mele

By John Berger

"He Kanaka Maoli"

Herbert K. Hanawahine
Hanawahine

Fans of the Hawaiian steel guitar will welcome this great instrumental album by Hanawahine. Vibes fans will also enjoy it because vibraphonist Irene Cheney-Banks is prominently featured. Duets between these two instruments aren't common these days and this album shows how sweet they sound together.

Hanawahine does excellent work with bar and pick alike. He handles Hawaiian and hapa-haole melodies with equal finesse. "Old Plantation," "Ua Like No A Liko/South Sea Island Magic" and "How'd Ya Do!" are three highlights. Producer Gary K. Haleamau judiciously adds an unobtrusive rhythm section of bass, ukulele and guitar.

Haleamau, Willie Lau and Wayne Francisco add their voices to the spirited rendition of "Maile Lau Li'ili'i" that closes this beautiful album.

Mpeg Audio Clips: Tiari No Tahiti Papalina Lahilahi Old Plantation Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Coming Home"

Five By 5
Sugarcane On The Rock

"Coming Home" marks the return of singer/songwriter Jalen Garcia, who debuted in 1997 as a solo artist, but is now working with four other vocalists as Five By 5. They record as a de facto sextet, with producer Carlos Villalobos doing most of the music tracks. Garcia wrote or co-wrote all but one of the originals.

Garcia is evidently still a languid and androgynous-sounding falsetto balladeer at heart since many of the songs are of that type. The strongest upbeat songs utilize the talents of B.E.T. as guest singer/rappers. B.E.T. helps make a surprisingly imaginative reworking of the Jackson 5 hit, "I Want You Back," the best of the remakes. Five By 5 members Tony "Taigah" Bower and DK Kahalewai perform as rappers on other songs.

A striking blend of reggae rhythms and early '60s pop riffs makes "Meant To Love That Girl (My Island Girl)" uniquely appealing.

www.Fiveby5.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: I Want You Back Meant To Love That Girl (My Island Girl) 4 Ever w/U Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Memories of Waikiki's Bandstands"

Various artists
Kokua

Nancy Gustafsson and Vic "Lanakila" Rittenband are dedicated to perpetuating the traditions of Territorial Era hapa-haole music as musicians, prolific song writers and record producers. Their new compilation is a fund-raiser for the Friends of the Royal Hawaiian Band. All but one song is by either Gustafsson or Rittenband.

Most of the featured artists have performed with the band -- Gene Roland, Yvonne Perry and Gary Aiko, for example. Bandmaster Aaron Mahi sings "Ke Kula O Kamehameha," and England's John Marsden plays ukulele on "The Sound of the Islands," but the real rarity here is Yngve Stoor, Sweden's all-time top Hawaiian music star, singing "She Dances Hula" in Swedish.

Rittenband presides as narrator after each song but never mentions when these recordings were made (Stoor died in 1985).

Call: (808) 923-1644

Mpeg Audio Clips: That's How Much I Love You featuring Gene Rowland Lokomaika'i featuring Cathy Foy She Dances Hula featuring Ynvge Stoor 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. Contact John Berger at jberger@starbulletin.com.