Island Mele John Berger

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"Collaboration 1"

Troy Fernandez and Friends
TNT

Troy Fernandez is one of three ukulele virtuosos (the other two being Kelly DeLima and Jake Shimabukuro) who rekindled interest in the instrument among young people in the 1990s. While he hasn't been as visible as DeLima and Shimabukuro in recent years, this ambitious new Jawaiian album finds his playing as hot as ever.

Fernandez explains in the liner notes that Carlos Santana's "Supernatural" album inspired him to write "a bunch of songs" and invite other artists to record them with him. Fernandez shares vocal duties with B.E.T., Kaulana Pakele, Kela Keala and two new groups, the Rockers and Unity. His ukulele artistry is the common denominator throughout.

Fernandez's lyrics are from the heart. One calls on Ernie Cruz Jr. to join him in a Ka'au Crater Boys reunion. Others express his love for the University of Hawaii football team, surfing at Ala Moana Bowls and local-style reggae music.

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Get Back In The Game" "Reggae Music" "From The Soul" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Home of Mine"

Pono
Rip Tide

Pono is a Maui-based trio with a clean acoustic sound. Two guitars and an ukulele are all they need to make a great debut album. It's a collection of Hawaiian standards, relatively obscure pop chart oldies, English-language originals, and newly written songs by other island composers. Guests sit in from time to time but never eclipse the talent and acoustic sound of the trio.

Guitarist Jason Kaleo Phillips is the writer in the group. His "In Your Eyes" is a smooth pop tune that should get Pono heard on Hawaii's "beautiful music"-formatted stations.

The trio acknowledges its Hawaiian heritage with beautiful falsetto renditions of "Pauoa Ka Liko Ka Lehua" and "Waikaloa," and also pays tribute to Van Morrison with a crisp rock arrangement of "Wild Night."

riptiderecords.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Pauna Ka Liko Ka Lehua" "In Your Eyes" "Wild Nights" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Waikiki"

Keith Scott
Eroica

Flugelhorn and electric piano are the two instruments that make this debut album by jazz musician Keith Scott a success; the brass adds a welcome texture that make this self-produced project more than just a composer's demo, and electric keys have been an accepted part of mainstream jazz for so long that they no longer seem like a cheap substitute for a real piano.

Almost all the songs are originals, and Scott's keyboard talent is nicely utilized in several styles of pop and fusion jazz. Scott's use of muted horn makes "Until There Was You" soothing, ambient music, while the presence of organ and multi-tracked horns on "Immeasurably Cool" adds an appealing uptempo, soulful element.

The title song could easily be beefed up and re-recorded for use in a film soundtrack.

"Minute Waltz, Op. 64 #1" and "Europa" add instantly recognizable melodies by other composers to an album that rewards repeat listening.

eroica.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Waikiki" "Minute Waltz, Op. 64 #1" "Rhapsody Blues" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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See the Columnists section for some past reviews.

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.