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Island Mele John Berger |
Vaihi's previous albums have reflected eclectic musical tastes that stretch from a capella doo-wop to contemporary pop. The quartet of Aaron Kaonohi, Piko Lakatani, Sam Langi and Bruce Naluai veer off in a completely different direction this time around with an album consisting entirely of Tahitian music. "Vaihitian"
Vaihi
Vaihi EntertainmentLocal residents who know Tahitian music only from visits to local Polynesian revues may be surprised to find the overall mood is soft and mellow -- think nahenahe (sweet, melodious) but sung in Tahitian. (One song bends the format some by also including some English lyrics). Kaonohi, Lakatani and Langi play various string instruments, while Kaonohi's keyboards evidently provides the percussive sounds.
The Tahitian lyrics and translations aren't included with the album, but listeners can refer to the band's Web site at www.vaihi.com.
vaihi.com
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"Fakateretere"
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Nuffsedd introduces itself as a solid, mainstream reggae band with this impressive sampler of 16 original compositions. The quartet (and an unidentified guest keyboard player) should win over island-music fans with the first two songs. The catchy riddims push along "Good People," and "Cherry Bomb" is an ode to a fantasy woman. "Open Doors for Strangers"
Nuffsedd
GoofyfootBut there's more than just reggae here. The de facto quintet uses some dialect humor in a ska tune that describes a search for a quiet place to sleep, adds a plaintive pop lament with "The Healing," moves on to jazzy pop-rock with "Sweet Conversation," and then evokes memories of the Average White Band with "My Groove."
"Frontstreet Freestyle," produced to sound like an old 78-rpm recording, provides a clever comic interlude amid the more conventional material. An untitled hidden track adds a surprise dub mix to the collection.
nuffsedd180.com
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The definition of jazz is so much a matter of personal taste that Owana Salazar's recent album can certainly find a place somewhere in that general category. The title song, which she wrote, is closer to bossa nova than the straightahead jazz played by the Bruce Hamada Trio or the Honolulu Jazz Quartet, but Steve Jones (acoustic bass), Noel Okimoto (drums and vibes) and Kit Ebersbach (keyboards) give some of the other tunes a smooth jazzy ambiance. "Hula Jazz"
Owana Salazar
MoonbowThe concept is reminiscent of Teresa Bright's island jazz/pop projects of the '90s, although with a stronger emphasis on Hawaiiana. Salazar's beautiful voice is the thread that links "Night and Day" to a mixed bag of Hawaiian and hapa-haole standards.
She closes with an imaginative and swinging arrangement of "E Mau," a nationalist anthem that calls on Hawaiians to preserve their language and sovereignty.
owanasalazar.com
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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.
