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Island Mele John Berger |
Slack key master George Kahumoku's latest album with Daniel Ho comes less than three months after the last one, and may well consist of material recorded during the same sessions. Not that that's a bad thing. Anyone who enjoyed the first volume in March will enjoy this album as well and can look forward to a "Vol. 3" before long. "Classic Hawaiian Hulas Vol. 2"
George Kahumoku Jr. and Daniel Ho
Daniel Ho CreationsKahumoku sings and plays pure nahenahe (sweet, melodious) renditions of current hula favorites that encompass a century of Hawaiian and hapa-haole music. Ho again adds just enough support on ukulele that it doesn't intrude on Kahumoku's solo artistry.
Ho also proves a responsible Hawaiian music producer by providing liner notes on the significance of the songs and the tunings Kahumoku uses in playing them.
www.DanielHo.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Laupahoehoe Hula
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
Traditional Hawaiian music predominates in Keoki Kahumoku's nahenahe album, but undercurrents of acoustic rock and the blues percolate through two original compositions. There's a bluesy feel and chilling humor in "Hunt'n Brown Dog" as Kahumoku sings of the lives and deaths of a pig hunter's dogs ("That dog is adobo now" is the epitaph of one unfortunate canine). "Take Dis An' Dat," one of several new instrumentals, also blends traditional slack key with a harder-edged Western style. "Liko"
Keoki Kahumoku
Daniel Ho CreationsKahumoku's other compositions are more traditional, as they mesh nicely with songs by his father George Jr., uncle Moses and other older writers. While "Real Old Style" emanates from the Beamer ohana, it aptly expresses the overall sound and spirit here, whether Kahumoku is singing in Hawaiian or English.
All that's missing is information on the significance of the songs and the keys he utilizes.
www.DanielHo.com (Mpeg audio clips unavailable)
There's good news and bad news regarding this beautiful new anthology commemorating Hawaiian Airlines' 75th anniversary. The good news is that almost every song is a classic, and that together they capture the progression of Hawaiian and hapa-haole music from the days of Alfred Apaka and Gabby Pahinui, through the heyday of the Sunday Manoa and Olomana, and on to today and Keali'i Reichel. Andy Cummings' recording of "Waikiki" and Genoa Keawe's 1964 recording of "'Alika" are among the gems here. "Follow Me Home"
Various artists
HulaA beautiful 12-page booklet adds a concise history of the artists, the recordings and, of course, the airline.
The bad news is that it will cost you $50, plus the price of an airline ticket, to get a copy. Hawaiian Airlines' passengers will receive a certificate to take to any Hilo Hattie store, spend $50 or more and the CD is yours at no additional cost. (Offer good through July 7 or while supplies last.)
www.HawaiianAir.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
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.
