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"Move"

Kanalo
(Immense and Intense Production)

Kanalo has evolved tremendously from its origins as Ka Nalo, a marginally talented young Jawaiian cover band that won a recording opportunity in FM100's "Pride of the Islands II" contest in 1998, and parlayed their big break into a career doing more of the same. Seven years later, the group is a defacto trio -- founding member Jenn "J-RoQ" Wright (vocals, drums, percussion) and Zaysha "ZZ Girl" Labrador (vocals, keyboards), plus their producer, Dr. Trey, who provides the programming, bass, guitar, ukulele, and additional keyboards. It's a potent and promising partnership.

Trey and Wright were the duo behind last year's imaginative "JROQ vs. Dr. Trey" album, and while that project may have been too progressive for Hawaii, the reggae/Jawaiian rhythms on this one makes "Move" perfect for island music radio play. Labrador and Wright wrote most of the songs and prove their potential as songwriters. The arrangements throughout have a smooth upscale vibe that's closer to urban than backyard Jawaiian without losing the local feel. Labrador and Wright are appealing vocalists as well.

The evolution of Ka Nalo into Kanalo, and the fresh original music here, evokes speculation about what an earlier local duo, Reality, might have achieved with the right material and a better work ethic. Oh well. What matters most in 2005 is that Wright, Labrador and Trey have a package here that is commercial and island music radio-friendly as well as being imaginative. Hawaii can use a solid contemporary local female duo. Kanalo is it.

www.immenseandintense.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Come On Over" "Falling For You" "Back To Yesterday" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Na Mele O Kaua'i: The Best Songs
of Kaua'i, Vol. I"

Norman Ka'awa Solomon
(Songs of the Islands Music)

Place songs have been popular in Hawaii for generations and continue to be so today. That puts singer/songwriter Norman Ka'awa Solomon right in step with tradition as he embarks on the first in a series of albums of songs with ties to the Garden Island. Three songs here -- "Koke'e," "Beautiful Kaua'i" and "Hanalei Moon" -- certainly qualify for inclusion since they are proven hits from the pens of well-known island composers. Solomon shows considerable chutzpah in boldly including five of his own songs in this "best songs" collection, but with the passage of a few decades some of them may become standards, too.

For now, this is a beautiful showcase for Solomon, who plays acoustic guitar and sings with the smooth soothing style of a veteran. Bryan Kessler (guitar), Ken Emerson (lap steel and ukulele) and Tray Thompson (bass) provide unobtrusive support. Clean acoustic arrangements bring fresh ideas to familiar songs and diversity to the others. A final solo slack-key instrumental provides a sweet melodious finale.

Extensive liner notes complete the project by providing information about the songs and Solomon as well. Annotation that incorrectly identifies Emerson and Kessler as Grammy Award-winners is the only blot on this well-crafted calling card.

www.songsoftheislandsmusic.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "I Love Kauai" "Koke'e" "Na Mele O Kaua'i" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Reggaeton On Fire"

Shakin Melodiz
(Vizzun)

Anyone interested in Hawaiian or Jawaiian music can stop reading here. The title may imply that this is a reggae or Jawaiian project, but on this "mixxtape" DJ Shakin Melodiz is working exclusively with Latin pop and mainstream African-American hip hop. The only local connection is that Melodiz (born Kekoa Quipotla) is from "the 808."

Melodiz again shows imagination in approaching the work of mainstream hitmakers. LL Cool J, Pantera and J-Kwon are among the acts whose hits provide the raw material. The transitions between the reworked hits and occasional sound-bites are more pronounced than in Melodiz' recent "Island Mixx" album, and the project lacks the conceptual focus Kid Frost brought to "East Side Story," but mixtape fans hungry for another version of "Tipsy" or "Hush" will want to sample his work here.

www.vizzunrecords.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Pabre Diable" "Hush" "Yo Tengo El Control" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info