Island Mele
POSTED: Friday, October 17, 2008
”;Christmas Aloha”;
Various artists
(Mountain Apple Company)
Hawaii's second Christmas release for 2008 is a niche market item, an anthology of classic Hawaiian seasonal recordings available exclusively at Wal-Mart. The producer is not identified, but the selections make this a beautiful introduction to contemporary Hawaiian Christmas music.
Two sides of a Cazimero Christmas are represented with the duo's dramatic arrangement of “;We Three Kings,”; a logical choice as the first song on the album, and “;Me and My Teddy Bear,”; a favorite number from their old-time Christmas concerts, placed in the second half of the program.
Willie K also earns two spots with a pair of tunes from his classic “;Willie Kalikimaka”; album: “;O Holy Night”; and “;Away In A Manager.”; And although it isn't mentioned in the minimalist liner notes, yes, that is Willie Nelson joining in on the latter piece. As for “;O Holy Night,”; Willie's rendition is still the definitive local recording of the song.
Other noteworthy selections include “;I Love Christmas”; by Eddie Kamae & The Sons of Hawaii; “;Ke Aloha Kalikimaka”; from Keali'i Reichel's recent Christmas album, “;Maluhia”;; and an exquisite instrumental rendition of “;Joy to the World”; by the original HAPA—Barry Flanagan and Keli'i Kaneali'i.
Two seductive recordings by Teresa Bright, and one each from Ledward Kaapana and Amy Hanaiali'i, complete this sampler.
“We Three Kings”
“Away In A Manager”
“Island Christmas”
”;Guava Jelly”;
Camile Velasco
(Up Above)
The Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) eliminated its Single of the Year category several years ago, but the single-song CD continues to have a place in the record industry. This calling card from expatriate Camile Velasco, a preview of her upcoming album, proves the point. Its a stretch to call this a product of the Hawaii recording industry—Velasco has been based in Los Angeles for several years, and she recorded it in a Jamaican studio—but her status as an “;American Idol”; finalist from Hawaii provides a local link.
“;Guava Jelly,”; written and first recorded by Bob Marley, is best known in Hawaii as recorded by the Peter Moon Band in the '80s. With Marley's son, Stephen, as her producer and the featured guest on her recording, Velasco brings the song full-circle and personalizes it as well.
