”;Bop Tribal”;

Bop Tribal
(Pass Out)

Every year or so, Hawaii's jazz community is gifted with an instrumental album of mainstream jazz that can not only be enjoyed here, but also proudly shared with friends elsewhere as a example of our resident musicians' talents.

The self-titled debut of Bop Tribal is one of those albums. The tight and talented quintet reminds us that great jazz can be about teamwork as well as individual virtuosity. There is a fine balance of both in play here.

If DeShannon Higa (trumpet/flugelhorn) and Satomi Yarimizo (piano) catch the ear on first listen, then next time around, focus on the rhythm section—Shawn Conley (bass) and Abe Lagrimas Jr. (drums)—or the interaction between Higa and Reggie Padilla (tenor sax). Like all good jazz, there is too much going on to catch it all the first few times it plays.

The title song, one of four written by Higa, is impressive for calling on the individual talents of each musician, and also suggesting both the “;tribal”; and “;bop”; aspects of the repertoire.

Padilla and Yarimizo also contribute as composers. Every tune is an original, and all that's missing are a few words in the liner notes about the people, places or events that inspired them.

www.boptribal.com

”;One Bad Song A Day”;
”;Melancholic Toes”;
”;Manoa Mist”;

”;Kamalei - Collection Two”;

Keali'i Reichel
(Punahele Productions)

Keali'i Reichel's albums have defined excellence for the local record industry ever since “;Kawaipunahele”; hit the market in 1994. His second anthology is no exception. A cross-section of 15 digitally remastered classics—“;Nematoda,”; “;In My Life”; and “;Wanting Memories”; among them—is enhanced with a booklet of the Hawaiian lyrics, English translations, archival photos, complete performance credits and a short essay by Puakea Nogelmeier on the traditions of Hawaiian music and poetry.

www.kealiireichel.com

”;Love, Love, Love”;

Various artists
(One Hawaii)

Although Christmas by definition celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, many people celebrate him at other times of the year as well. Six island couples express their year-around Christian faith as the vocalists on this compilation.

Some selections are contemporary in-your-face “;praise songs.”; Others approach Christian themes obliquely. “;Big House,”; performed by Imua Garza as a rollicking rock number, can be interpreted as referencing John 14:2, but it can also enjoyed merely as a song about a really big house.

“;Wherever That Is,”; sung by Corey Oliveros and Shawn Pimentel, also eschews blatant proselytizing as it describes the search for life's meaning without stating that a specific religion is the answer.

Oliveros' heartfelt renditions of “;With Arms Wide Open”; and “;On Holy Ground”; are stirring statements of Christian faith. So is “;Lord I Believe In You”; as sung by Garza and his wife, Tiffa.

Other participants are Barrett and Tara Awai, Dave and Dulce Dunaway, Loke Oliveros and Sheryl and Alika “;Boy”; Kalauli IV.

  In addition to the contemporary Christian songs, there are also three secular numbers—“;I've Got Love”; by Bitty McLean, James Taylor's “;Shower the People”; and the Beatles' flower-power anthem, “;All You Need Is Love”;—that could be questioned by some as out of context here.

www.onehawaiimusic.com

”;For All Time”;
”;Glorify Thy Name”;
”;Big House”;