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3 isle musicians blend traditions on new CD

Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on October 19, 2017
Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on October 19, 2017

Updated on  October 20, 2017 at 4:56 pm
One of the unanswerable questions about the evolution of Hawaiian music is why Hawaiian musicians adopted and adapted some non-Hawaiian instruments and not others. Three Hawaii residents explore these cultural roots in music on “Across the Sea.” Read More

Star-studded Mana Maoli follow-up looks like early Hoku front-runner

Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on October 12, 2017
Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on October 12, 2017

Updated on  October 14, 2017 at 12:05 am
After Mana Maoli’s first big music video project won this year’s Na Hoku Hanohano Award for best music video, the second release from the organization looks like the immediate front-runner for 2018. Read More

Johnson’s latest album invites careful listening, incorporates artwork

Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on September 28, 2017
Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on September 28, 2017

Updated on  September 29, 2017 at 6:39 pm
Sixteen years after the release of his debut album and a string of successes that includes three albums topping the Billboard 200, success hasn’t changed the way Jack Johnson does things. Read More

Punk-rock quartet merges multiple stylings

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on September 21, 2017
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on September 21, 2017

Updated on  September 22, 2017 at 8:47 pm
Five years after releasing their debut album, “Cretin Crossover,” Smitz are back with the follow-up. “Skullduggerous” contains 16 originals and a pair of remakes — one from Bad Manners, the other from Reagan Youth — that suggest the group’s broad musical horizons. Read More

Khay’s debut tells striking musical story

Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on September 7, 2017
Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on September 7, 2017

Updated on  September 8, 2017 at 5:37 pm
With “Retrograde,” multi-instrumentalist Evan Khay has partnered with Imua Garza to create what is one of the most impressive non-Hawaiian debut albums by a Hawaii resident in recent memory. Read More

Ganiron debuts as solo artist with ‘The Origin’

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on August 31, 2017
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on August 31, 2017

Updated on  August 31, 2017 at 4:19 pm
Micah Ganiron shows his varied musical roots in a collection of original music on “The Origin.” Read More
 

Valentine’s latest album evokes music of the ’70s

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on August 24, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on August 24, 2017

Updated on  August 24, 2017 at 6:06 pm
Time spent playing classic C&K and Kalapana music inspired this collection of new songs — most of them written in the style known as “contemporary local” in the mid-1970s. Read More

Kamanawa’s first is made to last

By John Berger on August 17, 2017
By John Berger Posted on August 17, 2017

Updated on  August 24, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Blaine Kia and Kalei Kahalewai started working together as Kamanawa in 2008. After nine years together they’ve made the move from live performance to the recording studio. Read More

‘Makawalu’ makes Napua front-runner for Hoku Award

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on August 10, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on August 10, 2017

Updated on  August 11, 2017 at 6:48 pm
With the recent release of “Makawalu,” Napua is a front-runner to win the Female Vocalist of the Year category at next year’s Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Read More
 

Beat-Lele’s ukulele use makes for unique Beatles tribute

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on August 3, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on August 3, 2017

Updated on  August 4, 2017 at 7:24 pm
What would the Beatles have sounded like if they played ukulele instead of guitar? Beat-Lele, a Beatles tribute band, provides an answer to that question. Read More

Slack key veteran Lance Takamiya releases his first album

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on July 27, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on July 27, 2017

Updated on  July 27, 2017 at 7:40 pm
Under slack key master Ozzie Kotani’s mentorship, Lance Takamiya made a transition from self-taught hobbyist to serious slack key guitarist, and the efforts have been put forth on the debut album “Aloha, This Is Who We Are.” Read More

Landeza’s new works honor his teachers and heritage

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on July 20, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on July 20, 2017

Updated on  July 21, 2017 at 4:28 pm
The “California-born Hawaiian” puts out a new album and book that are a welcome addition to any collection of Hawaiian music, and he shares some reflections along the way. Read More

Grimes’ versatility shines on ‘Assorted Chocolates’

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on July 13, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on July 13, 2017

Updated on  July 13, 2017 at 5:11 pm
Steve Grimes has made a name for himself as an adroit songwriter, singer and recording artist, and continues the trend on his latest album. Read More

Aldo Rays’ album is a return to the ’50s

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on July 6, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on July 6, 2017

Updated on  July 7, 2017 at 2:51 pm
The rock ’n’ roll style of the 1950s continues to attract new generations of musicians including The Aldo Rays. Read More

Documentary profiles musician Martin Pahinui

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on June 29, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on June 29, 2017

Updated on  June 30, 2017 at 4:31 pm
“Martin Pahinui: The Golden Voice,” a documentary film released in 2015 and currently available on DVD, is an excellent look at the life and unique career of Hawaiian musician Martin Pahinui, who died in May. Read More

Isle band courts rockers with gritty, heartfelt EP

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on June 22, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on June 22, 2017

Updated on  June 23, 2017 at 5:50 pm
Uncompromising straight rock is the Granite Saints’ contribution to Hawaii’s vibrant music scene. Read More

Local metal rock artists shift to Hawaiian, hapa-haole styles

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on June 15, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on June 15, 2017

Updated on  June 15, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Power players in the local metal music scene make a successful — and sudden — switch over to another genre. Read More

Ho‘okena’s ‘3.0’ has strong vocals and instrumentation

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on June 1, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on June 1, 2017

Updated on  June 2, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Ho‘okena earned three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards — Group of the Year, Traditional Hawaiian Album of the Year and Most Promising Artists — in 1991 for its aptly titled debut album, “Thirst Quencher!” Read More

Well-done remake opens Lava’s debut

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on April 27, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 27, 2017

Updated on  April 27, 2017 at 4:43 pm
Doing remakes of mainstream Top 40 “oldies” almost never turns out well for local recording artists. That makes the decision of this local group to open its debut album with a remake of a 1966 Billboard Top 10 hit look like a bad idea — until you play the CD. Surprise, surprise, Lava pulls it off with amazing finesse. Read More

Chris Lowe makes his debut with a tribute to the Great White Way

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on April 13, 2017
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 13, 2017

Updated on  April 14, 2017 at 5:23 pm
Born in Massachusetts, raised in Hawaii, Chris Lowe grew up listening to Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, the Miracles and the Temptations. Read More

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