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Island Mele

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Island Mele: ‘Two Sides to Every Story,’ ‘Constant as the Moon’

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on October 18, 2018
• Updated on  October 18, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on October 18, 2018
• Updated on  October 18, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Old-time island recording artist Alan Thomas makes a welcome return to the local music scene, and Wade Cambern and Tsun-Hui Hung present standards from several locales. Read More

Island Mele: Elijah Sky makes strong solo debut

Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on September 27, 2018
• Updated on  September 27, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on September 27, 2018
• Updated on  September 27, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Elijah Sky, 27, a member of the celebrated musical Farden ohana, is stepping out as a solo artist in Hawaii after several years working with a reggae group in California. Read More

Island Mele: Herb Ohta Jr. shows mastery; Storm returns

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on September 20, 2018
• Updated on  September 20, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on September 20, 2018
• Updated on  September 20, 2018 at 5:14 pm
There’s an unmentioned note of irony in the title of the new album “Ukulele Hula” as ukulele master Herb Ohta Jr., explores several generations of songs popular with halau hula. Read More

Island Mele: Jake Shimabukuro, Haole Kid Local Boy Blues Project

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on September 13, 2018
• Updated on  September 13, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on September 13, 2018
• Updated on  September 13, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Jake Shimabukuro leads a large group of musicians and vocalists on an imaginative musical odyssey that spans several genres of contemporary music. Read More

Island Mele: ‘Songs of C&K’ a collection of updated classics

Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on September 6, 2018
• Updated on  September 9, 2018 at 10:09 pm
Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on September 6, 2018
• Updated on  September 9, 2018 at 10:09 pm
“The Songs of C&K” is a compilation recorded by a younger generation of artists, with each providing their own twist on classic Cecilio and Kapono tunes. Read More
 

Jason Gay’s ‘Dynasty’ presents Chinese tunes as jazz

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on August 23, 2018
• Updated on  August 26, 2018 at 11:25 pm
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on August 23, 2018
• Updated on  August 26, 2018 at 11:25 pm
Rather than rework compositions from the Great American Jazz Songbook, or test the market for original melodies, saxaphone player Jason Gay is introducing listeners to songs written or co-written by Chinese composers. Read More

Storm previews next album with ‘30 Minutes’

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on August 16, 2018
• Updated on  August 16, 2018 at 5:12 pm
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on August 16, 2018
• Updated on  August 16, 2018 at 5:12 pm
Frank De Lima wasn’t the only one who found inspiration in January’s infamous “false alarm” ballistic missile incident. Read More

Pe’a’s second CD ‘award worthy’

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on August 9, 2018
• Updated on  August 9, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on August 9, 2018
• Updated on  August 9, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Kalani Pe‘a made history early in 2017 when he became the first Hawaii-resident recording artist to win a Grammy Award since Hawaiian music was absorbed by the catch-all Regional Roots Music category. Read More
 

Maggie Herron ‘Ton of Trouble’ a musical buffet

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on August 2, 2018
• Updated on  August 7, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on August 2, 2018
• Updated on  August 7, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Two-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner singer/pianist Maggie Herron is back with an album “born during a year of flu, a broken arm and a natural lowering of my vocal range.” Read More

Quadraphonix ‘M-130’ offers a rich combination of styles

By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on July 19, 2018
• Updated on  July 19, 2018 at 8:16 pm
By John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on July 19, 2018
• Updated on  July 19, 2018 at 8:16 pm
Quadraphonix celebrates the release of “M-130” on Friday at the New Ong King Art Center in the old Blaisdell Hotel on Fort Street Mall. Read More

Uluwehi Guerrero’s “E Mau ana ka Ha‘aheo” shares his aloha

Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on July 12, 2018
• Updated on  July 15, 2018 at 9:41 am
Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on July 12, 2018
• Updated on  July 15, 2018 at 9:41 am
Kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero isn’t a man who rushes to release new albums. Quite the opposite. Read More

Singer/songwriter Aja demonstrates value of liner notes with ‘Pilina’

Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on July 5, 2018
• Updated on  July 5, 2018 at 4:15 pm
Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on July 5, 2018
• Updated on  July 5, 2018 at 4:15 pm
This beautiful full-length album by singer/songwriter Aja (aka Aja Gample) shows the value of liner notes that include song lyrics and their English translations. Read More

Na Leo builds cred with ‘Beautiful Day’

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on June 14, 2018
• Updated on  June 15, 2018 at 10:26 am
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on June 14, 2018
• Updated on  June 15, 2018 at 10:26 am
“Beautiful” is an apt description of their recently released CD. All three members contribute as song writers. They also distinguish themselves as interpreters of other writers’ work with soothing inspirational treatments of “More Than You’ll Ever Know,” “Let Him Fly” and “Lean On My Shoulder.” Read More

Nathan Aweau’s ‘Mau Loa’ an impressive one-man project

Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on June 7, 2018
• Updated on  June 10, 2018 at 9:56 pm
Review by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on June 7, 2018
• Updated on  June 10, 2018 at 9:56 pm
Nathan Aweau’s latest recording, “Mau Loa,” displays Aweau’s immense capabilities as a singer, songwriter, musician and producer in impressive style. Read More

Richard Natto caps career with ‘Life’

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on May 24, 2018
• Updated on  May 27, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on May 24, 2018
• Updated on  May 27, 2018 at 5:39 pm
The release of multi-talented Richard Natto’s new CD caps a career that goes back to the 1970s and his on-again, off-again musical partnership with Dave Toma. Read More

Waipuna celebrates 10 years of music

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on May 17, 2018
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on May 17, 2018
Wai‘puna’s 10th anniversary album reflects on the meaning of their name — it refers to a deep well spring where fresh water bursts forth — with songs that connect in one way or another to the cultural and spiritual foundations of the group. Read More

Superhero Rökkstar embraces indulgent life with memorable album

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on May 10, 2018
• Updated on  May 12, 2018 at 10:25 am
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on May 10, 2018
• Updated on  May 12, 2018 at 10:25 am
The race for the 2019 Na Hoku Hanohano Award for best rock album is off to a great start with the release of the debut album “Feedback Saves The 7” by Superhero Rökkstar. Read More
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Kurosawa debut a somber statement

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on May 3, 2018 •
• Updated on  May 3, 2018 at 6:34 pm
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Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on May 3, 2018 •
• Updated on  May 3, 2018 at 6:34 pm
With this EP by second-generation island entertainer Nick Kurosawa, Roger Bong and his label have moved beyond reissues of ’80s out-of-print local pop recordings into the business of recording new local artists. Read More

Maui Jam Band features Hawaiian standards

Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com on April 19, 2018
• Updated on  April 19, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Reviews by John Berger jberger@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 19, 2018
• Updated on  April 19, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Multi-instrumentalist Al Nip is the leader, primary vocalist and solid foundation of the Maui Jam Band, made up of Valley Isle residents who play Hawaiian and hapa-haole standards. Read More

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