"A Christmas Tango (With Santa)"
Starr Kalahiki
(A Poi Dog Production)
It was only a few years ago that the approach of Christmas brought with it at least four or five new local seasonal releases as resident artists took their best shot at coming up with something that would have the lasting impact of "Mele Kalikimaka" and "Numbah One Day of Christmas." This year, with less than a month to go, there is only one new title. This CD-single is it.
The song, written by L.M. Azpiazu, is in the tradition of Eartha Kitt’s "Santa Baby," but with hints of tango music replacing the smooth pop sound of Kitt’s orchestra. Kalahiki purrs that she has hung her "black net stockings up with care" and that she has her teddy "not to cuddle but to wear." She adds that sleigh bells "sound just like ka-ching" and she hopes Santa will "fill my stockings up with bling."
Kalahiki does an engaging job with the lyrics. Yes, it is easy to visualize her waiting to dance with Santa. Local recording industry veteran musician Pierre Grill is the orchestra.
A video version of the song showing Kalahiki riding in a car through Waikiki is on YouTube. Contact the record label at poidogproduction@aol.com.
"A Christmas Tango (With Santa)"
"Hawaii 5/4"
David Yamasaki
(YamaSongs)
Jazz guitarist David Yamasaki does a beautiful job revisiting the hits of other artists with this collection of personal favorites. He opens with an imaginative reworking of "Hawaii Five-0" that is more tropical in mood and more sophisticated in execution than the Ventures’ original. He continues with tunes made popular by Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin and the Stylistics, among others.
Liner notes are an essential part of a project like this and Yamasaki’s notes answer the immediate questions. For instance, his Latin rock arrangement of "Stairway to Heaven" is a tribute to percussionist Pete Escovido. The smooth arrangement of "Sukiyaki" ("Ue o Muite Aruko" if you’re Japanese) is there for his mother.
"Creepin’," a Stevie Wonder album track from the ’70s, will be new music for many in 2011 — and a fine showcase for Yamasaki’s guitar technique. "You Make Me Feel Brand New" will be the favorite for people who like instrumentalists to keep their arrangements within recognizable range of the original hit. Yamasaki does that for more than seven minutes with excellent results.
Yamasaki breaks format with the final number. Vocalist Sandy Tsukiyama and a small choir are featured on "I Wanna Go Back to Hawaii." Yamasaki could have done without it, but Tsukiyama’s singing gives the song a punch that ends the album on a bright and bouncy note.
www.yamasongs.com
"Hawaii Five-0"
