‘Lea’
Chiyo & Friends
(Love & Music)
Japanese pianist Chiyo Flynn’s third Hawaii album is a group project that relies on friends such as Herb Ohta Jr., who joins her on "Requiem — Bach Prelude No. 1," turning it into a beautiful duet for piano and ukulele. Bruce Shimabukuro joins Flynn in approaching a Christmas anthem, "Joy to the World," from the same perspective and with the same result.
Singer-guitarist Jeremy Hirokawa guests on two other selections. One of them, "The One and Only," which he co-wrote with Flynn, seems it could be a sure hit with romantics between now and Valentine’s Day.
One of Flynn’s solo compositions, "Life Goes On," stands out thanks to Scott Wilks (percussion and bass), who provides Flynn and Ohta with a discreet rhythm section.
www.chiyomusic.com
"Requiem – Bach Prelude No.1"
‘The Music in Me’
Joe Green
(Green Room Sounds)
People write songs about the people they love. Why not write love songs on other topics? Haleiwa resident Joe Green does so here with "Mother Ocean," a love song for the sea in all its various moods. "She’s my mother ocean … how I love her," he sings over a soothing assortment of acoustic guitars, percussion and keyboards.
Several other songs also share Green’s love for the ocean. "Dip in the Morning" describes his prefered way to start the day. "When" welcomes the "free waves" that "come out of nowhere (and) instantaneously materialize." A third song, "This Day Is Made for Surfing," is self-explanatory.
It isn’t all about surfing. "Usetabe" is a requiem for vanished landmarks such as the Haleiwa Hotel and the Haleiwa Theater. "Asian Persuasion" is a love song apparently written for his wife. Other selections address the ever-popular topics of romantic love and relationships.
And then there’s "Little Piece of My Skin," which begins as a tale of the risks inherent in surfing and evolves into a haunting response to a friend’s drug use.
The thing that makes Green’s album stand out is his imaginative choice of instruments. Acoustic guitars and percussion are juxtaposed with mandolin, electric keyboards and drums in ways that make the results refreshingly difficult to label. One or two songs can be fairly described as country-rock; others are neither rock nor country. A muted trombone gives "High on Life" a sound unlike any of the others.
www.greenroomsound.com
"Dip In The Morning"
‘Los Wages Tour’
Angry Locals
(Angry Locals)
The Angry Locals — Krystilez, Big Mox, Mic Tre and Osna aka Osnizzle — live up to their reputation here with 13 aggressive, high-energy cuts featuring Hawaiian and pidgin vocabulary. Adults who can handle the profanity will enjoy the quartet’s sense of humor and imaginative use of source material. For instance, who would have thought of "The Gambler," the Kenny Rogers hit, as the foundation of a hip-hop saga? Another song explores the experience of being outsiders on the mainland.
Guests add diversity. Tassho Pearce sets the mood of the album when he joins the quartet for "Flip the Angry Bird." Expat Camile Velasco contributes to the softer melodic sound of "Living My Life," the final song of the project. "Los Wages Tour" is available at www.angrylocals.com.
www.angrylocals.com
"Round Hea"
