‘Hula 2’ employs voice and piano on island standards

‘Hula 2’

Robert Cazimero
(Mountain Apple)

Robert Cazimero’s fifth solo album is a sequel to last year’s Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winner, "Hula." Like its predecessor, "Hula 2" makes excellent use of his talents as a singer and pianist. For the first 11 of the 12 songs on the album, it’s a one-man project, with Cazimero singing and accompanying himself on acoustic piano. No other instruments or voices are needed.

It is always interesting to hear a song stylist of Cazimero’s stature take on island standards. His delicate and introspective interpretation of "Kokee" is a creative and original milestone. He also makes a dramatic change in the album’s generally mellow mood with an up-tempo arrangement of "Holoholo Ka‘a" that effectively suggests the experience of driving over bumpy rural roads to a romantic rendezvous.

Cazimero and producer Jon de Mello break the format with an expansive orchestral arrangement of "Beyond the Reef" reminiscent of what de Mello’s father, Jack de Mello, was doing in the 1950s and ’60s. It’s a beautiful piece of music but would fit better on another album.

Hula cannot be danced without full knowledge of the lyrics and their meaning. Cazimero provides that information at www.mountainapplecompany.com/robertcazimero.

"Hanohano Wailea"