First solo effort highlights artist’s range, versatility

‘Made in Hawai‘i’

Chino Montero
(Lele)

After recording with ukulele virtuoso Tory Fernandez and Nathan Nahinu as members of the group Palolo and as a sideman on countless other projects, Chino Montero makes his long-awaited debut as a solo recording artist with an album that displays his formidable talents as a musician and vocalist.

For starters, Montero sings all the parts and accompanies himself on guitar, ukulele and Tahitian banjo. Bassist Jack Ofoia, another island music veteran, completes the basic instrumentation on almost every song. Nahinu plays bass on "I Kona," and Greg Sardinha (steel guitar), Garin Poliahu (drums/ipu) and Halehaku Seabury (ipu) sit in elsewhere.

Montero opens with a zesty arrangement of "Ahulili" that adds the distinctive sound of the Tahitian banjo to traditional Hawaiian instruments (ukulele, guitar and bass). Montero also uses the banjo to good effect in heightening the chalang-alang sound of "Ku‘u Hoa," "No Ka Pueo Kahi (No Ka Pueo)" and "I Kona."

"Hi‘ilawe" is an impressive demonstration of his vocal range. (Take note of the way he holds that final note.)

"Aloha Ku‘u Pua" and "Kawena" show off his lower-register singing with equal success. "Kawena" is the one original on the album. It’s a contemporary hapa-haole song about a special hula dancer in Waikiki.

www.lelemusicproductions.com

"Ahulili"

‘Paradise’

Roman
(No label)

Indefatigable music promoter Bobby Pileggi and his i-Pop (Island-Pop) organization pre­sent another young singer-songwriter as a solo artist with this download-only release. Roman (last name De Peralta) was the vocalist and songwriter for pop/reggae-lite group Kolohe Kai several years ago. The group’s second album, "Love Town," positioned him as a solo artist in the making. "Paradise" makes him one.

Sounding much younger that his 21 years, Roman ponders why the people "living right under my own roof" don’t lie and don’t cry. The answer? "They can see Paradise."

Although a second verse appears to refer obliquely to a darker past here in the "little island kingdom," this is commercial pop, make that i-Pop, rather than a mele ku‘e (song of resistance). Add Roman’s plaintive voice to the well-crafted pop/reggae-lite arrangement and the song is a natural pick for Hawaii’s self-styled "island music" radio stations.

"Paradise" is available on iTunes.

"Paradise"