Reichel remains in top-notch form after 20 years with ‘Kawaiokalena’
"Kawaiokalena"
Keali‘i Reichel
(Punahele Productions)
The year was 1994. Keali‘i Reichel’s debut album, "Kawaipunahele," made him a Hawaiian superstar almost overnight. In 1995 he became the second person to win the Na Hoku Hanohano awards for most promising artist, male vocalist of the year and album of the year in the same year.
Reichel maintained that high level of artistry with each album that followed. "Kawaiokalena" is not officially a 20th-anniversary project, but it shows that 20 years after "Kawaipunahele," Reichel is as accomplished a singer, musician and songwriter as ever.
The title song describes an area of Maui in terms that make it a bookend to the emotions he expressed 20 years ago with the lyrics of "Kawaipunahele." The arrangement — rich, multitextured and embellished by the work of talented guest musicians — sets the stage for the songs that follow.
Reichel recalls the late Pekelo Cosma with "Koali," an old song about the east side of Maui, and engages in what he describes as the Hawaiian equivalent of "pig Latin" with "Haleakala Mountain."
There is also an original comic number, "‘Omata Pahe‘e Te Aloha," inspired by several nights drinking an alcoholic beverage known as a Slippery Nipple.
Reichel’s liner notes reveal the basic meaning of every song.
He excels in making pop artists’ songs his own, and does so here with "The Promise," originally a 1995 album track by Tracy Chapman, and "Home," a Michael Buble composition that restates in musical form the themes that Reichel sets out in his liner notes.
For more information go to www.kealiireichel.com.
"Our Treasured Memories"
Society of Seven
(Society of Seven)
Society of Seven looks back at more than 40 years as Hawaii-based recording artists with this long-awaited collection of vintage recordings. It is available primarily as a post-show souvenir and was a hot item when SOS was in Hawaii last month.
SOS’ biggest hits are here: "Walk Away," the dramatic tear-jerker that showcased the vocal range of Roberto Nievera; "99.8," a whimsical love song featuring the dynamic "Little Albert" Maligmat; and Jun Polistico’s magnificent rendition of "I’ll Love You Through It All."
And, as SOS leader Tony Ruivivar would say while emceeing a show, "There’s more!" Eleven songs more, to be exact. There’s also enough in the way of liner notes to make this a good introduction to SOS for anyone seeing the group for the first time.
For more information go to www.societyofseven.com.
"The Real Thing"
I.A. featuring Mike Izon
(no label)
Island hip-hop veteran I.A. teams with singer/songwriter Mike Izon on this digital-download single. They mesh quite well sharing the mic and expressing the feelings of a lonely man in search of the woman who will be his "Option A."
The enduring impact of pioneering rap balladeer LL Cool J is evident in the way I.A. delivers his come-on lines.
"I kinda want you/and all that/mushy stuff," he confesses. "I’m trying turn ‘you and I’ to ‘we’ … I want to be the reason that you walk this way."
Izon sings earnestly as a balladeer. "Girl I’m so lonely/Pick up your phone/I need you baby, darling tonight," is his recurring appeal. A smooth electric-guitar riff provides an effective instrumental hook over the basic metronomelike percussion tracks.
For more information go to www.ia808.com.
"Lost in Paradise"
Greenwood
(Forest in Leaf)
Back in the 1970s and early 1980s, there were many nightclubs in Waikiki that stayed open until 4 a.m. and proudly presented live Top 40 music. Greenwood was the last big local Top 40 "horn band" of that era.
It was nicknamed "The Army" for two reasons: its members’ green jumpsuit uniforms and because there were so many of them. Imagine an 11-piece band with a full horn section playing Waikiki clubs these days!
Greenwood disbanded as a club band in 1981 but released a 45-rpm single, "Sparkle," in 1985. That was it until recently, when Greenwood’s role as the anchor band of the ’70s Nightclub Reunion shows resulted in inquiries from people in Japan who wanted the single. This album was the result.
"Lost in Paradise" includes three songs Greenwood recorded in the 1980s for an album that was never released, along with the group’s arrangements of some of the most requested songs from the reunion shows.
Greenwood leader Robin Kimura explains the significance of each selection in the liner notes. For instance, "Get Ready" was the first song the group learned to play. For more information go to www.greenwoodhawaii.com.
"An Ukulele Christmas 2"
Various artists
(Neos Productions)
This instrumental compilation is the first new local Christmas music for 2014.
Producers Bob and Patti St. John showcase the talents of a random assortment of ukulele players — Benny Chong, Gordon Freitas, Derick Sebastian and Jan Luna, to name four — and an equally eclectic collection of veteran studio musicians.
Some people probably buy Christmas instrumental albums for use as ambient noise at parties, but this would be a better value if it included brief artist bios, the tunings they use and what distinguishes them in terms of style and technique. As it is, there is more information on the artist who did the cover art than about these talented musicians.
"Ukulele Christmas 2" is available at www.neosproductions.com.
