“Aloooha”
Danny & Nicholas Kaleikini
(Ming Pur, no serial number)
Danny Kaleikini is one of the great Hawaiian voices of the second half of the 20th century, but he’s made relatively few recordings. That makes this five-song EP, recorded with his grandson, instrumentalist Nicholas Kaleikini, a welcome addition to his discography.
Kaleikini sings three Hawaiian-language standards and two American pop classics; one of the latter is “Smile,” written by Charlie Chaplin, John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons, and presented here with a Hawaiian “interpretation” by Larry Lindsey Kimura as “Einei Ku‘u Hoaaloha.” The melody is familiar, and the Hawaiian lyrics will take first-timers by surprise, not that that’s necessarily a bad thing (Kimura’s lyrics are not a translation of the original English lyrics).
Danny’s voice is as strong and operatic as ever. Nicholas takes instrumental solos on clarinet and saxophone; he also plays piano on most of the arrangements. It’s a partnership that could evolve into more elaborate arrangements as they continue to work together.
Visit kaleikinimusic.com.
“grace”
Brian Chang
(Nakamoto Music Group, no serial number)
There is — to state the obvious — only one chance to make a good first impression. Brian Chang does so with his debut album. His voice radiates an irresistible cheerfulness across an eclectic collection of what most people will likely find mostly unfamiliar songs. The unfamiliarity doesn’t matter. Chang’s voice makes all of them interesting listening, even when the lyrics become stream-of- consciousness exposition.
Music industry veteran Derek Nakamoto does well by Chang as his producer and keyboard accompanist. The elaborate arrangements with additional instruments and voices don’t take away from Chang’s work. (Chang also plays ukulele and guitar.)
A solo arrangement of “I’ll Remember You” — just Chang and his tenor ukulele — adds a beautifully crafted take on an island classic.
Visit BrianChangMusic.com.
“Love Wants to Dance”
Jimmy C
(Jimmy C, 004)
Drummer/vocalist Jimmy C (birth name James Coulter), a longtime Maui resident, is making himself known outside the Valley Isle with this celebration of pop classics and contemporary love songs.
A tight team of studio musicians directed by producer/arranger Shiro Mori on keyboards joins C in creating the arrangements. Guest vocalists Kelly Covington and Joyce Kelly join him on “Don’t Be Blue” and “Blue”; Covington also guests on “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” Yes, the latter is a remake of Lou Rawls’ 1976 Top 5 hit.
Most of Mori’s arrangements embrace various up-tempo styles beloved by ballroom dancers.
Others are slower and right for the romantic “slow dancing” enjoyed by the majority. Mori’s remake of “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” is among the latter. It’s true to the spirit of Rawls’ hit but a commendable variation on it.
Visit JimmyCmaui.com.
