Kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero isn’t a man who rushes to release new albums. Quite the opposite.
Since the release of his second album, “In My Heart,” in 2000, Guerreo has released new albums at nine-year intervals. His third album, “Uluwehe Sings Na Mele Hula Aloha,” was released in 2009, and his fourth, “E Mau ana ka Ha‘aheo,” arrived in mid-June of this year.
Previous albums have earned Guerrero three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards — Male Vocalist of the Year for “In My Heart,” and Hawaiian Album and Liner Notes for “Uluwehi Sings Na Mele Hula Aloha.”
“E MAU ANA KA HA‘AHEO”
By Uluwehi Guerrero (Kaulupono Music)
His new album — he translates the title as “Enduring Pride” — lives up to the expectations set by its predecessors. With 17 songs rather than the usual 10 or 12, it is an especially broad sampler of his repertoire. Hawaiian standards predominate.
The album includes classics by Alice Namakelua (“Hanohano no ‘o Hawai‘i”), Helen Lindsey Parker (“Mauna Loa”), Helen Desha Beamer (“Kimo Hula”), James K. I‘i (“Makee ‘Ailana) and Alfred ‘Alohikea (“Ka Ua Loku”). Mary Kawena Pukui and Maddy Lam are represented with “Po La‘ila‘i.”
Though Palani Vaughan’s “Ka‘aahi Kahului” is one of the newer songs, its subject matter is historical, commemorating the inauguration of passenger train service between Kahului and Wailuku in 1879.
Two hapa haole songs — “A Million Moons Over Hawai‘i” and “Honolulu I’m Coming Back Again” — bring another important genre of island music into the program. Guerrero does beautifully with both of them.
Guerrero and Pono Fried, co-producer of the project and Guerrero’s partner of 18 years, also include one of their own compositions, “He Aloha no ku‘u ‘Aina.” Recently written, it describes the beauty of their Maui neighborhood. The Hawaiian lyrics for the song are included in the liner notes; an English translation is scheduled to be posted on Guerrero’s website soon.
Guerrero sings almost all the vocal parts. He sings most of his leads in a light clear tenor and shows that his lower register voice is as smooth and polished as his well-known falsetto. Two songs that he presents with falsetto harmonies — “‘Ahulili” and “Hula o Makee” — are instantly notable.
Wailau Ryder (ukulele/guitars/bass) is Guerrero’s primary musician, with Geri Valdriz (steel guitar) and ‘Iwalani Apo (piano) providing most of the additional instrumental support. Fried also contributes as the project’s flautist. As always, Guerrero used a live string quartet rather than synthesized sound effects — one of the nice touches in this welcome album.
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