Vicki Borges, widow of jazz giant Jimmy Borges, now has a trove of her husband’s early musical performances spanning 50 years. The vintage tunes range from stints at San Francisco’s Miyako Hotel and shipboard shows on the liner SS Lurline in 1969, to Hawaii shows at Keoni’s and Trappers in the 1970s.
Singer-musician Audy Kimura, a skilled recording sound engineer when he’s not performing, coordinated the restoration and digitizing of the aging cassette tapes of Borges’ performances here and abroad. The transformation fulfills a predeath request from Borges to Kimura, a wish to help Vicki whenever she needed kokua.
Keaau’s Craig Watanabe, a broadcast journalist, was the master of rescuing and repairing old tapes, so Vicki can now hear a younger Jimmy and relive many memories preserved on a hard drive.
Kimura recounted one of Borges’ last requests, previously undisclosed.
“His exact words were, ‘Audy, you know I’ve always admired your musical talent but also your acumen in other fields. After I’m gone, if Vicki needs any help, would you be there for her?,’” said Kimura. The conversation happened two weeks prior to his passing on May 30, 2016. “With tears in my eyes, I of course agreed,” he said.
Borges’ discography was not studio-quality stuff and resuscitation and restoration prevented the disintegration and ultimate disappearance of his legacy.
He left about 80 cassette tapes, unplayable in the outdated format but preciously kept in a box, said Vicki.
“Amazing,” she said of the resulting restoration. “I now have part of Jimmy’s musical legacy, and saved! And able to listen!”
Kimura had expected only a few cassettes, “maybe a dozen or so,” before tackling the task.
“I used to go to Keoni’s (which existed on Lewers Street) after performing with our trio, Westwind, and longed to hear the music I remembered there,” said Kimura, who has been the resident singer-guitarist at Hy’s Steak House for 32 years. He had a notable career as a recording engineer at the Sounds of Hawaii studio where he was engineer for Don Ho’s double-disc “30 Hawaiian Favorites.” The studio’s clientele also included the likes of Melveen Leed, Marlene Sai, Al and Clayton Naluai (of The Surfers) and Mackey Feary (of Kalapana).
Kimura also has done archiving and restoration work for the State Foundation for Culture and the Arts and the Hula Preservation Society.
“I could ‘see’ his smile, hear his voice saying, ‘If Vicki needs any help, would you be there for her?,’” said Kimura. “Knowing that I kept a promise to a friend, I slept very well that night.”
Enlisting Watanabe was key to the process “because of his technical expertise with cassettes, the quality of his equipment, as well as dealing with the sheer number of cassettes. Who has cassette players now, anyway?” said Kimura. “I called him ‘The Cassette Surgeon,’ who had to repair and splice some of the tapes; my heart stopped every time Craig messaged me about a malfunction, but he repaired every single one.”
Of the restored tunes, Kimura said: “What does come through is the musicianship, the artistry and chemistry of Jimmy with the musicians.”
And the jazz singer kept logs with crucial data, and the sessions included Betty Loo Taylor, Ed Shonk, Ethel Azama, Bobby Enriquez, Del Courtney, Gabe Baltazar, Clyde Pound, Jimmy Funai, Jerry Rausch, Buddy Barnhill, Richie Cole, Mike Montano, Bart Tunick, the Dave Wild Trio and the group Tantalus.
Before focusing mostly on jazz, Jimmy had a diverse repertoire that included “I’ll Remember You,” “Won’t You Come Home, Bill Bailey,” “Aquarius,” “Spinning Wheel,” and a parody of “Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua Hawaii,” said Vicki. “An eclectic selection, reflective of the times.”
Vicki chuckled about one particular track, “Hava Nagila.” “It made me laugh,” she said. “Local Hawaiian/Chinese/Portuguese singing ‘Hava Nagila.’ ”
The catalogue reflects 50 years of music. As for what’s next, Vicki is uncertain.
“One possibility is to put together a CD as a gift of memories to share with Jimmy’s and my friends,” she said. …
JIM DANDY
The verdict is in: Jim Brickman, the pianist-composer of love and inspirational tunes, is a valid and relaxing singer. He stepped up his game in a warm performance Jan. 25 at Blaisdell Concert Hall.
The vocalizing precedes the February release of his all-hits CD on which he’s doing all the singing, to commemorate his 25th anniversary.
Yes, he’s sung in the past. But clearly, he elevates his compositions by putting his vocal imprint on his signatures. His voice personalizes his emotions via his whispery but charming tone.
In concert behind a grand piano, he converted the hall into a large living room where he uncorked his serenades complemented by gentle, involving patter. Soothing. Engaging.
Hawaii’s Maila Gibson was a guest vocalist, joining John Trones, a Brickman regular, provided variety and chitchat with Brickman.
Thus, the voice is a new instrument in Brickman’s present and future gig.
Now 58 with a head of wintry white hair, he brings dignity to his craft and comfort to his fans. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
