“UA KO, UA ‘AINA”
Keauhou (Keauhou)
With the release of “Ua Ko, Ua ‘Aina” earlier this month, multi-Hoku Award-winners Keauhou — Zachary Alaka‘i Lum, Jonah Kahanuola Solatorio and Nicholas Keali‘i Lum — complete what they now reveal to have been a three year, three album musical voyage that began with the release of their debut album, “Keauhou,” in 2016 and continued with “I Ke Ko A Ke Au” in 2017. The title song of their third album describes the completion of the journey. The collection of songs old and new is as beautiful and award-worthy as the Hoku Award-winning albums that preceded it.
There are four newly written songs — one each written individually and one as a group project — and classics by the greats of years past. The arrangements display the trio’s well-known versatility as solo vocalists and as partners singing three-part harmonies.
The trio’s annotation goes far beyond the basics of Hawaiian song lyrics and English translations. They explain, for example, why they chose to omit some of the verses of one song, share the history of the song “Mapuana Ku‘u Aloha,” and explore the personality of the plumeria lei.
They close with “No Tears,” a hapa haole classic by R. Alex Anderson that describes “last goodbyes,” but add in the liner notes that although this series of mele is completed, Keauhou will return.
Visit keauhouband.com.
“E MAMA”
Kaleo Phillips (Maui Tribe)
Maui resident Kaleo Phillips makes a solid first impression with his debut album and establishes his credentials as a contemporary Hawaiian artist with the first five songs. Some are Hawaiian originals he co-wrote with Devin Kamealoha Forrest, others are standards — all sung in a clear tenor voice and with crisp, predominantly acoustic, instrumental arrangements.
From there on, Phillips reveals other facets of his repertoire. There’s a medley, “Koto Iwi”/”Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” that combines an African-American gospel standard with a Polynesian oldie best known in Hawaii as recorded by Wainani Kanealii in 1963. Another standard popular in Hawaii, “God Bless My Daddy,” is presented in smooth three-part a capella harmonies.
Phillips’ other originals include “LeLe,” an instrumental that features Josh Kahula on ukulele, and a song appropriately titled “My Island Life,” that describes the things Phillips enjoys doing on Maui.
Phillips stretches out even farther with “Brighter Life,” a straight- forward Jawaiian song he recorded with Kapena De Lima playing all the instruments
Phillips’ liner notes provide buyers with song lyrics and their translations.
Visit islandheritagemusic.com/kaleop.
