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Promo Box
The latest Hawaiian music sent my way
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August 03, 2006
"DOMINANT RHYTHM ARCHIVE, VOL. 1"
VARIOUS ARTISTS
This slickly produced compilation contains previously released
tracks with a mix of reggae, rap and R&B. The first song, "She's My
Island Baby," really sets the tone for the rest of the CD, combining
the bass-heavy boom-clack of drums and Dezman's rap interspersed with
gentle acoustic guitar strumming and the smooth vocals of Benjamyne.
Zacc Kekona follows up in "We Are Solijahs" with straight island
reggae; "Baby Let Me Groove You" showcases Pi'ilani Arias' funky soul
vibe. Overall, an infectious, eclectic roundup of contemporary Hawaiian
tunes we should be hearing on the radio. —Dominant Rhythm Records, July
2006
"S.PACIFIK MUSIK"
MANA POLY ALL-STARS
The eight members of Mana Poly All-Stars (MPA) represent the musical
trends of the Polynesian triangle, including Guam, Saipan and the Micro
and Melanesian Islands. The result is a feel-good, soulful reggae album
that's caught the ears of mainstream artists Ky-Mani Marley and
Shinehead, and placement with this year's annual Legends of Rasta
Reggae Festival (formerly known as the annual Bob Marley Festival)
tour. Switching lead between all eight members means you'll get some
sultry female R&B crooning on "Down For Me," followed by some
skankin' and catchy dancehall on "The Game." Definitely some of the
smoothest island reggae I've heard in awhile. —Poly All-Stars Records,
July 2006
"SLACK KEY JOURNEY: ON MY WAY"
DANNY CARVALHO
Carvalho has played at slack key festivals since he was 10. A
student of slack key master Ozzie Kotani—who was taught by the
legendary Sonny Chillingworth—Carvalho was the first and only slack key
artist to play kiho'alu on NPR's "From the Top" last year. It was a
performance that was later featured on the program's compilation CD. Oh
yeah, and Carvalho is just 15 years old. Here, Carvalho plays a couple
original songs, along with his arrangements of music by Chillingworth,
Queen Lili'uokalani and others. A very relaxing, all-instrumental
album. —Lava Rock Music, July 2006
"DEEPER BLUE"
KOHALA
This is an upbeat, jazzy instrumental from an award-winning guitar
trio of contemporary Hawaiian music-producing artists. Lead guitarist
Charles Michael Brotman's classical melody is backed by Charlie Recaido
and Rupert Tripp, Jr.'s finger-style acoustic on steel strings, with
intermittent congas and various percussion. The perfect soundtrack for
a dinner party. —Palm Records, June 2006
"NO FRILLS"
LYLE RITZ
This is the fourth studio recording from the man who introduced the
concept of playing jazz on the 'ukulele. Here, Ritz plays both 'uke and
bass as he runs through jazz and pop standards like, "Besame Mucho,"
"The Girl From Ipanema" and "Satin Doll." Ritz' embellishments on these
arrangements are playful, subtle and full of grace. This is a CD that
has quickly become one of my instrumental favorites for its classy,
simple, island-flavored charm. —Flea Market Music, June 2006
"THE 50 GREATEST HAWAII MUSIC ALBUMS EVER, VOL. 2"
VARIOUS ARTISTS
If you know nothing of Hawaiian music, or have grown up with it all
your life, this is a pretty amazing compilation of all the best, from
Cecilio & Kapono's "Friends" to Don Ho's "Hawai'i Aloha." When
Honolulu Magazine's published a list of "The 50 Greatest Hawai'I Albums
of All Time" in June 2004, Mountain Apple compiled 17 songs from those
albums and produced one of the top-five selling Hawai'i albums of 2005,
and now this follow-up. Of course, Hawai'i's best music takes up more
space than a mere two CD's so I think it's safe to expect the third,
fourth and even fifth volumes soon. —Mountain Apple Company, June 2006
MTW
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