Quantcast
StarBulletin.com
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Search

HiLife Online

Give us YOUR Weekly Opinion

Reader Poll

Sell your stuff in Hawaii classifieds
Subscribe to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Island Mele

For Friday, October 17, 2008

By John Berger

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 17, 2008

(Single Page View) | Return to Paginated View

"Christmas Aloha"

Various artists
(Mountain Apple Company)

Hawaii's second Christmas release for 2008 is a niche market item, an anthology of classic Hawaiian seasonal recordings available exclusively at Wal-Mart. The producer is not identified, but the selections make this a beautiful introduction to contemporary Hawaiian Christmas music.

Two sides of a Cazimero Christmas are represented with the duo's dramatic arrangement of "We Three Kings," a logical choice as the first song on the album, and "Me and My Teddy Bear," a favorite number from their old-time Christmas concerts, placed in the second half of the program.

Willie K also earns two spots with a pair of tunes from his classic "Willie Kalikimaka" album: "O Holy Night" and "Away In A Manager." And although it isn't mentioned in the minimalist liner notes, yes, that is Willie Nelson joining in on the latter piece. As for "O Holy Night," Willie's rendition is still the definitive local recording of the song.

Other noteworthy selections include "I Love Christmas" by Eddie Kamae & The Sons of Hawaii; "Ke Aloha Kalikimaka" from Keali'i Reichel's recent Christmas album, "Maluhia"; and an exquisite instrumental rendition of "Joy to the World" by the original HAPA -- Barry Flanagan and Keli'i Kaneali'i.

Two seductive recordings by Teresa Bright, and one each from Ledward Kaapana and Amy Hanaiali'i, complete this sampler.

www.mountainapplecompany.com

» “We Three Kings”
» “Away In A Manager”
» “Island Christmas”



"Guava Jelly"

Camile Velasco
(Up Above)

The Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) eliminated its Single of the Year category several years ago, but the single-song CD continues to have a place in the record industry. This calling card from expatriate Camile Velasco, a preview of her upcoming album, proves the point. Its a stretch to call this a product of the Hawaii recording industry -- Velasco has been based in Los Angeles for several years, and she recorded it in a Jamaican studio -- but her status as an "American Idol" finalist from Hawaii provides a local link.

"Guava Jelly," written and first recorded by Bob Marley, is best known in Hawaii as recorded by the Peter Moon Band in the '80s. With Marley's son, Stephen, as her producer and the featured guest on her recording, Velasco brings the song full-circle and personalizes it as well.

www.myspace.com/camilevelasco

» “Guava Jelly”

 

"Christmas Aloha"

Various artists
(Mountain Apple Company)


Hawaii's second Christmas release for 2008 is a niche market item, an anthology of classic Hawaiian seasonal recordings available exclusively at Wal-Mart. The producer is not identified, but the selections make this a beautiful introduction to contemporary Hawaiian Christmas music.

Two sides of a Cazimero Christmas are represented with the duo's dramatic arrangement of "We Three Kings," a logical choice as the first song on the album, and "Me and My Teddy Bear," a favorite number from their old-time Christmas concerts, placed in the second half of the program.

Willie K also earns two spots with a pair of tunes from his classic "Willie Kalikimaka" album: "O Holy Night" and "Away In A Manager." And although it isn't mentioned in the minimalist liner notes, yes, that is Willie Nelson joining in on the latter piece. As for "O Holy Night," Willie's rendition is still the definitive local recording of the song.

Other noteworthy selections include "I Love Christmas" by Eddie Kamae & The Sons of Hawaii; "Ke Aloha Kalikimaka" from Keali'i Reichel's recent Christmas album, "Maluhia"; and an exquisite instrumental rendition of "Joy to the World" by the original HAPA -- Barry Flanagan and Keli'i Kaneali'i.

Two seductive recordings by Teresa Bright, and one each from Ledward Kaapana and Amy Hanaiali'i, complete this sampler.

www.mountainapplecompany.com

» “We Three Kings”
» “Away In A Manager”
» “Island Christmas”



"Guava Jelly"

Camile Velasco
(Up Above)

The Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) eliminated its Single of the Year category several years ago, but the single-song CD continues to have a place in the record industry. This calling card from expatriate Camile Velasco, a preview of her upcoming album, proves the point. Its a stretch to call this a product of the Hawaii recording industry -- Velasco has been based in Los Angeles for several years, and she recorded it in a Jamaican studio -- but her status as an "American Idol" finalist from Hawaii provides a local link.

"Guava Jelly," written and first recorded by Bob Marley, is best known in Hawaii as recorded by the Peter Moon Band in the '80s. With Marley's son, Stephen, as her producer and the featured guest on her recording, Velasco brings the song full-circle and personalizes it as well.

www.myspace.com/camilevelasco

» “Guava Jelly”

(Single Page View) | Return to Paginated View



Story tools

Email  Email   Print  Print   Save  Save   Popular  Most Popular   Reprint  Subscribe

Share this story