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Sounds of Hawaii "Two
Japanee Bruddahs": A Nichi Bei Times column "Eh, you goin' da concert at Great America?" This has been the most asked question among Hawai'i expatriates in recent weeks. The event that has the Bay Area Hawaiian community abuzz is "Sounds of Hawai'i" which will bring four of the biggest headliners in contemporary Hawaiian music to Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara on September 8th. Make no mistake, you won't be hearing "Tiny Bubbles" at this show. If you're not familiar with the genre, contemporary Hawaiian music, like the diverse populace of Hawai'i itself, is a true melting pot of latin, rock, pop, reggae, country-western, R&B, folk and Hawaiian musical styles. "Sounds of Hawai'i" will showcase four of the best representations of the contemporary Island sound, from the sweet harmonies of Na Leo Pilimehana, to the high-energy percussion-driven beat of Colón, to the pop/reggae/R&B versatility of Ten Feet. But the highlight of the evening will definitely be Kalapana, the group that, along with Cecilio & Kapono, defined the contemporary Hawaiian music sound over 25 years ago.
Each one of the eleven songs on Kalapana's landmark first album has become an Island classic, from "Nightbird" to "Naturally." "Glider man, over land he's soaring…" Perhaps the most amazing thing about this music is its durability, its ability to stand up to the test of time. For anyone who grew up in Hawai'i in the last quarter-century, the lyrics of Kalapana's most loved standards are surely etched in your memory. The biggest question Kalapana fans will be asking is bound to be, "How dey goin' sound widout Mackey?" Mackey Feary, who wrote and was the lead singer for many of Kalapana's most loved tunes, passed away in 1999. The newest band member, Maurice Bega, has assumed all of Mackey's vocals and does a superb job. (Kyle caught Kalapana in concert in Hawai'i a few weeks ago.) Nobody could ever duplicate Mackey Feary's unmistakeable sound, however, while Bega clearly has his own voice and style, he accurately captures Mackey's spirit. As a result, fans will not be disappointed when Kalapana launches into trademark Mackey Feary classics such as "The Hurt" and "Moon and Stars." No musical group is more aptly named than Na Leo Pilimehana, which translated from Hawaiian, means "the voices blending together in warmth." Since recording their first album in 1984, the trio of Nalani Choy, Lehua Kalima Heine and Angela Morales has released 10 albums in Hawai'i, and has collected 20 prestigious Na Hoku Hanohano awards, Hawai'i's equivalent of the Grammy. The formula to Na Leo's enduring success is simple. There is are no gimmicks or special effects in their music, just beautiful songs, many composed by the three, sung in a pure and simple manner. The appeal of their music is truly universal, touching a chord with people of all ages and backgrounds. In fact, Na Leo, like Kalapana, is immensely popular in Japan, where their "Island Breeze" album is the top selling Hawaiian recording of all time. If you've never heard Na Leo, do yourself a favor and get one of their CDs. Two of the brightest stars among the new generation of contemporary Hawaiian musical groups are Colón and Ten Feet, each with its own fresh and unique sound. If you viewed the PBS Hawaiian music special, "Sounds of Aloha," you were undoubtedly wowed by the lighting-fast fingers and frenetic enthusiasm of 24-year-old ukulele phenom Jake Shimabukuro of Colón. Shimabukuro and percussionist Lopaka Colón are the heart and soul of this exciting young quintet. By the way, Augie Colón, Lopaka's father, played percussion and provided the exotic bird calls and jungle sounds for Martin Denny ("Quiet Village") in the 1950s. Earlier this year, as an outlet for his personal grief, Jake Shimabukuro composed and recorded a song honoring the memory of the victims of the tragic Ehime Maru sinking. Proceeds of the recording, entitled "Ehime Maru," are being donated to a fund to help the families of the victims. Ten Feet's debut recording, "Island Feeling," has been one of the hottest selling CDs in Hawai'i over the past year. The name of the group is derived from the fact that the band has five members, each with two feet, for a total of Ten Feet. The group's repertoire spans a virtual "mixed plate" of musical styles ranging from pop to reggae to soul, including a surprisingly fine cover of the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton/Bee Gees' hit, "Islands in the Stream." The beauty of music is its ability to transport you to another place and time. On September 8th, the Two Japanee Bruddahs and a few thousand of our closest friends plan to take a brief, but magical trip to the Islands. Further
concert information, including how to purchase tickets, is available
online at www.oproductionsinc.com or at (510) 704-4430. In San Francisco,
CDs by these Hawaiian artists, and others, are available at Nikkei Traditions,
Second Floor, Miyako Mall, Japantown and at The Hawai'i Store, 2655
Judah Street. Kyle
Tatsumoto wen go Castle. Keith Kamisugi wen go Mililani. So wot? |
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