‘E Ku‘u One Hanau’

Tony Conjugacion and Herb Ohta Jr.
(Lele Music Productions)

Tony Conjugacion’s performance credits stretch from Broadway (where he performed as Tony C. Avanti in "Miss Saigon") to "TC2000," an avant-garde pairing of Hawaiian chant with mainstream electronic dance music. Innovator though he is, Conjugacion is firmly rooted in the traditional music of Hawaii. He shows that side of his repertoire with two original Hawaiian songs on this CD EP (extended-play) project with Herb Ohta Jr.

"Aloha No Pakalana" displays Conjugacion’s famed falsetto voice, "E Ku‘u One Hanau" his lower register. Both are worthy additions to his discography.

Ohta stands out as the featured performer on the other two songs — both of them instrumentals. Hawaii music veterans Dwight Kanae (guitar) and Kaeo Costa (bass) complete the instrumental lineup.

www.lelemusicproductions.com

"E Ku’u One Hanau"

‘Take 2’

Herb Ohta Jr. and Jon Yamasato
(Lele Music Productions)

The old adage "never say never" could have been written for Jon Yamasato. He was going from success to success as the voice and guitarist of Pure Heart when he notified the other members of the group — via a mention in a Thanksgiving Day newspaper column — that he was leaving music. Six months later he was making music with other artists.

One of Yamasato’s most productive post-Pure Heart partnerships has been with Herb Ohta Jr. The talented duo evokes memories of Pure Heart here. Veteran percussionist Jon Porlas supports the zesty interplay between Yamasato’s acoustic guitar and Ohta’s ukulele just as percussionist Lopaka Colòn backed Yamasato and Jake Shimabukuro in Pure Heart. The difference here is bassist Richard Gideon; he adds "bottom" to the arrangements and gives the de facto quartet a second voice as well.

The selections include imaginative arrangements of traditional Hawaiian songs, newly written Ohta instrumentals and a pair of pop-chart remakes. "Take on Me," the A-ha hit from the ’80s, is presented as an instrumental showcase for Ohta; with "Waiting in Vain," Ohta and Yamasato successfully repurpose a reggae classic as a pop tune.

"Tropical Lady," originally a hit for Kapena in the ’80s, lets Ohta show he can also rock it as a pop "island music" musician.

www.lelemusicproductions.com

"Take On Me"