Robert Cazimero truly is a gem; his Jan. 28 Blue Note Hawaii show was as good as it gets, with surprises and stories galore.
During his periodic appearances, he performs a repertoire that’s amazingly simple — the American Songbook — and I believe Cazimero should do a “Live at the Blue Note” CD, pronto. With the club’s approval, of course. Are you listening, Jon de Mello? He is Cazimero’s Mountain Apple Co. producing whiz.
The Blue Note has become fertile ground for Hawaiian stars like Cazimero. While he is widely known and critically applauded for his Hawaiian shows and hula, Cazimero’s nostalgic detour down memory lane is rich with details and packed with personal stories. Anecdotes accompany nearly every tune; his patter is nuanced with real emotions and delivered with conversational ease.
Word-of-mouth can’t adequately document this must-see show, but a live-in-concert CD could. Few can match Cazimero in substance and style.
Here, songs like “The Cock-Eyed Optimist,” which he heard Shirley MacLaine sing, abound. He embraces Mike Love’s (yes, the Beach Boys member) “The Warmth of the Sun” ballad, turning it into a test for hula stylist Sky Perkins (in gown, not muumuu) to create an impromptu dance.
He credits maestro Matt Catingub, who hand-picked Rosemary Clooney’s “Tenderly” to perform and record, which happily was in sync with his adoration of this song by the veteran singer-actress.
All this engages the audience.
Further, he recalls hearing Loretta Ables Sayre sing “I Thought About You,” at the Lewers Lounge, though he called it “the train song” because the first line is “I took a trip on a train,” followed by the title words. And he shares “I Have Dreamed,” from “The King and I,” a number he and Ables Sayre did in a church show two decades ago. He dedicated these tunes to her; imagine if she connected with him again!
Of childhood piano classes, forced on him by his mom, he uttered, “I hated lessons,” then segues into “Tea for Two” in a heartfelt endorsement of “Mommy knows best.”
Cazimero mostly sat behind a grand piano, supported by Nick Lum on bass. An admitted “dinosaur” and a seasoned chatmeister, mentor Cazimero is blessed to have this young sidekick, who adds immeasurable charm. Lum surely appreciates this bond; the buddy system works. …
NAME-DROPPING
>> New date: That Sol3 Mio concert, featuring Samoan brothers Pene Pati and Amitai Pati (tenors) and their cousin Moses Mackay (baritone), has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. April 22 at Blaisdell Concert Hall (original tickets will be valid). The Jan. 28 gig had to be scrapped because Amitai was detained in Vancouver (authorities apparently lost his passport) and unable to fly here. This gave Pene and Moses a brief vacation. They took in the Royal Hawaiian’s ‘Aha‘aina luau show — their first luau show ever — and also sang at Lewers Lounge. Oh, and the gents hitched a ride with a Halekulani hotel guest to go hiking at Koko Head before departing. …
>> Mom’s the word. Can you imagine Nicole Kidman as Jason Momoa’s mom? According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kidman is in negotiations to play Momoa’s mother in the “Aquaman” film. She’s a current best supporting actress nominee for another mom role in “Lion.” And though not commonly mentioned, Kidman is a Hawaii-born Australian actress, so the island link prevails with Momoa, formerly from Hawaii, in the aquatic superhero outing. Director James Wan is eyeing an April shooting date in Australia. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran Honolulu entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or email wayneharada@gmail.com.
