"Kaohu"
Brad Kawakami
(Lele)
Singer-songwriter Brad Kawakami follows the year-end release of his debut CD single, "I Found My Love in Waikiki," with this full-length album of Hawaiian, hapa-haole and mainstream "easy listening" music. Four of the 10 songs are originals; most of the others, standards that represent more than a century of island music.
The album opens with songs from his debut release. Songwriters have been writing about romance in Waikiki for more than a century, and "I Found My Love in Waikiki" is a welcome addition to the list. "One look into her eyes and I knew," Kawakami croons over the smooth instrumental work of Herb Ohta Jr. (ukulele), Steve Jones (bass), Roy Hamada (keyboards) and Stacey Tangonan (drums). The song is a beautiful introduction to the album and to Kawakami as an artist. It would also make a fine theme for a visitor industry ad campaign.
The bonus tracks from the single — "Blue Hawaii" and "Ei Nei" — are here as well. "Blue Hawaii" has been known for 50 years as the title song of Elvis’ most successful film, and before that as a hit for Bing Crosby in 1937. Both versions have a male vocalist performing with minimal vocal backing. Kawakami puts a different spin on it by singing it as a duet with Kawena Mechler. Their voices blend pleasantly, and when Mechler echoes him rather than harmonizing with him, the contrast is quite different from either of the hit versions.
Great hapa-haole songs never lose their appeal, and Kawakami’s recording of "Ei Nei" pays homage to composer Lena Machado while bringing one of her best-known songs forward to another generation. He sings it soft and romantic over a soothing mix of strummed guitars and ukulele; Mechler comes in nicely on harmonies.
Kawakami and his co-producer partners DJ Pratt and Herb Ohta Jr. complete the album with seven songs arranged and recorded in similar style. One of the most noteworthy is "You Are," a romantic original that takes him outside the Hawaiian and hapa-haole songbook. Sax, keyboards and a muted but effective bass line give the song a jazzy cocktail lounge feel. Every singer can use a good musical "signature," and Kawakami has one in "You Are." Should Kawakami opt to move into mainstream pop or "easy listening" music, this song is his point of entry.
Percussionist Jon Porlas bring a touch of exotica to another original song, "Lilo Ke Aloha," which was written by Kawakami and translated into Hawaiian by Kamaka Fernandez. A translation of the Hawaiian lyrics is not included in the liner notes, but the verses Kawakami sings in English make his sentiments accessible to mainstream audiences.
Although ballads are clearly his niche, Kawakami stretches a bit with a gently swinging arrangement of "Papalani Lahilahi" that’s energized by Tangonan’s drums. And, on an up-tempo arrangement of "Henehene Koa ‘Aka," recorded here with sax, drums, percussion and a faux-horn section, he sings the well-known lyrics with a playfulness that makes the song sweet and romantic rather than predatory.
Upbeat or soft and slow, Kawakami gets excellent support from an all-star squad of studio musicians. The crew includes Todd Yukimoto on sax and flute, and Manoa DNA — Lloyd, Nick and Alex Kawakami — as backing vocalists (Kawakami says his Kawakami roots go back to the same part of Japan as the Manoa DNA Kawakamis, but he and they have yet to find an ancestor in common).
Lyrics and English translations are essential parts of any Hawaiian album and especially when new songs are being introduced; that essential information is missing here. Kawakami and his co-producers also err in their use of a synthetic string section that adds sonic filler where none is needed.
www.bradkawakami.com
"Found My Love in Honolulu"
