ISLAND SOUNDS
Get jazzed up on CD or unwind in slack key

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Jazz musicians bask in the CD limelight; one's a drum soloist, the other a saxophonist.

And acoustic guitar and ki ho'alu pack a potency worth noting.

• Genre: Jazz.

• Distinguishing notes: Okimoto, a drummer, is one of the jazz notables in this community. It's not an everyday occurrence for a jazz drummer to do a solo CD.

Augmented by a battery of instruments, played by Okimoto, plus Ozone on keyboards and Okoshi on trumpet, flugelhorn and piano, this collection bares Okimoto's chops as a composer as well — all the tracks are his.

• The outlook: The combo sound (several musicians, including saxophonist Gabe Baltazar, were recruited to play), makes this a jewel for Okimoto's diehard fans. And a number of selections playfully skirt local nuances — "Ehukai," "You Buggah," " 'Ohana."

• Our take: A palatable and prestigious CD debut by the premier jazz drummer in town.

"Siete Noches" by Noel Okimoto. Audio sample available in mp3 and RealAudio formats.

"COLORS OF THE HEART" by David Choy; Choyce Music

• Distinguishing notes: Choy, a Maui-based saxophonist, has been one of the most active souls on the jazz front. With this CD, his music can be explored and enjoyed by folks who've seen him perform in person. Of the 13 titles, Choy composed eight; he taps a wealth of colleagues to fill out his sound, including the likes of bassist Bruce Hamada, guitarist Allan Vilaren and a few others. The musical pendulum swings far and wide, with a sultry "You're My Everything," a swingin' "Just To Be With You" and a reflective "More Than You'll Ever Know." There two Island classics, too ("Ei Nei," a vocal, and "Hawaiian Wedding Song"), that pay homage to his Island home.

• The outlook: Since he's played with national and local biggies for years, his time has come to garner the spotlight.

• Our take: The joy is in Choy's playing.

"Selling Short" by David Choy. Audio sample available in mp3 and RealAudio formats.

"SLACK KEY GUITAR VOLUME 2" by various artists; Palm Records

• Distinguishing notes: A slate of strummers — Charles Michael Brotman, Bryan Kessler, Randy Lorenzo, John Keawe, Keoki Kahumoku, Ken Emerson, Sonny Lim, Charlie Recaido — provide tranquil, atmospheric ki ho'alu tones here, each one bringing his own style to the table. The mover-and-shaker of the project, Brotman, has assembled a mood-evoking disc, attractively packaged, a great source for nocturnal relaxation after a hard day's work.

• The outlook: New age motifs prevail over these solo performances.

• Our take: In a word, a dandy.

"Celtic Summer" by Bryan Kessler. Audio sample available in mp3 and RealAudio formats.

"THE LEGENDARY LEONARD KWAN" by Leonard Kwan; HanaOla Records

• Distinguishing notes: The late Kwan's early recordings have been repackaged by producer George Winston, a fan of the genre. A 24-page CD booklet contains informative information about Kwan and each song and sheds lights on his precise tunings. The vintage songlist (28 titles) includes his signature " 'Opihi Moemoe," plus such reflective classics such as "Hula Blues," "Noho Pai Pai," "Hawaiian Chimes" and "Maori Brown Eyes."

• The outlook: A natural primer for budding slack-key guitarists.

• Our take: Unending pleasures; a lot to explore and adore.

"Hawaiian Chimes" by Leonard Kwan. Audio sample available in mp3 and RealAudio formats.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.