ISLAND SOUNDS
Motown to mele, they perform with feeling

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

More than a dozen contemporary Island artists each take on a Motown-sound pop hit — to bring 'em back home to Island turf.

A falsetto singer reaches the high notes with skill and aplomb.

A duo committed to Hawaiian music interpret classic hula favorites.

Great variety for diverse tastes.

"MOTOWN HAWAIIAN STYLE: TINY CD 4" by Tiny Tadani and various artists; TNT 2004

Genre: Adult contemporary; Motown meets contemporary Hawaiian.

Distinguishing notes: Tiny Tadani, a TV and radio personality, again assembles his pals from the music community to perform a track apiece on this collection of Motown hits recycled with an Island flavor. It's kind of a "theme" show you might find on "American Idol," where everyone has to succumb to the genre of music, with varying results. Fourteen tunes are performed by as many acts, with a splendid mix of ballads and upbeat cuts. So: you can romanticize along with Sistah Robi's "Stay Gold," Aziel's "Ribbon in the Sky," Kawika Regidor's "I Just Called To Say I Love You" and Reign's "Love's in Need of Love Today" , or hit the dance floor boogieing to Forté's "Shoop Shoop Song," Ame's "I'm Comin' Out," Five by 5's "The Love You Save" and Tino's "Rock the Boat." There are a few pleasurable surprises in Jeff Rasmussen's "I Wanna Get Next to You," Tani Lynn Fujimoto's "Got To Be There" and Dita & Ells' "Is This Love?" that help galvanize the notion that the Motown connection can work. OK, not every cut has true Motown origins, but the spirit shines.

The outlook: A great party disc, complete with a bonus of sorts: A new Tiny TV theme song, rendered by Lionel Wright & Native Blend (with vocal appearances by Tiny himself and son Taylor), is more hip-hop than Motown. Oh, well, it is daddy's project.

Our take: Should find a place on the CD racks, alongside previous Tiny temptations.

"Stay Gold" by Sistah Robi. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

"FALSETTO STYLE" by by Dean Lum; Dean Lum Productions

Genre: Traditional Hawaiian; falsetto.

Distinguishing notes: Lum, part of the Dean and Dean duo at the Chart House, has been a quiet advocate of falsetto singing for years. First time we heard him, he was part of Na Kolohe, the duo that backs up comedian Frank DeLima. Here, he hasn't lost his sweet and lofty upper-register tones, which add richness and eloquence to 10 favorites, from "Kalena" to "Ho'onanea," from "Kamalani Keaukaha" to "He Aloha Mele."

The outlook: Lum should earned well-deserved accolades for this effort; now's the time to discover him, if you already haven't.

Our take: A must for any falsetto follower — or Hawaiian music buff.

"Kalena" by Dean Lum. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

"CLASSIC HAWAIIAN HULAS, VOL. 1" by George Kahumoku Jr. and Daniel Ho; Daniel Ho Creations

Genre: Traditional Hawaiian.

Distinguishing notes: Two artists, who share a bond for Hawaiian music and ki ho'alu, combine resources and talent in this exquisite compilation of favored hula tunes. Kahumoku's the singer here, but he also strums slack-key style; Ho's the one with magical fingers on the 'ukulele here. The list of classic favorites includes "Koke'e," "Pua Hone," "Kane'ohe," "Ku'u Home O Kahalu'u" and "Hi'ilawe."

The outlook: Simple arrangements and uncluttered vocals, combined with stellar accompaniment, make this one easy to take — a jewel to embrace. And you don't even have to be a hula dancer.

Our take: An instant classic — for those who savor a ready resource for traditional hula favorites.

"Koke'e" by George Kahumoku Jr. and Daniel Ho. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

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