ISLAND SOUNDS
Na Leo's love ballads interpret old favorites with quiet elegance

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Na Leo Pilimehana sticks to a tried-and-true romantic formula in its latest outing.

An emerging singer looks to the Lord for inspiration and themes.

A landmark label assembles a compilation of ono treats for the era.

And a uke strummer does what he does best — strum in his inimitable style.

• Genre: World music; adult contemporary.

• Distinguishing notes: The trio Na Leo has dropped the "Pilimehana" from its title for its latest studio album but retains its characteristic ballad-heavy, family-friendly romantic sound. With the focus on 'ohana, faith and amour, Nalani Choy, Lehua Heine and Angela Morales not only find harmony here, but project romance in one sweet dose after another. Armed with a stable of sound arrangers (Matt Catingub, Ken Makuakane, Bryan Kessler and Ronnie Esteban), the trio retains its grip on the love factor among all contemporary musical artists here. Heine's originals, "In Your Smile" and "Coming Home" are easy to admire, with heartfelt lyrics. Her collaboration with Makuakane gives us "Hanauma Bay," upholding the virtuous of the landmark sea playground. "I Do," an entry from Hope Mayo and Daniel Ho, could evolve into a favorite theme for those exchanging vows. Adaptations of the Paul McCartney-John Lennon "Blackbird," the Sol K. Bright "Sophisticated Hula" and the David Kupele "Jungle Rain" prove that Na Leo respect and understand the originals in renewing appeal among their modern-day fans, emphasizing interpretation, not imitation.

• The outlook: If The Carpenters were resurrected, they might have become Na Leo; both outfits are known for their love songs.

• Our take: Count this as another one of Na Leo's successes; the women deliver with quiet elegance.

"In Your Smile" by Na Leo. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

• Genre: Christian pop.

• Distinguishing notes: John Paul Lam is an emerging Christian pop singer. All but one of the selections here were penned by Lam (with collaborators on the lyrics). With his ballad-heavy format, Lam sounds like a contemporary pop belter. He is exuberant in his exclamation of his love for the Lord and dutifully provides soaring and shimmering access to listeners. Any one of the cuts — "Fear Not," "I Choose to Sing," "I Come to You," "You Give Me Hope" — could serve as his calling card. There's an element of soul that enhances his delivery. On "The Prayer," Tiffany Thurston guest-sings — showcasing Lam's confidence with another language, Italian.

• The outlook: Evidently, Lam has listened to other current trendsetters — think John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Grolan — to craft his sound.

• Our take: With backing from the church community, Lam is one to watch over the ensuing months; his charismatic sound is hard to resist.

"I Choose to Sing" by John Paul Lam. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

• Genre: An anthology of traditional and contemporary Hawaiian.

• Distinguishing notes: With Gabby Pahinui's "Hi'ilawe" as the lead-off track, complete with his incredible vocal dynamics, this collection of 13 Island classics remembers the greats of the past and a label that was, in its prime, a showcase for musical pacesetters. Eddie Kamae and the Sounds of Hawai'i go to town with "No Ke Ano Ahi Ahi"; the Peter Moon Band create heat via "Cane Fire" and wax romantic on "He Aloha Mele"; the Pahinui Brothers immortalize "Jealous Guy"; and The Sunday Manoa (with Moon and the Brothers Cazimero) do the original "A Hawaiian Lullaby." Randy Lorenzo's" My Hula Girl" is a sweet surprise, but Pahinui is the trump card here — his "Moonlight Lady," "Waikiki Hula," and "Leinani" lead the tour down nostalgia alley. The label's classic 13 albums make up the CD cover (with liner notes reflecting on those glory days) — a measure of triumph for original producers Steve Siegfried, Witt Shingle and Lawrence Brown.

• The outlook: One quick listen and you'll want to haul out the original long-playing discs, or latch onto a CD reissue of the original albums from which these titles originated.

• Our take: Oh, what grand moments of reflection!.

"Hi'ilawe" by Gabby Pahinui. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

• Genre: 'Ukulele instrumentals.

• Distinguishing notes: Herb "Ohta-san" Ohta (the senior) shows off his straightforward, deft style on 14 titles, mostly oldie hits but including one Japanese ditty (for his Japan loyalists) and one Brazilian item (from the Antonio Carlos Jobim songbook). The whole point here is to show how easily the uke can custom-fit into every type of musical genre. Pop songs? The Eric Carmen title tune (with echoes of Rachmaninoff). Film music? "Lara's Theme," "Over the Rainbow," "The Entertainer," "The Pink Panther Theme" and "Windmills of Your Mind" Evergreens? "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Midnight Sun." Broadway? "One." It's a chorus line-up of standards with Ohta-san's solo pluckings.

• The outlook: Ohta-san is a seasoned artist who's inspired many, and happily, he's still going gangbusters amid the explosion of next-generation 'ukulele stylists, from his son Herb Ohta Jr. to Jake Shimabukuro.

• Our take: All by himself, Ohta-san still remains ichi-ban in our book.

"All By Myself" by Ohta-san. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

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