Posted on: Sunday, April 24, 2005

ISLAND SOUNDS
Island nostalgia, folkie troubadour

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Buddy Fo, a veteran Hawaiian entertainer, scans five decades of music to revisit his favorites. It's updated, but timeless nostalgia right up his alley.

A folkie CD worth a spin.

"HAWAIIAN MAN, NOSTALGIC JOURNEY" by Buddy Fo; FoWat Productions

• Genre: Hapa-haole, nostalgic Hawaiian.

• Distinguishing notes: Buddy Fo has been there, done that — and he's doing it all over again. Fo, a prime mover in that revered old combo, The Invitations, reflects on his 50-year career and puts his own spin on a number of favorites. It's an excursion into the past, with relevance to the present, and likely to remain a beacon in the future. He takes the late Martin Denny's signature, "Quiet Village," but offers it with lyrics, making it more of a bluesy ditty than an exotic one. He waxes romantic (and you can envision wife Sammi Fo doing the hula) on such oldies as "To Make You Love Me, Ku'uipo" and "Mane'i Mai Oe." He journeys to far-away islands on "Calypso Blues" (a tune he learned from Nat "King" Cole), performing only with conga and bongo accompaniment (with Sammi on congas). He hoists one with joy and glee on "Drinking Champagne" — with a jazz fizz. And the jazz lingers on "Squeeze Me," oozing nocturnal niceties and up-close intimacy; a soulful interpretation of a family-linked tune, "Nani Wai'ale'ale" is a perfect fit as he brews more Hawaiian jazz. And he pays homage to his Invitations era with updates (without the characteristic four-part harmonies of yesteryear) on "Invitation"and "Pretty Red Hibiscus."

• The outlook: Since nostalgia is never out of vogue, Fo is in his element. Though his absence from Hawai'i over the years might have made fans forget him, he's back and has found his niche.

• Our take: Something old is new again — and it's lovely listening, through and through.

"Quiet Village" by Buddy Fo. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

"VITO TRUGLIO" by Vito Truglio; no label

• Genre: Folk.

• Distinguishing notes: Vito Truglio won a Folk Album of the Year Award for this entry in this year's Hawaii Music Awards. He is of New Jersey origin and has traveled a lot, landing in Hawai'i. Singing lead and background, and strumming electric, acoustic guitar and bass, Truglio writes music and lyrics like a true folkie and is blessed here with the production skills of Charles Michael Brotman, the ki ho'alu pillar, who performed on and produced the first-ever Hawaiian Album of the Year Grammy Award this year. The songs are well suited for reflection and romance, with lyrics that paint word pictures of personal moments in life — rainy days ("Reflection," "Sweet Rain"), pain ("Don't Wanna Cry," "Too Late") and more.

• The outlook: Limited commercial success, but Truglio's voice should be heard.

• Our take: A modern-day troubadour.

"So Many Roads" by Vito Truglio. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

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