Posted on: Sunday, January 30, 2005
ISLAND SOUNDS
Slack-key, jazz CDs show promise
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
An instrumental slack-key guitar album from Kaua'i and a jazz release put a former Islander in the spotlight.
• Genre: Hawaiian slack-key.
• Distinguishing notes: Paul Togioka is emerging as Kaua'i's most prolific kiho'alu artist, offering his first slack-key guitar CD that includes many classics of the genre.
His touch is smooth and expressive, and his take on proven titles such as "Ku'u Home O Kahalu'u," "Maori Brown Eyes/'Opihi Moe Moe," "My Yellow Ginger Lei," "Kaua'i Beauty" and "Island Style" is refreshingly new.
Togioka does extremely well putting his own mark on some non-kiho'alu songs such as "Love and Honesty," "Sukiyaki" and "Zacheus."
He also displays his composing skills, giving exquisite beauty to "Up Country" and "Hokulei."
• The outlook: Add Togioka to the elite circle of Island masters of kiho'alu with the likes of Gabby Pahinui, Keola Beamer, John Keawe, Ozzie Kotani,
Ledward Ka'apana, Cyril Pahinui, Keoki Kahumoku, Daniel Ho and Owana Salazar.
• Our take: Check into this Kiho'alu Inn, and you'll get a four-star, grand time.
• Genre: Jazz.
After studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he moved to Los Angeles in 1984, where he remains one of the in-demand bassist (acoustic and electric) with acts as diverse as Sadao Watanabe, Hiroshima, David Benoit and Dave Coz.
This CD assembles his musical friends Andy Suzuki (tenor, soprano and alto saxophone), Steve Huffsteter (trumpet and flugelhorn), Nick Manson (piano) and Kendall Kay (drums) in a savory and sensuous menu of 10 originals by Taba. The sound is nocturnal-cozy with sexy sax and horn riffs blending with comforting piano and the rhythms of bass and keyboards.
The tempo switches creative images of romance ("Air," "Folk Song," "For Friends") and adventure ("Up Side," "Cigar Song").
• The outlook: The quintet's tight bond makes for a cohesive sound.
• Our take: Intimacy is the thing; think of a small club, perhaps a tad smokey, with the jazz providing nirvana thrills.
Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, or fax 525-8055.
"KIHO'ALU INN" by Paul Togioka; Rhythm & Roots Records
"Sukiyaki" by Paul Togioka. Audio sample available in mp3 format.
"FOR FRIENDS" by Dean Taba; Manasus Music
• Distinguishing notes: Dean Taba is a local boy who once played French horn in the Hawai'i Youth Symphony Orchestra.
"Air" by Dean Taba. Audio sample available in mp3 format.
