So team them up together and you get an act that is fresh and creative, each bringing to the plate a sense of savvy and a spirit of invention. The fare is rich in memory and tradition, so the explorations are a journey into familiar turf. "Hi'ilawe" sparkles with ki ho'alu riffs and voices that hypnotize in strokes of deliberate seduction. "Kulaiwi" bounces with new abandonment and adventure. "Hula Lady/Honolulu I Am Coming Back Again" and "Mokihana Lullaby/Nani Kaua'i" foster the notion that twinning the right moods and in the proper hands results in new vitality, new vision.

Vintage ditties such as "'Anapau" should be of interest to the new generation of Island music fans. This version is more of a vocalist's stance than a dancer's, proving that interpretation is what it's all about.

Then there's the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway hit from yesteryear, "Where Is the Love," a curve ball outside the Hawaiian realm, and still part of their game of fusion, fun and fervor. Greg Sardinha's steel-guitar presence adds precious seasoning to the vocal stew.

So, are S&R a new "group" in the sense that there will be an ongoing alliance? Only time will tell. For now, the blend is beautiful and credible, with a life that should sustain. They take turns on leads/harmony, which is what duets are all about. Cute cover shot, too, of hers and his Hawaiian attire.

Na'auao produced and co-engineered with Dave Tucciarone, and lyrics enable listeners not only to sing along but appreciate and soak up the literary merits of the tunes.

With Wendell Ching's production skills, Yamamura puts his sweet tenor tones to good test in a variety of tunes — the nostalgic and expressive "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)," "Mokihana Lullaby" "Pua Lilia," "Forevermore." Yamamura must have a fondness for Lena Machado, too, putting his imprint on "Pohai Ke Aloha" and "Kaulana O Hilo Hanakahi."

His pop takes are good enough for commercial impact outside of the Islands; there's earnest relevance in his delivery on such tracks as "In This Life."

Ching and other musicians such as Jeff Rasmussen, Dan Del Negro, Zanuck Lindsey, Shawn Pimental, Kimo Artist and Kainoa Delo shape the warm and sunny climate for a talent that's worth watching.

If it's soul-stirring stuff you're searching for, try "Y Por Tanto"; since the act is Island-based, notice the Hawaiian-lyric intro on "Sueno Paraiso." Such cultural blends reign here, as one source joins another in blissful musical matrimony. It's snappy toe-tapping and dance-floor staples, through and through: you may not know the essence of "Pegaito, "Ahora," "Mambo Para Ti," and "Bailando Merengue," but you'll be moved by the fiery and fun Latin fire.

The most familiar cut, "Cuando Caliente el Sol," is rendered with Sanchez and ensemble in blissful harmony.