His new music reflects a soaring passion for his craft, and tracks like "Angel," "Baby's Gone Blues," "Let Us Dream" and "One of These Days" have lingering power in a spectrum of realms — folk, blues, adult contemporary, even light jazz. Some of the industry's seasoned players participate here, including percussion powerhouse Paulinho Da Costa, Steve Berlin (Los Lobos' saxophonist), drummer James Gadson and pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz.

Two simple pleasures are "Missing You" and "Be There," with Cruz's seductive voice caressing the lyrics, his guitar-strumming tugging at the heartstrings. And happily, he's taken on "Hi'ilawe," the Gabby Pahinui signature, with both a sense of respect yet an opportunity to expand the song's appeal; and yes, the Hawaiian lyrics are another positive step in not only perpetuation of the pulse of Island music, but introducing it to others elsewhere.

If there's a downside to "Days," it's the running time of the selections. "Hi'ilawe" is the shortest track, clocking in at 3:49; most cuts are four to five minutes plus, a factor that could limit airplay, since brevity rules the airwaves.

Smooth (real name, Leon Toomata) will be difficult to categorize; he does a little of everything with amazing dexterity and talent, from vocal remakes (a splendid local fave "Lady of Waiahole" and Sting's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For") to originals (a jazz-seasoned "Desperado" instrumental co-written by Smooth and pal Donald Kaulia).

"Freedom," another wordless wonder, showcases Smooth's savior, the guitar, through a rough period of his life. There are jazz riffs and some ki ho'alu fingerings here.

Smooth also revisits "Ahi Wela," the traditional childhood anthem, delivered with a father's wisdom dedicated to his two daughters, and seeks the pot of gold in "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," a vocal with jazz flourishes. He also puts his jazz posture in full throttle with "LT Smooth," with excellent solo punctuation by keyboarder Lee Stuart and saxophonist Ahti Mohala.

He also reaches back into his childhood to present a pair of Samoan tunes reinterpreted for his current audience: "Fa'afetai" is a hymn reflecting ethnic pride, "Aru Maui To'o Wai Rua Tapu" is a motivating favorite delivered and updated with a jazz-tinged backup and sweet harmonic vocals.

The session "introduces" L.T. Smooth, the Big Island singer and multi-musician, who performs on a number of tracks as a backer-upper and composer. One such specimen is "Lau Lau Slack Key," a Kaulia original that taps Smooth's distinctive stylings. Another is "Sweet Wahine," the title track they co-composed, in an exotic Hispanic dress. And an oldie from way back, "Portuguese Washboard," is revived in guitar format, reinventing the old 'ukulele presentation.

For slack-key enthusiasts, the tunings are noted so you can play along or at least attempt to get a handle on each tune.