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SHORT TAKES Mini Reviews! Rating Scale: TO

Artist: Ray Lynch Album: "Best Of" Label: Windham Hill Reviewed By: Donn Jehs Rating:

Ray Lynch is hardly prolific, having produced only four albums since 1983, but when he does, it proves worth the wait. This album contains ten songs from those four along with three original tunes. Five out of the ten come from his platinum album "Deep Breakfast," including a dance remix of perhaps his best piece "Celestial Soda Pop," which he has given a real charge to. It seems in keeping with his new lighter approach to music; the three original works are all more joyous and free flowing than his past work but as good in their own way.

"HAWAIIAN SLACK KEY GUITAR MASTERS SERIES" Label: Dancing Kat Records Reviewed by: Kayla Christian This set of albums is very unique and enjoyable. Dancing Cat Records' "Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Master Series" brings the solo guitar to the forefront, showcasing the styling of some of the best players on the island. In developing an individual style, each of these artists draws upon family techniques and those of masters past and present. Each artist has shown exceptional, entertaining pleasure in his or her performance. These albums are jam packed with extensive information about the Hawaiian Guitar history. With three distinct periods first starting in the 1880's, continuing to the present, the third period, switching to the steel guitar, fully absorbed into and commercialized by American pop culture. Each song has it own traditional background that will keep you mesmerized. This series is very unique in cultural legacy. Excellent for your music collection.

Artist: George Kahumoku, Jr. Album: "Drenched By Music" Rating:

This artist has a very unique way of tugging on your ears. And, like the title "Drenched By Music," this album does just that. George Kahumoku, Jr. is a master with the acoustic guitar. His music is played from his heart and soul through the very tips of his fingers, and flows with vivid tropical images. His music is soothing to the ear, and Kahumoku is totally relaxing throughout the 10 cut album.

Artist: Keola Beamer Album: "Mauna Kea - White Mountain Journal" Rating:

With the series of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters, "Mauna Kea - White Mountain Journal" is one of the best. Very beautiful, romantic music. Keola Beamer showcases his exceptional talents in this fully packed album. Beamer kept a journal of all the things that happened in his life. Moments of time meant something to him. As he tried to write it all down, he found it hard to hunt for the words, and harder still to write with any fluency. With this he turned to music. He longed for a better way to convey what was in his heart. He has made his music a way to communicate those feelings. His style is breathtaking. You will feel the sweet melody with the rhythm and the rest of the mountain winds. I highly recommend this for background music. Excellent music to listen to while enjoying a wonderful, romantic evening, or just plain, good computer music.

Artist: Bob Brozman & Leward Kaapana Album: "Kika Kila Meets Ki Ho'Alu" Rating:

Brozman and Kaapana join forces to bring you the unique quality of traditional Hawaiian music. These two artists gathered an exceptional gallery of Hawaiian songs, starting the album with "Maik'I No Kauat." This popular song dates back to the early 20th century. Another interesting song on this album is "Tre Moe." Kaapana chose this traditional Tahitian song for this album, and he plays in the key of G capoed up to five frets to sound in the key of C. Bob plays the Weissenborn in a Mainland C major tuning (C-G-C-G-C-E), in the Keys of C and F. Led answers to Bob's triplets and Bob answers to Led's staccato in a tour de force of spontaneous improvisation.

Artist: James "Bla" Pahinui Album: "Mana" Rating:

James "Bla" Pahinui was born in 1942 and raised in Waimanalo. He is the second oldest son of slack key legend Charles Phillip "Gabby" Pahinuni. A founding member of "The Sunday Manoa," "The Gabby Band" and "The Pahinui Brothers," Bla proudly perpetuates his family's heartfelt commitments to Hawaiian music. He sings and plays with tremendous spiritual power and soul, and exhibits profound aloha for humanity both in and outside the music realms. His first instrument was a two by four with four nails at the top, four nails at the bottom and fishing line stretched in between. When he was young he used to play with it for hours. When he was 10, his father bought him a Martin tenor ukulele, and the first song his father taught him to play was "Poor People In Paris." As a teenager he stepped into Latin music and a lot of R&B in the 50's. All songs on this album are played on the steel string, except for the cut "50's Medley" and "Marori Brown Eyes." which are on the nylon string guitar. And speaking of "50's Medley," stretch that ear out and listen to the R&B and rock songs Bla produces. Bet you can hear "Silhouettes (On the Shade)," "Goodnight My Love" and "Can't Help Falling In Love (With You)."

Artist: Keltic Cowboys Album: "Keltic Cowboys" Label: Self-Produced For CD Sales: dwuichet@mindspring.com OR Davidson Wuichet (602) 829-7173 Reviewed By: G. Horstman Rating:

For a really different type of music, check out the "Keltic Cowboys" self-titled, self-produced debut album. Instead of "a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n roll," this album is a little bit Irish with a large sprinkling of country and a dash of rock 'n roll. With 13 tracks on the CD, there's a little bit of everything here - from down home country type tunes with an Irish twist, to Irish drinking songs with a country spin. There are ballads, toe tappers, reels and jigs, all played by a group of excellent musicians using a wide variety of instruments. A lot of violin, mandolin and accordion are accompanied by electric and classical guitar work, and of course, bagpipes. With the increasing interest in anything Celtic or Irish generated by "Riverdance" and "Lord Of The Dance," look for this genre and this band to start moving up in the ranks. See the review of their live show with "The Young Dubliners" under CONCERTS in this issue.

Artist: Genesis Album: "Shipwrecked" (single parts 1 and 2) Label: Virgin Reviewed By: Robert Lewis Rating:

As the second two-part single to come out of Europe in support of "Calling All Stations", Genesis has released "Shipwrecked", a pretty, but desolate song about an estranged relationship. Lyrically, "Shipwrecked" falls in line with the album's theme of loneliness and isolation, ("I'm helpless and alone, drifting out to sea, I can't believe what you said to me"). It's one of the better cuts on the album, even though it wasn't picked for the second single here in the states ("Not About Us" can be found floating around in small quantities at most record stores that carry CD singles). Like the first single, "Congo", the two-part packaging of this single is a marketing ploy to sell units, but still a treasure trove for collectors. Part two contains two otherwise unreleased instrumentals -- both sound like songs that were meant to have lyrics attached (nothing challenging like previous Genesis instrumentals), but ended up on the cutting room floor before the words could be penned. Nothing special there. The real collectible is in Part one which contains the first official live tracks featuring new lead singer Ray Wilson. Of greatest interest here is "Lovers Leap", the new guy's rendition of the opening of the 1972 epic "Suppers Ready". Wilson sounds chillingly like Peter Gabriel on this track -- so much so that it really made me do a double take. I would love to hear him do the whole 25 minute song, but I'm sure that's for another time! The other two live acoustic tracks came from the Phil Collins era and, while entertaining and well played, are not remarkable. As with "Congo," "Shipwrecked" parts one and two are mostly geared toward collectors, but it's a very good song and the bonus music is enough to make it worth the purchase price.

Artist: Mary Lou Lord Album: "Don't Cast No Shadow" Label: Work Reviewed By: Robert Lewis Rating:

When something clicks in the music world, people come out of the woodwork to emulate the 'winning style'. Such seems to be the case with artists like Mary Lou Lord. Coming in somewhere between light rock, country and folk, "Don't Cast No Shadow" just didn't do anything for me. Lord sounds like seemingly every other woman breaking onto the scene today. Her vulnerable-sounding, little-girlish voice is sweet, but there's no spark of life there to make it stand out from the endless sea of vulnerable, little-girlish voices out there. The music is accomplished -- she plays a pretty decent guitar, but again -- I find myself wondering just what is missing. There's nothing wrong with this CD, but there's nothing really right with it either.

Artist: The Lonely Bears Album: "The Best of the Lonely Bears" Label: Pelican Sound Recordings Reviewed By: Robert Lewis Rating:

You've probably never heard of "The Lonely Bears" before, so how can they have a 'Best of' CD? Well, this band, comprised of session greats Terry Bozzio, Tony Hymas, Tony Coe and Hugh Burns has been around for nearly a decade and has created three ground-breaking releases. Their music spans from free-form Jazz to Rock to funky World beats. "The Best of the Lonely Bears" is a compilation of the best music from the other three releases (which were only released in Europe). This is some really different, improvisational music that runs the gamut of styles. Moving from track to track, it's most impressive that this bunch can pull off so many different musical styles and influences. The diversity of the music really showcases the diverse tastes and abilities of the four musicians. Unfortunately however, little of this music can be considered mainstream. It's all instrumental and some of it is really out there. If you enjoy experimental music, I don't think you'll find much better quality than the likes of Bozzio, Hymas, Coe and Burns, but fair warning -- this is not music for the masses!

 

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