‘Hi’ilawe’ on ‘Five-0’ collection hints at depth of island music [Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)]

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'Hawaii Five-0: Original Songs from the Television Series'

Various artists (CBS)

Network television series have been providing exposure for Hawaiian music and island entertainers ever since ABC/Warner Bros. Television launched "Hawaiian Eye" in 1959. (Fans of the genre know that with the exception of a few exterior scenes, "Hawaiian Eye" was shot at Warner Bros.' studios in Los Angeles and that the original "Hawaii Five-0" was the first series filmed here.)

Sterling Mossman and Arthur Lyman, who appeared in different episodes of "Hawaiian Eye," were the first to get network exposure on a dramatic series. Fast-forward 50 years and CBS' new "Hawaii Five-0" is making its own contribution to that tradition. Contemporary rock and reggae songs are predominant on this "songs from the television series" collection, but there are also two selections by Hawaii artists who represent distinctly different genres of local music.

Jake Shimabukuro, pictured, zips through "Ukulele Five-0," an original instrumental that is light and contemporary. John Cruz's recording of "Hi'ilawe" is a significant choice for several reasons. It brings to the album a type of traditional Hawaiian music that is less familiar to mainstream America but very important here. Mainlanders won't understand the lyrics or know what the song is about, nor will they appreciate Cruz's arrangement, but give the producers' credit for including it. (The website says "Hi'ilawe" will be heard on an upcoming episode.)

"Hi'ilawe" is followed by the final track, "Book 'Em, Danno (Suite from Hawaii Five-0 2010)," a contemporary pop instrumental that closes the album on a relaxing and introspective note.

www.hawaii50music.com

"Hawaii Five-0"

'Na Lani o Maui - Maui Skies'

James Kimo West (Westernmost)

Slack-key guitarist James Kimo West honors tradition while also doing his part to perpetuate it with this collection of 15 instrumentals. Eight are Hawaiian standards, six are originals and one is a pop hit from the '40s reworked as slack key.

Tunings are the foundation of slack key, and no slack-key album is complete without them.

West includes the tunings he used and also lists the changes he made in the basic tunings on individual songs.

"Hula Blues" has a bright and cheery mood that feels faithful to the era that produced it (Sonny Cunha and Johnny Noble wrote it in 1920). On "How'd Ya Do" he pays homage to slack-key icon Leland "Atta" Isaacs while putting his own spin on it. "Pua Lili Lehua" becomes a third highlight as West's playing brings forth the beauty of the melody and the textures of slack-key tunings.

"Chattanooga Choo Choo," renamed "Waimanalo Choo Choo" but identified in the credits as the Mack Gordon/Harry Warren hit of 1941, works surprising well as West takes slack key out of its original context. "All Jam Up," one of West's originals, is a zesty up-tempo number inspired by "freeway travel" in L.A.; it is another fine showcase for his strumming and picking.

www.jimkimowest.com

"Two Paniolos"

Credit: John Berger