Category: Music

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KEVIN I.: LOVE VOICE FOR ALL SEASONS

The arrival this week of “My Continuum,”  a five-tune EP chockful of romantic ballads, reintroduces veteran singer Kevin I. to the world (and maybe Hawaii, too).

It probably should have been released  to coincide with Valentine’s, because it’s the traditional season for love songs. Feb. 14, after all, is when the world focuses on romance, and surely, Kevin’s new CD, will lure his international audience. FYI, Feb. 14 happens to be Kevin’s birthday.

The  availability prior to Halloween means listening treats, not tricks.

And with Christmas in December approaching, it’s not a bad idea to get the EP charted for holiday gift-buying.

Hmmm, so “My Continuum” should be a collection for all seasons, all-year round.

Let me tell you the whys:

Kevin had been one of Honolulu’s favored balladeers during the ‘70s through ‘90s;  he sang solo, in hotel club shows, as well as with a dance group as a featured singer. His recordings were heard on local radio, too.

Then he abandoned his entertainment career for the next forty years, becoming an esteemed pioneer of executive and business travel, as a speaker and  an author of business travel, marketing and events.

As fate would have it, Kevin retired from his biz endeavors and focused on sharing his vintage tunes with followers across the globe – the Spotify crowd – triggering a second career minus the live concerts but a new EP laden with what his global fans favored: love tunes.

Under guidance from new mentor-producer Lance Jyo, Kevin clearly curated a roster of new material: two that he co-wrote with Jyo, and three others that Jyo co-authored.  All songs should attract his legion of fans, and I confess, if these tunes were on a roulette spin, all will would have winning appeal.

I adore ballads, so “The Love You Give (To Me)” reflects the kind of powerful gift for a crooner – deliberate, enduring, satisfying delivery, plus soothing lyrics. The song is constructed with cadence and care, perfect for Kevin’s style.

“Shine” features multi-tracking of voices, sounding like a chorus without overdoing it. However, the 5:08 length – long, by radio standards – might limit air time.

“My Forever Love” – also with the spirit of commitment — is yet another resourceful introduction to those who’ve yet to know Kevin’s engaging style. Could become the biggie of the bunch.

 “Can’t Get Back the Time” lyrically explores the value off embracing time in life, since it is elusive and disappears, with gentle piano accompaniment.

“The Last Goodbye” is a sweet departure ballad, exploring another element of romance.

Finally, for all the years I’ve known Kevin and reviewed him in concerts and on LPs and CDs, he’s never sounded this contagious perfection and glowing with amour and assurance. “The Continuum” could jumpstart an appearance on one stage or two, notably in foreign markets waiting to discover Kevin I. in the flesh. P.S: He’d welcome earning more Polaris bookings for his United treks around the world.

Think about it…

And that’s Show Biz…

Also visit: http:kevin-i.com

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PERPETUATING THE KAMAE LEGACY

Myrna Kamae, widow of the prolific and legendary Hawaiian music singer-composer Eddie Kamae, will oversee a mahalo celebration to close one chapter and launch another to propel and perpetuate the legacy of Eddie and his role in the Sons of Hawaii.

An invitational event will be staged from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 11) at the Waikiki Yacht Club, to mark the progress and importance of documenting Eddie’s music with his Sons of Hawaii, and herald the partnership of the couple’s Hawaiian Legacy Foundation with the University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus.

Eddie Kamae, singer-musician-filmmaker.

There will be food and beverage, plus music by the Sons of Hawaii.

“Our work is already being curated and digitalized at UH West Oahu,” Myrna said in a statement. “Much of it (resources) is now available online at ‘Ulu‘ulu: The Henry Guigni Moving Image Archive,’ and will soon be available at the Campbell Library as well.

“Eddie’s goal was always to ensure that the music lives on, and that our kupuna are honored.”

Myrna Kamae.

The Kamaes – Eddie was the principal singer-composer and filmmaker with the Sons of Hawaii, Myrna is a composer in her own right – were inspired to support the wisdom of their elders, following the advice of Eddie’s mentor, Pilahi Paki, who once told him ‘Do it now, for soon there will be no more,” referring to the mission of maintaining cultural identity and integrity,

Between 1988 and 2011, the Kamaes created and produced 10 award-winning documentary films on notable Hawaiian voices, and since Eddie’s death at age 89 on Jan. 7, 2017, the Kamae foundation completed a free online songbook of 34 of Eddie’s favorite melodies.

 In the years to come, Myrna and her team anticipate that the Kamae films will be available for free on YouTube, with more highlights already posted on Facebook, Instagram and TikToc. Viewership already has reached four million.

Myrna is hopeful that the Kamae Endowment will continue to grow to ensure support and finances for student internships, scholarships and faculty grants to encourage scholars, musicians and educators will build bridges and embrace the projects…

Busy-ness parody has risks

Comedian Frank DeLima continues to be creative from Las Vegas, his home since his retirement last January. It’s great, but there can be risks.

Frank DeLima

No, not active in the performance realm, but in doing musical parodies about crisis or funny elements in life in paradise.

His latest, to the tune of “I Feel Pretty” from “West Side Story,” is an homage to the popularity of Michael W. Perry and the Posse of KSSK Radio. Why not? The station is almost always first to air each parody and regularly welcomed its studios or live broadcasts for anything new in DeLima’s comedic life.

The problem with his newest is obvious: DeLima won’t get much airplay or endorsement from any other broadcast media. Thus, it’s the least effective of his efforts.

The premise is busy-ness of one and all from the Perry team, from sidekick Jimmy Da Geek to news anchor Mandy Suganuma to project honcho Sweetie Pacarro.

The lyrics lack LOL humor, too. About Perry, DeLima opines, he’s “such a busy voice, busy brain, busy heart”  and everyone is “busier than the busiest bee.”  Hmmmm.

Because he’s no longer physically part of the Honolulu/Hawaii community,  it’s a stretch to find humor or engage hot buttons here. Clearly, he’s itching to share his laughs and usual lunacy. Sorry, Frank – nice try but you can’t fake it.

“Ya gotta know the territory.”  It’s a truism  from the stage musical, “The Music Man.”

FYI: the formatting of this column does not allow music videos. For a listen, visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wayne.harada.5 …

Broadway returns to a normal pace

A sense of normalcy has been the tone of the Broadway scene.

“Hamilton” again is the week’s winner, but “Wicked” is steady at Nol. 2, followed by “The Lion King” returning to No. 3.

The Top 10:

1—”Hamilton,” $3.743 million

2—”Wicked,” $2.054 million

3–“The Lion King,” $1.930 million

4—”Waiting for Godot,” $1.865 million

5—”Mamma Mia!,” $1.613 million

6—”ART,” $1.492 million

7—”Just in Time,” $1.338 million

8—”Death Becomes Her,” $1,311 million

9—”MJ the Musical,” $1.254 million

10—”Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.181 million

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

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SHARI, MARY IN A YULE DELIGHT

Songstress buddies Shari Lynn and Mary Gutzi will co-star in a Christmas one-nighter Dec. 13 at The Actors Group (TAG).

The damsels,  who normally deliver ditties from Broadway and The Great American Songbook, will focus on holiday melodies, with a probability of a jazz title or two thrown in as a holiday gift.

Shar Lynn

The performance is dubbed “It’s Delightful, It’s DeLovely, It’s December.”

Showtimes will be at 4 and 7 p.m., at the Brad Powell Theatre, so you can’t  rightfully call this a one-nighter, since one show is a matinee, the finale is in the evening.

The notion of Shari and Mary doing something, someday, and some place together resulted in the forthcoming performances at TAG. Definitely, a debonair, dashing and dear deliverance.

Mary Gutzi

The reliable and responsible Jim Howard will provide the music on his keyboards.

A sell-out – or two sell-outs — is likely, though ticket sales have not yet begun. The Iwilei theater has 54 seats, so early reservations are suggested.

Tickets: $50; includes complimentary wine bar and snacks in the adjacent mall.

Information: TAG at (808) 722-6941…

‘Godot’  debuts at 3rd place

A revival of “Waiting for Godot,” co-starring Hawaii native Keanu Reeves and real-life friend Alex Winter, made its debut at third place in its first week at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway. “Clearly, celebrities mean great ticket sales. Not surprisingly, “Hamilton” held onto No. 1 for the week ending Sept. 21.

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, in “Waiting for Godot.”

The Top 10:

1—”Hamilton,” $3.598 million

2—”Wicked,” $2.005 million

3—” Waiting for Godot,” $1.820 million

4—”The Lion King, $1.777 million

5—”Mamma Mia!,” $1.608 million

6–“Death Becomes Her,” $1.387 million

7—”Just In Time,” $1.331 million

8—” Oh, Mary!,” $1.3000 million

9—“MJ the Musical,” $1.282 million

10—“Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.228  million

The full list of Broadway grosses, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

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NICOLE SINGS FOR JERRY AT AULANI

Jerry Santos knew that Hawaii’s Nicole Scherzinger was a celebrity of note.

“Her performance and acceptance speech at (this year’s) Tony Awards really blew me away,” he said.

Imagine, then, when the star of London’s and Broadway’s “Sunset Boulevard,”  showed up on a recent Tuesday evening, when Santos and his partner in music, Kamuela Kimokeo, were doing their gig at Disney’s Aulani resort.

“Apparently, some of her ‘ohana work at the Aulani, and they were having a family gathering to celebrate her being home,” said Santos.

Kamuela Kimokeo, Nicole Scherzinger and Jerry Santos at Disney’s Aulani resort.

“Getting to meet her was an honor,” he said of the former leader of the Pussycat Dolls, now a certified global celebrity. “I was truly touched by what a sweet, humble spirit she is.”

Scherzinger acquiesced to her family’s urging to sing a song. ‘I was just hoping we could play for her,” he said.

Then the surprises unfolded, one by one.

“What a lovely surprise to find that she knew who I was (surprise No. 1) and said she’d like to sing my song (“E Kuu Home O Kahalu‘u,” surprise No. 2). “To hear my words coming to me from that beautiful voice was such a gift (surprise No. 3). “I can understand why people love her” (surprise No. 4, but come on, why?)

Scherzinger knew the lyrics to Santos’ trademark Olomana hit, which made him a household name, and perhaps another surprise might’ve been how he could play the melody, but why not? Most fans can sing the song by heart, and clearly, she has been a fan from way back, possibly before she became a stellar stage trouper.

The fact, too, that she would sing his song,  and not one of hers, was a certification of her generosity. After all, this was his gig, his turf, his own moment of celebrity.

What is astounding is that Santos and Kimokeo – who’ve been performing at the Disney resort since it opened in  2011 – deserve to play before local and visiting listeners  beyond the Mickey Mouse venue. But Waikiki properties are not known for hiring and supporting talent, like the bygone era when every major hotel had a showroom, and most gave island acts time and space to perform in lounges and in bars. Not so today.

So folks like Santos augment their livelihood with one-nighters, like the recent Henry Kapono Foundation’s fundraising gala, and Molokai’s Kulaia event this Saturday, a street festival for Na Wahine O Ke Kai,  plus an upcoming slack key festival Oct. 18 in Seattle.

“Just doing the fun stuff when they come,” he said of his show scheduling.

“I’m old; it’s more than enough,” Santos said. OK, he’s a senior citizen still possessing the gift of mele, and he should be in the limelight more regularly in venues frequented by locals. He had a secure Friday-Saturday gig at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for 25 years, but management changes put the skids on his casual kanikapila shows for locals and visitors…

Here, there, everywhere

Got to say hello, and renew ties, with retired Broadway conductor Bob Billig, at a performance of “Come From Away” at the Diamond Head Theatre. He has resettled in Hawaii again with husband Richard Vida, who is executive director Ballet Hawaii.

Bob Billig

Vida was in New York earlier this month and Billig – who conducted “Les Miserables” in early times on Broadway — was Mainland-bound, too, to oversee and supervise the music for the forthcoming Kander-Ebb musical,” “Chicago,” which will be at the Blaisdell Concert Hall Dec. 2 to 7.

I recall seeing Billig once when he was conducting “Chicago” on Broadway. The maestro and ork were positioned on stage rather than in the pit, for the revival that’s still running, and it’s been a great tactic since the evergreen became the new rage for singers, dancers and audiences alike.

Billig won’t be conducting “Chicago” here – the show is the finale in the Broadway in Hawaii series…

Trees trigger letter-writing

Poet Frances Kakugawa, formerly of Pahoa and Honolulu and now a Sacramento resident, is a prolific author and an occasional letter-to-the-editor writer.

“I’ve had three letters published,’ she said of her words, aligned in a poem, and recently printed in the New Your Times. Yes, thrice is nice.

Her submission dealt with a recent NYT feature story, by Dodai

Stewart (with photographs by Alex Kent),

about some of the magnificent, giant, angled, and aging specimens on New York’s fabled roster of trees.

Here’s her poem, accepted as a passionate response to the wonderful piece on the city’s greatest trees.

‘I SEE YOU’

I see you.

Put that saw away.

You will not use my sisters and brothers

To fill your bank account

With Real Estate towers.

I see you.

Put that saw down.

Look up at my glory,

Home to hundreds of life

More than you can accommodate

In your blue-printed home of destruction.

See me.

Before it is too late.

— FRANCES KAKUGAWA, SACRAMENTO

Tree-mendous submission, Fran!

And that’s Show Biz…

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CAZIMERO’S ‘HAWAIIAN SOUVENIRS’

Robert Uluwehi Cazimero, veteran entertainer and award-winning kumu hula, will celebrate five decades of music and hula with an unprecedented two-part event, “My Hawaiian Souvenirs,” next month.

Cazimero, the unparalleled creator of Hawaiian mele, chants and ‘olelo via popular recordings and performances, will showcase the history of his incredible and indelible accomplishments over the past 50 years.

Robert Cazimero at the keyboard ; he’s marking his 50th anniversary.

He’ll share the limelight and journey with a treasure chest of familiar vocals and instrumentals with his award-winning  hula institution, Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua.

Reflecting on his journey through song and dance, Cazimero said, ”I thank my parents (William Ka’aihue Cazimero, Sr. and Elizabeth Kapeka Meheula) for nurturing us, for my voice, and especially for giving us a great work ethic and appreciation of music.”

Maiki Aiu Lake

“As far as dance is concerned, I would be nothing without Maiki. That’s a given.” Maiki, of course, is his visionary kumu hula Maiki Aiu Lake, whose inspired teachings have made a lasting impact on his own stewardship of his own halau.

The two shows will be a recapitulation, laced with memories and reflection, and will tap several eras of Cazimero’s artistry,  including the years when Robert was part of the duo The Brothers Cazimero with his late brother, Roland Cazimero, as an award-winning Na Hoku Hanahano Award-winning act, and as the kumu of Halau Na Kamalei, a two-time winner of the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival.

Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, in a May Day concert at Bishop Museum.

The riches of songs and dances could not fit in a single show, so hence the two-fer format. The pair of concerts will be staged at what has emerged as Cazimero’s and Na Kamalei’s key venue, the Leeward Community Theatre at Leeward Community College in Pearl City.

The fund-raising concerts, with separate admissions, will be presented by the Wahea Foundation,  one in the evening, the other in the afternoon:

  • Act 1 will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct.11.
  • Act 2 will be  at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct.12.

“Putting the shows together for October? Tough!,” he said. “Lots of material to choose from, trying to make old things new and exciting again? Trippy! But talking story with people every day helps the creativity flow. Gotta love it.”

The Brothers Cazimero, with Robert and bro Roland.

Roland was an innovative musical gem, who learned how to command the upright bass and guitar, creating a splendid niche for his rock and folk destinations inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Crosby, Stills & Nash; he taught his pianist-kumu hula brother how to perform on upright bass, an instrument Robert has shelved as a solo musician-singer since Roland’s passing.

Robert’s diversity has been evident in such mammoth spectacles as May Day at the Waikiki Shell and Bishop Museum, holiday concerts in the round at the Blaisdell Arena, a career-high gig at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and private parties at Mahi Beamer’s home in Malaekahana.

His hula milestones include the big wins in his first and final Merrie Monarch competitions, in 1976 and in 2025.

The contents of the October  shows have not been revealed, but will embrace the Cazimero style of staging, incorporating drama, comedy and storytelling skills and usually with guest artists from the vast circle of Cazimero-Na Kamalei supporters.

Tickets are $100, available at www.waheafoundation.org

*  *. *

Also, another round of “merry” shows is coming up in December, when Cazimero unwraps his annual holiday gift of Christmas serenades at Chef Chai’s.

Robert at Chef Chai’s: Christmas shows in December.

He’ll be at the piano as usual, at 6:30 p.m Dec. 16 to 20. The performance customarily runs for 60 to 90 minutes, but if the champagne glasses are filled, again and again, the show could be extended.

The usual dinner service from 5:30 p.m. will precede the shows. Space is limited, so reserve seats early. Price will be $125 per person.

Reservations: (808) 585-0011…

And that’s Show Biz…