wayneharada.com

To put it simply, attending a concert of a beloved entertainer is all about wanting and making memories to cherish forever.

This is a truism for Keali’l Reichel, the Maui singer-kumu hula, who took to the stage of Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki resort last night (Nov. 17) for the first of six performances through Sunday. It was a sellout, with elbow-to-elbow fellowship among his fans, a form and celebration likely to be repeated, with wholly different nuances and joy, for the next gallery of fans.

The pandemic has made him edgy, but eager to please. His format is casual yet captivating, as if the stage is his living room in his isolated digs on Maui, in a gated community, as he joked. But the gates are cattle gates, since his lifestyle and turf now includes cows, pigs and goats.

He dutifully announces every title of songs in his 90 minute serenade, but frankly, I don’t know his repertoire by heart and can recognize the melodies if I scour my collection of Reichel CDs to try to match and recap the musical memories. I sought a crib sheet, with proper titles listed, but either he didn’t get the memo or didn’t deem it necessary, and if it’s OK with him, it’s OK with me to reflect on this stellar exercise in memory-making. You don’t need a steward to skipper the ship of titles, so consider this a recap of a night I’ll not easily forget.

One quick reason to adore this relatable show: it was full of surprises and antics.

His first song was “I’ll Be There,” in English, with a complementary Hawaiian mele, “E O Mai,” but apologies if I misstated the title. Stylistically, the separate melodies matched each other, a format he seemed to use a couple of times. But as stated, I’ve not been on top of his catalogue, so I’m writing this piece around the titles.

For one of two hana hous, Reichel did an a cappella rendering of “Wanting Memories,” from his debut “Kawaipanahele” CD, tapping one musical for the deep-voiced bass doom-doom tones, and two vocal associates to provide three-part harmonies with him.

You know this ditty, with these opening lyrics he composed:

“I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me,
“To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes.
“I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me,
“To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes.”

Minus amplification, it’s a perfect song for recollection, for flashbacking, for embracing.

“Wow, Thursday,” he commented upon taking the stage. “A packed house!”

It had been more than a year when he did the Blue Note,  so he did the obvious: update his age (60), that his newly completed Maui home has a flush toilet and water catchment,  even it is 90 minutes of drive time to Wailuku.

He’s a frisky 60, and dapper in a black T-shirt worn with tan trousers, with strands of earth-toned shells around his neck; he had diamond earrings on each lobe, and bracelets around both wrists. A gold ring was on his third finger left hand. And famously, he’s still performing barefooted.

As usual, he has the support of Halau Ke‘alaokamaile to animate his Hawaiian mele with hula, in alternating numbers, from 7 to 3 to 2 to 1, depending on need. The women are all immaculately dressed in hula outfits of brilliant hues, and he made a declaration at one point that if anyone who has the notion to dance without an invite, need only to show up, and one wahine did just that. Again, apologies; no name, but she created new memories for herself, for Reichel, and for the spectators, with such animated expression.

There were novelties, like Pua Nogelmeier’s “Nematoda,” about those unwanted critters in the garden, and that game-based mele about holding your breath as long as you can, as the setting sun kisses the ocean goodnight.

Atmospheric beauts written for his grandma or for Disney Aulani (“Hei Lei No ‘Aulani”) were other tunes in the hopper.

The bottom line: Reichel’s voice exudes tenderness, is comforting and expressive, and clearly is dusted with heartwarming sincerity.

Like his last show, he neglected to program “Kawaipunahele,” the singular tune that put him on the map, but who’s to quibble? We all can revert to the CD and give it a spin for old time’s sake.

Reichel performs again at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Friday Nov. 18 and Saturday Nov. 19 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday Nov. 20 at Blue Note.

Tickets: $85 and $125, costlier than his previous performances, but be aware of highly inflated prices at certain websites. Reservations: www.bluenotehawaii.com or (808) 777-4890. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

Cellist Brian Webb, one of the original members of the indie-pop group, Streetlight Cadence, has exited the band, after 13 years of on-street singing, recordings, online videos and club gigs here and abroad.

Of his departure, he said, “I am leaving Starlight Cadence and I do so freely and without any issues, tensions or conflicts with current or past members. I adore this community, what it’s meant to people, what it’s given me and other members, and I am so grateful to all of you for your support over the years.

“I hope you’ll continue looking out for my brothers (and now sister!) in arms. Please, please, please continue to answer the call when the next Kickstarter arises or when they re-push for their Patreon.”

Webb had been a founding member of Streetlight, along with violinist Jonathon Franklin, and accordionist/foot percussionist Jesse Shiroma. Franklin remains the lone original musician, since Shiroma is on academic leave, seeking a graduate  degree in library studies at the University of Hawaii.  Ben Chai is current banjoist, though not a ground-floor original, and Clara Stegall is now the lone woman in the band, a guitarist.

No word on who will replace him. …

Wild about Harry

With little fanfare, Prince Harry marked Remembrance Day last Friday with an appearance at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

The  Duke of Sussex toured the USS Arizona Memorial, the resting place of more than 1,100 crew members who were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Harry donned a navy suit accentuated with a red poppy pinned to his jacket lapel. The poppy has been a tradition to commemorate wartime  military members who have died in war.

Island keyboarder Don Conover, who happened to be touring the Arizona, described Harry friendly and kind. “He kind of approached us,” Conover told People magazine. “I moved out of his way because he’s royalty; I figured I’d let him do his thing. He basically gave me a greeting.

“He was very respectful and courteous and nice. I moved out of his way, and he kind of patted me on the back and said, ‘You’re all good mate.’ It was a simple interaction, but he was very nice and courteous and respectful.”

Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, also released an official statement on their Veterans Day/Remembrance Day appearance. She posted on the Archewell website,

“We honor service members across the world. These brave men and women, as well as their families, have made tremendous sacrifices and embody duty and service.”…

Lifetime achievers

The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts’  2022 Lifetime Achievement Awards luncheon will be held from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Monarch Room.

Inductees are:

• Dr. Randie Kamuela Fong.
• Cecilia Mona Joy Lum.
• George Kahumoku.
• Jim Linkner.
• Glen Smith.

Other key awards to be presented:

• Krash Kealoha Industry Award, to the Hawaii County Band and the Kamaka Ukulele ‘Ohana.
• The Legacy Recognition Award, to Ka‘iulani Martin.

Tickets are available at www.harahawaii.com. …

Broadway grosses, week ending Nov. 13

The ranking of the top three shows on Broadway has been staple recently. Meaning, “The Music Man” grossed $2.926 million, a skosh short of $3 million.

“Hamilton” is at a steady No. 2, with $2.039.

And “MJ” has been a reliable player, with $1.815 million.

The list here is courtesy The Broadway League…

And that’s Show Biz. …

It’s not yet widely announced, but “Magnum P.I” – discontinued by CBS after season four, but picked up by NBC for an abbreviated season five – will return to prime time 8 p.m. Sundays, beginning Feb. 19.

Thus, fans hoping for a mid-season welcome will get their wishes come true.

Sure, it will be a downsized season five, with only 10 episodes, but “Magnum” surely will make an impact.

The series, which has been filming here the past few months, is ready for its closeup amid the Peacock network’s roster of serials.

The show stars Jay Hernandez (Thomas Magnum), Perdita Weeks (Juliet Higgins), Zachary Knighten (Rick Wright),  Stephen Hill (Theodore “TC” Calvin)  Tim Kang (Detective Gordon Katsumoto ) and Amy Hill (Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta). …

Miranda signed to Disney+ ‘Percy’

Lin-Manual Miranda will be heading to Mount Olympus, playing Hermes, in. Disney+’s new “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series.

Miranda, who is part of a creative stable of artists at the Mouse House, certainly will enhance the cast of the streaming show, which is adapted from Rick Riordan’s series of “Percy Jackson” books that also was a Broadway musical, “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.” The musical had a brief run on the Great White Way, and a 60-minute version now is on a national tour.

The Jackson title character is a 12-year-old youth who discovers he is a demi-god and the son of Poseidon. The TV streamer will begin filming this summer in Canada. The series, comprising eight episodes, is set for the 2024 season.

Miranda’s earlier ties with Disney originated when his hit musical, “Hamilton,” was streamed under the Disney banner. His other Disney gigs include his role in the “Mary Poppins” sequel and the popular “Encanto” Disney+ series that featured a popular breakout tune, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which wound up at No. 1 on the pop music charts.

Miranda, the creator of two Broadway hit shows, “Hamilton” and “In the Heights,” is attached to the Kander and Ebb musical, “New York, New York,” creating new lyrics, based on the 1977 film, transiting into a new Broadway musical opening on March 24, 2023, at the St. James Theatre. …

Slack key fest in Seattle

The 14h Annual Seattle Slack Key Festival, set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 13), will be staged at the. Dusty Strings Music Store & School at 33406 Fremont Ave. N, in Seattle, Wash.

With the late Cyril Pahinui as the inspiration, the event will feature numerous ”names,” including Jerry Santos, Kamuela Kimokeo, Jeff Peterson, Kunia Galdeira, Sonny Lim, and Patrick Landeza. Honolulu emcees will be Rhonda Burk and Braddah Gomes, with Hula Halau Pulamahiaikelikolehua participating. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

Six musicians will join existing Kalapana members in a two-night tribute to the popular island band. The gig is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 8) and Nov. 9 at Blue Note Hawaii, at the Outrigger Waikiki resort. And it should be heavy with memories and hurrahs.

According to Gaylord Holomalia, who has diligently performed with the band over the past decades, as well as shepherding the act’s legacy, these musicians will join Holomalia and Kenji Sano:

• Todd Yukumoto, saxophone.
• Stacey Tangonan, drums.
• John Valentine, acoustic guitar and vocals.
• Alden Levi, acoustic guitar and vocals.
• Jordan Kealoha Yamanaka, guest vocalists on two Mackey Feary hits.
• Nate Brown, electric guitar.

Doors open at 5 p.m, for dinner and drink service. Tickets: $45 and $35. According to the Blue Note website, the first of the two shows is sold out.

Kalapana has been a beloved and prolific band for nearly 50 years. The journey has been a bumpy ride, however, with unexpected deaths impacting the fan base.

The key members who connected with fans here, on the Mainland, and in Japan, are all deceased: Mackey Feary, Malani Bilyeu and DJ Pratt. Their gift to their fans is the illuminating catalogue of music — including such hits as “Naturallly,” “The Hurt,” “You Make It Hard,” and “Night Bird” — which have provided a vital soundscape of growing up in Hawaii.

Professional musicians, like the ones sitting in with Holomalia (a keyboard who also is a wizard of engineering in the studio) and Sano (recruited from Japan), are all familiar with the Kalapana songbook since the pop island band emerged in the era of Cecilio and Kapono and left its imprint in their music. …

Theater notes

Two island theater groups have announced casts for its new shows.

Kumu Kahua’s revival of Jon Shirota’s “Lucky Come Hawaii,” will play Nov. 9 through Dec. 4 at Kumu Kahua.

The comedy, set in wartime Hawaii, examines a time when a precarious balance exists between American GIs, local Japanese, and West Maui Okinawans. When Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japanese, martial law was imposed in the islands,  and the old world clashed with the new, with friction galore, until love and acceptance calmed the world.

The cast features Denise-Aiko Chinen (Tsuyu Gusuda), Andrew Chow (Tengan), Brandon Hagio (Kenyei Shiroma), Stu Hirayama (Kama Gusuda), Kirk Lapilio Jr. (Bob Weaver),  Devon Nekoba (Ikehara-San, Understudy: Kama Gusuda, Narrator and Ishi), Marcus R. Oshiro (Narrator, Ishi), Thomalin Sirivattha (Kimiko Gusuda), Noah Kai Nalu Schuetz (Howard Specks), Cori Matsuoka (Understudy: Tsuyu Gusuda and Kimiko Gusuda).

Tickets: $24 to $45. Call: (808) 536-4441 or visit  kumukahua.org

Manoa Valley Theatre’s “The Game’s Afoot,” a comedy by Ken Ludwig, will run Nov.  17 to Dec. 4. It is a hilarious  mix of murder and mystery, with lots of mayhem, so the show is properly subtitled “Holmes for the Holidays.” It’s set in Connecticut on Christmas Eve, as acclaimed 1930s actor William Gillette invites his Sherlock Holmes co-stars to his eccentric mansion but  one of his guests is murdered..

The cast features Mathias Maas as William Gillette, Betty Bolton as Martha Gillette, Adrian Khactu as Felix Geisel, Therese Olival as Madge Geisel, Noah Bilinski as Simon Bright, Rachel League as Aggie Wheeler, Ashley Litz as Inspector Goring, Courtney Booth as Daria Chase, Alexandria Holloway as Radio Broadcaster.

Tickets: $24 to $44. Call (808) 988-6131 or visit www.manoavalleytheatre.com …

Broadway grosses, for week ending Oct. 30

Not surprisingly, the top banana on Broadway continues to be “The Music Man,” which grosses $2.716 million.

Close, but no banana: “Hamilton,” with $1.947million, and “MJ,” with $1.810 million.

The compilation, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz. …