CD reviews: Baba Alimoot, Friends of Adam, The Green Band, Lorna Lim
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Appears the first Friday of each month
BABA ALIMOOT
Baba Alimoot
Traditional/contemporary Hawaiian
Hula Records
Baba Alimoot has a pliable, rollercoaster voice that can sashay from baritone to falsetto in a blink. A former Aloha Festivals Falsetto Contest winner, he previously recorded with Chris Kamaka as Hema Paa.
Overview: Alimoot's sweetness is spot-on for reinterpreting Island faves, including "Molokai Sweet Home," "Wahine Ui," "Makee Ailana," which gently showcases his range. He also adopts a pop hit, Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle," and revives Country Comfort's "It Doesn't Matter Anyhow."
Wayne Harada, Special to The Advertiser
3 stars
FRIENDS OF ADAM
Dust for Angels
Blues/rock
Light Works Recording
Friends of Adam channels the Brit blues of Cream, or perhaps The Who without acid. Curiously, these are Filipino buddies who have the power and panopoly of Jimi Hendrix with a skosh of Stevie Ray Vaughan for flavor.
Overview: Adam's astonishing apples are Clayton Campania (guitar), Ernie Ecraela (bass) and Justin Inocelda (drums). Campania wrote all the songs, so this is a journey into originality rooted in the landscape of hard core blues. You can feel the heat and the sweat, and share the festering sizzle on "Something on Your Mind," "Won't Cry for You" and "The Regret," which sound like old-time blues classics.
Wayne Harada, Special to The Advertiser
4 stars
THE GREEN BAND
The Green
Reggae/world
Sheehandsomedevil Records
The Green Band is the keenest thing to come down the music pike since, say, Kapena. No wonder "The Green" has been a quick favorite among listeners and CD buyers; it's loaded with heart and soul, sure to become evergreen.
Overview: The Green Band — Caleb Keolanlui (vocals) J.P. Kennedy (vocals, guitar, bass), Ikaika Antoine (keyboards, vocals) and Zion Thompson (vocals, guitar, percussion) — writes its own music, with style, vision and substance. There's plenty of invention, not imitation, which should propel The Green to the stratosphere reserved for few stars. "Runaway Train," "What Will Be, Will Be," "How Does It Feel?" point to seeds for a long career.
Wayne Harada, Special to The Advertiser
4 stars
LORNA LIM
Polinahe
Traditional Hawaiian
Palm Records
Lorna Lim is a seasoned North Kohala trouper and one of the luminaries from the Big Island's Lim Family (sisters Nani and Leialoha are respected kumu hula, brother Sonny is a leading slack-key guitarist). Thus, her vocal connections reflect the 'äina, 'ohana, hula and poignant memories of the past.
Overview: "Polinahe" is truly an expression of Lim's heart. The song selections pulsate with rhythms and nuances of life ("Hula O Makee," "Aloha No," "Lovely Hula Girl"). Intended to appeal to the hula community, "Polinahe" (she composed the title song with Wailau Ryder) has savory morsels for all to enjoy, thanks to Grammy-winning producer Charles Michael Brotman's clean tech work.
Wayne Harada, Special to The Advertiser
4 stars
