Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 7, 1 July 2000 — ʻAleʻa hits home with debut CD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAleʻa hits home with debut CD

By Manu Boyd RYAN "GONZO" Gonzales, Kale Hannahs, Kala'i Stern and Chad Takatsugi are 'Ale'a, the up-and-coming quartet that already has two Mākaha Bashes, dozens of casual gigs and a CD under its belt. "Take Me Home" is an excellent debut recording that combines the best in Hawaiian and eontemporary trends. Meaning "sweet voiced," 'Ale'a works hard at their sound, whieh is a combination of intricately arranged vocals and instrumention that result from both formal study and kanikapila jams. The selections, originals and remakes, represent a good mix. The title cut, penned by the foursome, is a Cazimerolike anthem that yearns for Hawai'i. Among other English tracks are " Hapa Haole Hula Girl ofMy Dreams" by Stern, "You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three Tonight," " Lady In Red," " Baby Can I Hold You" and " Cupid ." But the feel of the project is definitely Hawaiian with old favorites, and a new composition by Julian Keikilani Ako, " Māpu Mau ke 'Ala." Mahi Beamer

joins the band on his grandmother's classic composition, " Kawohikūkapulani ," with trademark Beam-er-style piano. "Cowboy Medleyf whieh the combo victoriously performed several years ago at Ka Hīmeni 'Ana, j Richard Towill's I old-fashioned 1 singing contest, is Ē fresh, lively, per- M formed in clear 'ōlelo Hawai'i. *

Gonzo's banjo heightens the medlev's authenticitv. "Holo

Wa 'apā," Lena Machado's row boat song, is performed with her difficult melody, together with the simplified one that most perform today. 'Ale'a's performance

helps to preserve the integrity of the original melody. Group members hail from Kamehameha

B Schools, all class of 90-something, eaeh I with a connection to the institution's per- [ forming arts center, be it the orchestra, band, concert glee club or hula classes. Performing arts director, Randie K. Fong, acknowledged that many of Hawai'i's top

■ musicians ean trace their early training to ■ Kamehameha. "To Hawaiians, music is not I merely a discipline to be studied and execut- [ ed, but an instinctive medium of expression that provides social, ancestral and even spiritual connectedness. The fact that young people like 'Ale'a are still playing Hawaiian music today is an indicator that the Hawaiian culture is verv mueh alive and 2rowine. and that our

people are still culturally connected," he said. "Take Me Home" was Droduced bv Kata

Maduli of Mt. Kalihi Productions for Poki Records and Tropical Music ine. ■

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