"Dennis Pavao, the late singer
with Hui 'Ohana and I Kona, possessed one of the Islands' most
admired falsetto voices. This collection updates some of his
treasured, never-before-released tracks, embellished with incredible
duet voices of Raiatea Helm (on "I Kona" and "Bora
Bora Nui") and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom ("Haleakala," "Ke
Kali Nei Au," "Ipo Lei Manu," "Hanalei
Moon," "Singing Bamboo?" and "Imi Au Ia
'Oe"). The companion female voices radiate with front-andicenter
freshness, with Pavao showing off his lower register; the concept,
of course, no longer is new — Natalie Cole made it fashionable
to add a current voice to tracks of a beloved loved one (in
her case, her late dad, Nat "King" Cole). Call it
an homage, call it exploitation, call it flattery; in the end,
it works. Bobby Ingano's steel-guitar work also ad
ds a layer
and measure of inspired brilliance — and Hawaiianess.
Marcus Johnson's bass work, notable on the fragile and eloquent "Makee
'Ailana," also should be acknowledged.
While an old "new" release by
Pavao would have been a welcome and joyful treasure for his
fans, the addition of the favored songbirds raises the appeal
a notch or two or three. Other instrumental tweaking simply
brings out the radiant hues of Pavao's voice, much in the manner
of a precious diamond reset to create a new sparkling ring.
Especially potent: "I Kona" and "'Imi Au Ia
'Oe."
Producer Trav Duro Jr. has augmented the
simplicity of Dennis Pavao's sound with a stable of respected
talents; this "collector series" release should reap
plenty of rewards and hurrahs from music fans, particularly
those devoted to Pavao's legacy."
Wayne Harada
-Courtesy Honolulu Advertiser
