Smooth Island Jazz Lēʻahi Liner Notes
1 – When the Morning Comes featuring Kirk Thompson & Volcano Choy
Written by: Daryl Hall Musicians: Kirk Thompson – Piano, Volcano Choy – Trumpet, David Choy – Alto Sax, Bobo Butires – Congas, Reggie Griffin – Tenor Sax, Guitar, Electric Piano, Bass, Drum Programming & Vocals.
Smooth Island Jazz Lē‘ahi dawns with the classic Kalapana song “When The Morning Comes,” featuring Kalapana’s original keyboard player, Kirk Thompson on piano, joined by Volcano Choy on trumpet and brother David Choy on alto sax. Remembered originally as a hit by Hall and Oates in 1973, the song was later given an Island feeling by Kalapana, became its own in 1986 and now has been given new life by veteran producer and arranger Reggie Griffin.
2 – I Will Be There (We Are ‘Ohana) featuring Nadia Deleye
Written by: Michael Ruff Musicians: Nadia Deleye – Vocals, Bryan Kessler – Lead Guitar, Rayford Griffin – Drums, Bobo Butires – Congas & Timbales, Reggie Griffin – Soprano Sax, Guitar, Keyboards, Bass & Vocals.
Lending a voice to island composer Michael Ruff’s composition “I Will Be There” (We Are ‘Ohana) is Nadia Deleye, featured with the Hawaiian Style Band when it debuted the song in 1995. Nadia is not only an accomplished singer but an actress as well, with stage and television credits including “Diff’rent Strokes” and “Mr. Belvedere.” Bryan Kessler, a founding member of the Hawaiian Style Band, is featured on lead guitar and producer Reggie Griffin’s brother Rayford is on drums.
3 – Floating On The Wind (Diamond Head Sunset) featuring Abe Lagrimas Jr. Written by: Reggie Griffin Musicians: Abe Lagrimas Jr. – ‘Ukulele, Bobo Butires – Percussion, Reggie Griffin – Soprano Sax, Guitar, Keyboards & Bass.
An original composition and new release exclusive to Smooth Island Jazz Lēʻahi, “Diamond Head Sunset” (Floating on the Wind) teams Griffin with Abe Lagrimas Jr. on ‘ukulele and Bobo Butires on percussion. Lagrimas won acclaim for his debut jazz album Dimensions. Butires was featured on the 1998 Ho‘onu‘a album “Feel Good Island Music” and often teams up with Sean Na‘auao, Fiji and Zanuck Kapala Lindsey.
4 – Island Romance featuring Reggie Griffin
Written by: Reggie Griffin Musician: Reggie Griffin all instruments.
Another original composition and new release exclusive to Smooth Island Jazz Lē‘ahi, “Island Romance” is the perfect accompaniment to that Sunday morning cup of Kona coffee, displaying Griffin’s adept arranging skills and performance on all instruments.
5 – Tengoku Kara Kaminari (Thunder from Heaven)
Written by: Chucky Boy Chock Musicians: Fred Shreuders – Intro & Rhythm ‘Ukulele, Abe Lagrimas Jr. – ‘Ukulele Solo, Reggie Griffin – Tenor Sax, Guitar, Keyboards, Drum Programming & Vocals.
Chucky Boy Chock wrote a catchy little tune that was recorded by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo‘ole in 1995 in homage to sumo legends Akebono, Musashimaru and Konishiki called, “Tengoku Kara Kaminari,” literally translated from Japanese, (Thunder from Heaven). Fred Schreuders and Lagrimas are both featured on ‘ukulele with Lagrimas doing solo honors. Add Griffin’s sax work to that and you’ve got a sound as large as the subjects of the song.
6 – Live a Little (Hawaiian Style) featuring Robi Kahakalau & Bryan Kessler
Written by: Wade Cambern Musicians: Robi Kahakalau – Vocals, Bryan Kessler – Lead Guitar, Volcano Choy – Trumpet, Bobo Butires – Congas & Percussion, Reggie Griffin – Alto Sax, Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Drum Programming.
Some of the original players on the Hawaiian Style Band’s 1992 hit “Live a Little” (Hawaiian Style) team up again for a smooth island treatment of Wade Cambern’s composition: vocals from Robi Kahakalau and lead guitar by Bryan Kessler. We can’t help but sing along as Griffin carries the melody on alto sax with Volcano Choy back on trumpet.
7 – Friends featuring Moon Brown
Written by: Henry Ka‘aihue Musicians: Moon Brown – Alto Sax, Fred Schreuders – Lead Guitar, Rayford Griffin – Drums, Bobo Butires – Congas & Percussion, Reggie Griffin – Tenor Sax, Guitar, Keyboards & Bass.
Moon Brown is familiar to fans of the first volume of Smooth Island Jazz – “Mokoli‘i” – and has never sounded better than with some smooth alto sax vocals on a song known by anybody who has spent more than fifteen minutes in Hawai‘i, Henry Kapono’s “Friends.” Here, Moon is joined by his group Moons Landing.
8 – Sun Goddess featuring Rodney Franklin & David Choy
Written by: Maurice White & Jonathan Lind Musicians: Rodney Franklin – Piano, David Choy – Alto Sax, Volcano Choy – Trumpet, Maelan Abran – Vocals, Rayford Griffin – Drums, Bobo Butires – Congas & Percussion, Reggie Griffin – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Bass & Vocals.
In the mid-1970s, Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire penned a tune called “Sun Goddess” that became a band hit, as well as White’s former boss Ramsey Lewis, whose trio gave it more fame.
This time veteran jazz pianist Rodney “the groove” Franklin, with David Choy on sax, along with his brother Volcano Choy on trumpet, give this song perhaps the smoothest treatment ever!
9 – Maui Hawaiian Sup’pa Man featuring Benny Rietveld & Rayford Griffin
Written by: Del Beazley Musicians: Benny Rietveld – Bass, Rayford Griffin – Drums, Bobo Butires – Timbales & Congas, Reggie Griffin – Flute, Sax, Guitar & Keyboards.
Another Island son whose career in 1983 swept him into the upper 48 big time, Benny Rietveld, plays amazing bass guitar on Del Beazley’s “Maui Hawaiian Sup‘pa Man.” From Benny’s start at the University of Hawai‘i, it wasn’t long before his talents were discovered by Miles Davis in 1988. After touring with Davis for two years, Benny joined Santana in 1990. IZ fans were introduced to the song on his 1993 Gold album, Facing Future.
10 – E Ala Ē
Written by: Keali‘i Reichel & Frank Fitzpatrick Musicians: Fred Schreuders – Lead Guitar, Reggie Griffin – Soprano Sax, Flute, Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Drum Programming, Congas & Vocals.
The love theme from the soundtrack of the 1998 independent film “Lani Loa,” perhaps the coolest smooth jazz arrangement of a pure Hawaiian song, is Griffin’s treatment of “E Ala Ē,” translated from Hawaiian literally means “to awaken or to rise.” Fred Schreuders on lead guitar takes the melody and weaves it into a soothing, yet rhythmic, lei.
11 – Hula Maiden featuring Maelan Abran
Written by: Carlos Andrade Musicians: Maelan Abran – Vocals, Moon Brown – Alto Sax, Gary Washburn – Keyboards, Gheeza McGhee – Congas & Percussion, Rayford Griffin – Cymbals, Reggie Griffin – Guitar & Bass.
Hailing from Kaua‘i, Carlos Andrade is well-known for his voyages aboard the Hōkūleʻa, but has equal notoriety as a composer and musician. His “Hula Maiden” features the voice of Maelan Abran, whose celebrity status is assured after appearances on TV’s Hawai‘i Stars competition. That’s Moon Brown again on sax.
12 – ‘Akaka Falls
Written by: Helen Kauinohea Parker Musicians: Reggie Griffin lead flute and other all instruments.
If ever a Hawaiian song lends itself, unpredictably, to the smooth jazz genre, it’s got to be “‘Akaka Falls.” Helen Kauinohea Parker’s lilting melody has been blessed in stellar vocal performances by dozens of singers, most notably by Keali‘i Reichel, Nathan Aweau, Nick Castillo, the Brothers Cazimero and Danny Couch. But who would have guessed that this beautiful, haunting song would have translated to such a wistful sound poem in tribute to one of the most treasured gifts of Hawai‘i?