Traditionally, most performing artists specialize in one genre, and those who achieve fame in their chosen music often don't branch out, except maybe to sing carols at Christmas time. Even then, it is not unusual for a jazz artist to sing Christmas songs in a jazz style, or a Hawaiian singer to opt for Christmas songs that are in the Hawaiian language or "about" Christmas in Hawai`i.
But there is no reason why local artists can't work as well "outside the box," and many do.
Most local music fans can remember when Melveen Leed billed herself as the Hawaiian Country Girl, and recorded both Hawaiian and country songs in a country flavor -- even going to Nashville to get the sound she sought on her recordings. Mel also sings jazz, blues, pop, and you name it. Remember her African "click" song?
Other local singers have also dabbled in country, including Don Ho, Bill Kaiwa who both did complete country albums in years past. And yes, we've also done that. Keith grew up in Minnesota, listening to country music and always wanted to record a country album. After 40 years developing a reputation as a practitioner of Hawaiian songs, Keith's dream came true. The result was "CordellCountry," a classic country CD with mostly traditional country songs. It won Country Music CD of the Year in the 2001 Hawai`i Music Awards. It was a fun and exciting departure from the norm. The following year, Keith departed from Hawaiian music once again, teamed up with two other band leaders -- Don "Geezer" Humphrey and Gordon Manuel Freitas -- to form The Patriots, and recorded the award-winning patriotic CD called "Lest We Forget." It won Patriotic CD of the Year in 2002. Then it was back to singing Hawaiian, as he has done for all of his adult life.
Our venture into country music, after 40 years of writing and singing Hawaiian songs. It was a hoot.
It is exciting to see singers who seem at home on a lu`au stage performing in front of a symphony orchestra.
And we have a wonderful current example in a new CD released by Mountain Apple Company and featuring the new Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawai`i. Matt is sort of a Jack deMello of the 21st century, a wonderful musician, arranger, conductor and producer who has organized a new orchestra and released his first CD with this orchestra, complete with local soloists who normally specialize in other genre.
Matt picked the songs -- some old and some new -- and then, calling on his experience as conductor of the Pops, selected local artists with whom he had worked. He asked them to sing particular songs, not necessarily in their repertoire, or even their genre of choice . . . and experience.
For example, he approached Keali`i Reichel, who had performed with the Pops in years past, and asked him to sing an old Irving Berlin favorite, "How Deep is The Ocean." Keali`i agreed and the resulting track on the new CD, "Return To Romance," shows the depth and ability of a Hawaiian singer who has considerable expertise in Hawaiian chant, hula, composing and performing. It was not too great a stretch for Keali`i, who had already recorded some non-Hawaiian songs on his otherwise Hawaiian music CDs.
Others on the new disc included Raiatea Helm, Amy Hanaiali`i Gilliom, the Brothers Cazimero, and Na Leo. All but Raiatea have already developed a reputation for singing and recording a variety of songs, from more than one genre.
Raiatea, whose very Hawaiian style of singing has helped her make her mark in the field of traditional Hawaiian music while still a teen, deserves special recognition. She shows tremendous versatility in her performance of "My Romance," a very non-Hawaiian Hart-Rodgers song from long before she was born (aren't they all?).
Listening to her sweet, and now much more matured voice, you would never guess that she is Hawaiian or that her name most often is used in the same sentence as such Hawaiian greats as Genoa Keawe. At 22, she has shown that she can sing non-Hawaiian with an orchestra as well as she sings Hawaiian accompanied by her own `ukulele strumming.
On this new CD, Raitea also sings "A Peaceful Hawai`i Night," a new song by Allen Sviridoff and Matt Catingub.
Other songs and the artists who performed them include "Let There Be Love," sung by Robert and Roland Cazimero; "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" sung by Amy Gilliom; "The Very Thought of You," which features Amy and Matt.
Na Leo backs Matt on "I Fell In Love With Honolulu," a local standard that has been recorded many times, most notably by Palani Vaughan. It was written by Donald Neil McKay.
Fans of good music will love this new CD, and next March, when the maestro produces an 11-day music event in our town, featuring these local artists, international artists and music, music, music -- in venues all over town.
This is just the beginning.
More CDs, more music festivals are coming, and you can bet that Matt will find other local artists who can go beyond the genre in which they are "expected to sing."
And, as local musicians realize that it is "OK" to perform and record in more than one genre, we can expect more pleasant surprises.
