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Island Mele: Moffatt, Chun release ‘Legacy 2′

REVIEW BY JOHN BERGER / jberger@staradvertiser.com

‘Uncle Tom’s Gabbin: The Legacy 2′

Various Artists (Shaka)

“Uncle Tom” Moffatt and producer George Chun share credit for this anthology of 19 songs culled apparently at random from everything that’s been recorded in Hawaii over the last half-century. It includes legitimate hits by major local artists, secondary work by resident artists of various stature and three pointless remakes.

The big hits are “99.8,” by the Society Of Seven from the days when the SOS was a major island recording act, and “Molokai Slide,” the 1997 Hoku Award-winner (Single of the Year) by Ehukai. Also notable are concert recordings by Kalapana and Cecilio & Kapono — Moffatt produced precedent-setting reunion concerts by both acts in the early ‘80s. The breadth of Hawaii’s music scene is demonstrated by the presence of Michael Paulo (jazz), Go Jimmy Go (ska), Anelaikalani (traditional Hawaiian) and Jake Shimabukuro (mainstream ukulele instrumentals).

You’ll also find Pauline Wilson singing a new solo arrangement of Seawind’s classic, “Follow Your Road,” and Malani Bilyeu’s version of the Keola & Kapono Beamer hit “Only Good Times.”
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John Berger has been a mainstay in the local entertainment scene for more than 40 years. Contact him via email at jberger@staradvertiser.com.