Friends & Family of Hawai’i

With four Grammy nominations and numerous local awards to her credit, vocalist Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom is Hawaii’s best-selling female artist. Having studied classical, jazz and blues before learning traditional ha'i falsetto singing from the legendary Aunty Genoa Keawa, Hanaiali’i’s successful 1990s partnership with Willie Kahaiali’i (Willie K) laid the groundwork for her solo career. Her most recent album, Aumakua (2008) showcased a mix of island tunes and pop– standard covers.

Sounding like an attempt to break further into the mainstream US market, Friends & Family teams Hanaiali’i with established Hawaiian male singers for a series of vocal duets. But it’s an overly commercial affair, owing more to slick LA-style production and schmaltzy, string-drenched arrangements than to traditional Hawaiian culture. There’s an unbearable syrupy pairing with veteran Robert Cazimero, a gushy version of George Harrison’s ‘What Is Life’ shared by Sean Na’auao, and a pedestrian take on James Taylor’s ‘Shower The People’ with her brother Eric Gilliom. Part– time Maui resident Willie Nelson drops by for some unremarkable crooning on Van Morrison’s ‘Have I Told You Lately’, and there’s a just-passable rendition of ‘Everybody Plays The Fool’ featuring reggae quartet Rebel Souljahz. Hanaiali’i’s gorgeous harmonising with O'ahu’s David Kawika Kahiapo fares considerably better and there’s a delightful traditional tune from Rev Dennis Kamakahi. The best track, ‘Maka ‘Alohilohi’, features classic slack-key guitar-picking courtesy of Martin Pahinui’s Trio. But with the slushy strings constantly invading it, this album is a disappointing departure from the beautiful interpretations of cultural roots that Hanaiali’i is capable of.