Stories

Sometimes a realization hits you so hard, you don't believe it's been staring at you for so long. Case in point: I recently re-connected with guitarist Alika Lyman, a good friend of mine since elementary school. We had fun on field trips, played games at recess, and later hunted for records in our high school days. We started talking through Facebook about Kalapana, Mackey Feary, and Hawaiian music. Next thing I know, Alika says, "Speaking of which are you familiar with exotica music? My uncle had a great group in the 60s, Arthur Lyman." Why it took me 15 years...

Music Magic, their name lives up to the show! Some 28 years after the group disbanded, Music Magic proves worthy of their name with a string of reunion shows at Jazz Minds Café. I was lucky enough to catch one of their weekend performances on a Friday night (one of five gigs total). It blew me away. Jay Molina, Darryl Blouin, Fred Screuders, Al Pascua, Peter Factora, and Fred Li all sounded tight as ever. (Not that I would know, this was my first-ever Music Magic performance!) Super funky, super soulful, super jazzy. Just the right blend. Fred Schreuders (left)...

This weekend, jazz-fusion band Music Magic reunites for a three shows at Jazz Minds Café. I had the opportunity to ask Music Magic bassist/vocalist Jay Molina some questions over email before the band's rehearsal this past Sunday. Turns out Jay's been busying performing with a Maui band called SLAM, a "very funky smooth jazz and R&B" group. SLAM jammed with saxophonist Tom Scott and trumpeter Skip Martin (from Kool and the Gang and the Dazz Band) at the Maui Jazz and Blues Festival earlier this month. By the way, Jay tells me Cool Sound/Cool Hawaii owner Toshi Nakada will be...

"You and I" by Tony Tam Sing One of my all-time favorite YouTube users, ohanakamakame, is always uploading the next best Hawaiian track (He's also published Legacy's "Sun Goddess", as popularized on DJ Muro's Hawaiian Breaks mix). This is my first time hearing anything off of Tony Tam Sing's legendary self-titled release. It's cool, it's relaxing, it's soulful and folky at the same time, and I really dig the mellow bass line and percussion! Of course, vocal harmonies are a must for any great Hawaiian soul track. What do you think of this song? ohanakamakame has frequently tipped me to...

Hawaii's jazz-funk-fusion pioneers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Music Magic, released two albums to their name. They gigged to sold out crowds in Honolulu after their single, "One Man Lady", hit the scene. Music Magic reunion: September 30th – October 1st, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii! Jump to the Aloha Got Soul music mix L-R: Jay Molina, Fred Schreuders, Darryl Blouin, Al Pascua. Stylistically, the band's sound changed drastically from their self-titled debut to their sophomore release, One Man Lady. Each LP is a far cry from the other, and I've always wondered why. The debut album is loaded...