Brittni Paiva:
Some Tunes Old, Some Songs New,
Some Hits Borrowed & Some Blues
by W. Knox
Richardson
Record review of "Hear.." CD as printed in Oahu Island News,
November 2005
Back in March I had
the pleasure of being a presenter at the Hawaii Music Awards. One of
the show’s highlights was a performance by a charming young lady from
Hilo, Brittni Paiva. She delighted the audience with her dazzling
virtuosity of the ukulele as well as her shy, quick wit that belied
her young age of 16.
When a review copy of her second CD arrived I looked forward to
playing it for the first time. I didn’t know then I would look forward
to the second, third and fourth times with just as much anticipation.
The collection, called “Hear,” is a mixture of contemporary and
traditional Hawaiian songs, modern standards, regional folk tunes and
even an insightful arrangement of Paul Desmond’s “Take Five,” first
made famous by sax man Dave Brubeck. (“Take Five” is one of only two
hit songs ever written in the obscure time signature of 5/4 — the
other being the theme to “Mission Impossible.”) With a smoothly
performed, tightly constructed rendition of this jazz classic leading
off the album, I knew I was in for a surprise. Her interpretation and
phrasing of the jazz licks were as finely executed as Brubeck’s
signature sound from the late 1950s. How does someone so young, and of
this day, comprehend this music, much less demonstrate a mastery of
it? What followed were just as many surprises as there were tracks.
When Wolfgang Mozart first performed his music for an early royal
patron, the nobleman reportedly dismissed the young prodigy by waving
his hand and saying, “Too many notes.” Perhaps this lesson wasn’t lost
on Ms. Paiva as nowhere on the album is there is sense of overpowering
her music by putting a run, pluck, chord or a strum where it needn’t
be. She offers a delicate balance, a compromise really, between too
many notes and understatement of phrasing and melody that fulfills the
promise of her potential, even at this young age. All too often,
youthful musicians gifted with fast fingers tend to attack their
instruments, running their hands up and down fret boards as though in
a race to finish before the rest of band. In “Hear,” Brittni’s
maturity is evident, both in her choice of material and the pleasant,
rewarding execution that comes from self-assured musicianship
foretelling a long and fruitful career.
While mostly instrumental, this album includes a single track with
Brittni singing — in both Hawaiian and Hebrew — a seemingly odd
combination until you listen closely and discover the how wonderfully
peaceful and harmonic the two languages work together, one after the
other. Called “E Lohea Mai” or “Hear,” this title cut is a spiritually
refreshing song with lyrics from the Bible and music by Beth Schafer.
The song and Brittni’s vocalization is reminiscent of “Suo Gân,” a
lullaby sung in Welsh from Spielberg’s 1987 “Empire of the Sun.” At
once “E Lohea Mai” is moving and charismatic.
Rarely today do collections come along that can be played over and
over and still retain their freshness. Here is one you can put on
changer, start with any track, and then simply press “repeat.” It’s a
keeper.
“Hear,” was self-produced by Brittni Paiva and engineered, mixed and
mastered by Wendell Ching. Liner notes are by Keith and Carmen Haugen
and by Eddie Kamae. “Hear” will be released statewide on Nov. 8.
Copyright © 2005 Island Insider Press LLC. All rights reserved.
www.oahuislandnews.com
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