Na Leo
In Hawaiian it means the voices blending together in warmth. (They’ve dropped Pilimehana on the Mainland as too tough for non-Hawaii folks to pronounce.)
Hawaii's most popular female group have been recording together for 20 years. Together Nalani Choy, Lehua Heine, and Angela Morales began their career when they were still teenagers with their first hit album, Local Boys (produced by Danny Couch) in 1984 now celebrating their landmark 15th album, "Find Harmony." Na Leo has won 22 Na Hoku Hanohano awards (Hawaiian Grammys)1st Group from Hawaii to successfully cross the line between "Hawaiian" music and the adult contemporary music format.  Hawaii's most popular female group and as composers of many beautiful songs, Na Leo, appeared in its first-ever Seattle performance.  Local Boys in 1984 revives an oldie for their 20th anniversary. Including "Chalangalang Blues" Written and Produced by MDL, The hit single "Local Boys" won the prestigious Hoku Music Award (Hawaii's Grammys) and it became the best selling single in Hawaii's history, a record that still stands! Na Leo has won 22 Na Hoku Hanohano awards (Hawaiian Grammy's) and has been on the Adult Contemporary Charts for Poetry Man and Rest of Your Life. Rich in harmony and blessed with stellar musicianship. Hawaii's top female group, Na Leo Pilimehana recently released their latest album, Find Harmony. Find Harmony is a brand new collection of music that highlights Na Leo's musicianship and songwriting, as well as their trademark vocal harmonies. Touching on love, faith, and family, Find Harmony is a poignant, uplifting journey for Hawaiian-music lovers, as well as adult contemporary listeners.

Tuesday Oct. 10, 2006

WHERE I LIVE, THERE ARE RAINBOWS is the newest Na Leo CD fans have been waiting for. The title track and Contemporary Hawaiian Classic “Hawaiian Lullaby” (Where I Live, There Are Rainbows by Hector Venegas and Peter Moon) sets the nostalgic tone for this lush, harmonious, romantic Na Leo masterpiece. Guest artists include Kawika Kahiapo on nylon guitar (slack-key artist on “Curious George” soundtrack w/ Jack Johnson) and Ben Vegas (Award winning Hawaii producer, solo artist, and studio musician) on acoustic guitar. This CD is a complete 12-song collection that captures the beauty, the mystique, and the magical Aloha Spirit that is Hawaii.

1. Hawaiian Lullaby 2. Sophisticated Hula 3. Crushed Flowers 4. On A Little Bamboo Bridge 5. Kaimana Hila 6. Rhythm Of The Ocean

7. Lovely Hula Hands 8. Ku'u Sweet Lei Makamae 9. Along For The Ride 10. Soft Green Seas 11. Hanauma Bay 12. Pineapple Express

Monday, October 10, 2005

Na Leo's album "Feel The Spirit" in stores Nov. 15th. Pre-order your copy today. Pre-ordered copies will ship Nov. 14th.
Feel The Spirit is a wonderfully fresh new album from Na Leo, Hawaii's most popular and award winning female group.  Their first CD to feature each artist as a soloist. Industry giant Keith Olsen sought out Na Leo and has created the best album of their career featuring stunning vocal performances from all three Na Leo members. Feel The Spirit is a world-class effort that places Hawaii's favorite daughters in a category with the likes of Nora Jones, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, and Carole King.
Keith Olsen is a celebrated producer of such notable artists as: Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Rick Springfield, & Santana to mention a few. His many soundtrack albums include: Footloose, Flashdance, Tron, Vision Quest, Top Gun, and many more. He produced 39 Gold, 24 platinum and 14 multi platinum albums and was awarded 6 Grammy’s. He has sold over 110 million units at retail and his work appears on more than 250 albums.
LISTEN

LISTEN TO "WHY"
This '05 tour celebrates a brand new CD, "Feel The Spirit", produced by Keith Olsen.  Na Leo does what they do best: make use of wonderful harmonies together to create textures of sound that feed into...a continuous blanket of relaxed song with lush keyboard arrangements." For more information, visit http://www.naleo.net

Na Leo Pilimehana revives an oldie for 20th anniversary recently  "LOCAL BOYS" by Na  Leo Pilimehana; NLP Music.                                                         click on Thumbnails for Large Pics

Distinguishing notes: Long out of print, this collection re-released for their 20th anniversary by Na Leo — Lehua Kalima (now Heine), Angela Fernandez (now Morales) and Nalani Jenkins (now Choy) — is welcome fun. Kind of like a high school reunion, with memories sharp as a tack and melodies as crisp now as they were then. The trio, from the Kamehameha Schools, first stirred attention by winning the Brown Bags to Stardom (sound familiar?) a statewide high-school talent contest in 1984, affording them the opportunity to record "Local Boys," which initially raised a small tempest over its jiving lyrics stating a preference for non-blonds. That tune has become a standard in the women's repertoire over the past two decades — so its re-introduction is dandy for those who missed the boat the first time around. Other material, rich in harmony and blessed with stellar musicianship, doesn't sound dated at all, since the trio has kept the momentum going over the past two decades. "Rum 'n' Coca Cola," "Waikiki," "Kumukalidadidi" and "Chalangalang Blues" retain the bounce and fun. Two bonus tracks, "Stray Cat Strut" and "I Just Called To Say I Love You," open and close the journey; the former originally was a song-contest entry by the group, the latter was the No. 1 hit of their launch year, 1984.

My acquired Original Album Released 1984.. amd 45RPM Single

Cover Local Boys are, Ernie Santiago-Mr. USA: Lyle Ames: Ellery Batino: Nathan Totman

Chalangalang Blues Na Kane Pono, written by Danny Couch, Kawehi Kekauoha, Danny Kennedy

***

 Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Symphony Hall
Seattle, WA
http://www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya/

From Hawaii: Na Leo
Hawaii's most popular female group, Na Leo, appeared in its first-ever Seattle performance. Nalani Choy, Lehua Heine, and Angela Morales have been recording together for 20 years, beginning with their first hit album, Local Boys in 1984. Na Leo has won 22 Na Hoku Hanohano awards (Hawaiian Grammys) and has been on the Adult Contemporary Charts for Poetry Man and Rest of Your Life.

Hawaii's top female group, Na Leo Pilimehana recently released their latest album, Find Harmony. Find Harmony is a brand new collection of music that highlights Na Leo's musicianship and songwriting, as well as their trademark vocal harmonies. Touching on love, faith, and family, Find Harmony is a poignant, uplifting journey for Hawaiian-music lovers, as well as adult contemporary listeners.

The concert was outstanding the setting sophisticated, Na Leo seemed quite comfortable performing on Benaroya's Recital stage being the first time to Seattle. The audience was welcoming and got what they came for, being instantaneously transported back to Hawaii via song and dance. The group was accompanied by the Hula Halau Na Hanu `O Ku`uleialoha, under the direction of kumu hula Ku`ulei Gumapac. (Mahalo Laurie for the correct spelling)

 When Na Lao first took the stage introductions took place, Angela explaining that their first album was a full sized 33 1/3 LP. As she was talking I remembered I had brought the cover to get autographed. As I dug it out of my camera bag and held it up, shouts of laughter rang out from the stage. Angela asked for it and displayed it to the rest of the audience along with come comic humor.

Lea Cook Olalla , Washington  Radio Station: The Breeze of Hawaii, Aloha Joe

Saturday, November 06, 2004

Comments: Good Morning Na Leo, The place to be last night was Benaroya Hall in Seattle. Your show was outrageous. My personal welcome to Seattle and wishes for your quick return. Your performance truly made me Miss You My Hawaii! It was a thrill to happen to have in my possession last night your original Local Boys Album cover and see the smile on your faces when you held it up onstage. Ladies you are blessed with the gift of angels and may you continue to thrill your audience for a very long time. God Bless and keep you. Mahalo for sharing that gift with us. Also Mahalo to Warren for your insight. Always Aloha ~ Lea

Aloha Lea: Mahalo for being such a "prepared fan" with the album cover...that was a great prop to have on stage! We had a wonderful time at the Benaroya Hall and will return someday soon....maybe 2005. We'll see you again...but until then, have a wonderful holiday season and God Bless! -Na Leo

Na Leo singing backup to Deeper in Love, Recorded by Hawaiian Style Band Guitarist former leader of the  Hawaiian Style Band Grammy Winner ~Bryan Kessler (formerly of many other local recordings as well) with Wade Cambern and Robi Kahakalau.

Bryan Kessler's New CD. Best known for his days with the popular Hawaiian Style Band, Bryan Kessler embarks on a solo musical journey with Heart Jams, a haunting and heart-warming CD. The ten original songs, penned by the multi-talented Kessler, speak of love, island life, and music, and offer a glimpse of his own heart and soul through his unique style of music.

"This collection of songs and performances reflect what I love about life in the islands - with its may cultural treasures, and the personal experiences I've had to draw from," said Kessler. "And this being my first solo effort," he added, "I wanted to sing about matters of the heart - things more important to all of us and what we can relate to."

1. Language Of The Heart (romantic ballad)

2. Rainbow In Your Eyes (romantic ballad)
 3. Shine Like The Sun (reggae-flavored tribute to Brudda Iz)
4. China Doll
5. Jah Jah
6. Toe Jams
7. Slack Key Guitar (soothing slack-key guitar jam)
8. Heart of Mine
 9. The Way It Is
10. Lullaby

BRYAN KESSLER
Bryan Kessler A lifetime musician, Bryan Kessler started formally studying the guitar at the age of 9 while growing up in Philadelphia.
Kessler moved to Hawai'i in 1983, and further developed his acoustic guitar style by exploring slack-key tunings in a pop format. In 1992 he partnered with Wade Cambern and Robi Kahakalau to form the Hawaiian Style Band, and produced 3 albums with the group which won 3 prestigeous Na Hoku Hanohano awards. Kessler was also in the band Jet Stream with Cambern, which enjoyed a very successful 4-year run at Nicholas Nickolas in the late 80s/early 90s.

Kessler spends most of this time practicing, writing, recording, and playing various gigs with his blues band, Red Zone, and as a freelance guitarist. He is excited about starting his own record company, Wire & Wood Records in January 1999, with an office and studio located at Eaton Square in Waikiki. Heart Jams is its first release, with several other exciting projects featuring various artists in the works.

"I hope my new music touches people in a personal way," comments Kessler. "This is 'Island Soul' music, from my heart to yours."

Na Leo information listed with written permission from World Sound Management and Benaroya Symphony Hall
Benaroya Hall a 2,500-seat main auditorium and Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, an intimate, 540-seat recital hall.
In 1998, Benaroya Hall became the new home of the Seattle Symphony.Chihuly created two major Chandeliers for the venue, which hang at either end of the gallery along 3rd Avenue.
Closely identified with the Pacific Northwest, Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures, blazing with color and squirming with life, are considered the foremost glass art in the world has created a new sculpture, titled Crystal Cascade, for Benaroya Hall. The two chandeliers, each weighing three tons, are suspended at both ends of The Boeing Company Gallery. The chandeliers, 12 feet wide by 15 feet long, are made up of multiple clear (or flecked with gold leaf) individual glass pieces separately attached to a stainless steel armature and lit externally. Hung together, each glass piece contributes to the intricate dangling form. Chihuly is renowned for his colorful glass creations that range from dazzling table-top pieces, such as his sensuous Seaforms and flamboyant Venetians, to massive installations such as Chihuly Over Venice and Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem 2000.