Night Music

As the title suggests, this music suits the quiet hours after night falls. The third album by Hawaiian duo Cecilio & Kapono was recorded in Los Angeles, as its predecessor had been. With a settled team of Alan Pasqua on keyboards, Leland Sklar on bass and Artie Marocco on drums, it was carefully made and is of high quality.

The first two albums had shown a distinctly Hawaiian local atmosphere; here they have grown, and both their songwriting and sound have become much more polished. Even so, their singing remains wholly simple and natural, conveying the appeal of musicians from Hawaii. ‘The Nightmusic’ was written by Dave Ellingson, Kim Carnes's husband and songwriter; ‘We're All Alone’ is Boz Scaggs's famous song. The remaining pieces are written by Cecilio or Kapono and are excellent, with Cecilio's guitar another attraction. Their soulful voices sit over a strong, rhythmically defined backing, producing a mellow sound that beautifully combines Hawaiian music and West Coast rock.