MAORI
Hannah Tatana, mezzo contralto, with
Dave Tatana, guitar.

Viking VP-173 12in 33½ LP

Pride of place in this review goes to a delightful recording by Viking which features Hannah Tatana singing a selection of popular Maori songs.

Miss Tatana has been somewhat over-shadowed in recent years by the meteoric rise to fame of Kiri Te Kanawa. This is a pity, for Miss Tatana is a fine singer with a notable record of success in national competitions in this country and in Australia. She has also had a number of professional appearances with the NZBC Symphony and Concert Orchestras as well as having made extensive recital tours throughout New Zealand. Her theatrical experience includes chorus work in several productions, understudy and alternate to the principal soloist in the NZ Opera Company's production of Carmen and the principal roles in Vaughan William's The Poisoned Kiss and the Opera Company's recent Porgy and Bess.

In this record Miss Tatana sings with appealing simplicity many of the vintage songs of Maoridom and several Sam Freedman numbers. There is no striving for effect or sophisticated arrangements. Some of the songs have been double recorded so that Miss Tatana sings duets with herself. The purist may deprecate such fakery but the effect is pleasing and the result is a further demonstration of the range and versatility of Hannah Tatana's voice.

The review would not be complete without a few words of commendation for the guitar accompaniments by Miss Tatana's brother. Dave. Each accompaniment is a gem in itself. The record should be required listening for all aspiring players of guitar accompaniments. Dave Tatana's playing produces a wonderful fusion of voice and guitar with each being completely complimentary to the other.

HAERE MAI

Kiwi LC-29 12 in 33½ LP

Basically the idea of this record is a good one. It is intended as a contribution to the current tourist promotion in connection with Haeremai year—as an attractive souvenir collection by a number of Kiwi recording groups to illustrate the diversity of Maori music and dance. The chants, haka and songs are linked by a short spoken commentary by “Miss Haere-Mai”. This also is a good idea. The tourist can return home and tell of his adventures in the depths of the far-off South Pacific. To prove it he can produce a record of gen-you-eyne May-oree music with a gen-you-eyne Noo Zealand May-oree providing a brief commentary. Unfortunately as soon as “Miss Haere-mai” opens her mouth one realises that this record is going to be less than completely satisfying. As “Miss Haere-mai” sing-songs her way through the script, stalking pure Strine (Kiwi version), one longs for the rolling cadences and pure vowel sounds which are Maori speech at its best.

Apart from this not inconsiderable flaw, the record is a good one. The cover proclaiming it to be “a welcome to New Zealand in Maori song, chant and haka”, is colourful and eye-catching. The selection of items on the disc, beginning with a most attractive little verse in English by Kiri Te Kanawa and entitled Haere Mai, is first class. It features some of the best Maori amateur groups in New Zealand today. A record of Maori music providing such a variety and range of item and artists is most welcome.

KIRI

Kiri Te Kanawa with Orchestra and Chorus directed by Oswald Cheesman.

Kiwi LC-31 12in 33⅓ LP

Kiri's hundreds of fans are probably already snapping up this record which features Miss Te Kanawa singing songs from such shows as West Side Story, Sound of Music, Showboat and Porgy and Bess as well as a song from Carmen and some pop numbers—altogether a very catholic selection.

Her singing in some of the items is a little tame. She is really at her best in songs which offer scope for the dramatic rather than in feather-weight strict tempo stuff. The contrast can be seen on the first two tracks of side one—the first of which is I Feel Pretty (pretty … what? one wonders) and the second is a much more satisfying rendition of Lecuona's Malaguena. However, all-in-all this record features a light-hearted Kiwi full of the joys of life and singing and that is probably how most people will like to remember her during her long sojourn overseas.

DOMINICK GOES CRUISING

Kiwi LC-30 12in 33⅓ LP

When Cliffe (A. W.) Reed went a-cruising around the Pacific several years ago he was so impressed by the Filipino Band on the good shippe Kuala Lumpur that the approached them with an offer to look him up next time they were in New Zealand and make a record for the Kiwi label.

Some time later, like the proverbial bolt from the blue, Kiwi received a cable which said in effect “Arriving tomorrow—set up recording session”. Kiwi rose to the occasion and in a hectic recording schedule during the ship's brief stop-over in Wellington and Auckland recorded the material which is heard on this disc—one of sophisticated dance arrangements from a band which knows its business.

ISLES OF HAPPINESS

The Pohutukawa Performers.

Viking VP-158 12in 33⅓ LP

There is something about this record which you will find appealing if you are an old square like this reviewer. It induces twinges of nostalgia for the old dance hall back home and the Saturday night hop with an orchestra which sets about its job, without any nonsense and plays music which you can sing.

The disc features a combo (drums, trumpet, double bass, lead guitar) playing locally composed melodies with a South Sea Island flavour. Vocal backing is from a folk-singing quartet “The Four Corners” with Buddy Collins and Cynthia d'Ouglas taking the solo spots.

It is all so pleasant and wholesome. In an era in which any self-respecting dance orchestra feels that blaring cacophony is de rigeur and that vocalists are only there to be drowned out, this record is refreshing indeed. The songs are most attractive, even if not startlingly original, and with tunes that you can hum. The rhythm sets your feet going, the singers are in tune and you can actually hear the lyrics. If you want a good party record, to which your guests can dance rather than perform acrobatics, then you should try “Isles of Happiness”. Our version was mono. There is a stereo version on which we cannot comment.