AUDIO REVIEW: Keali'i Reichel Collection One

Kamahiwa means “cherished,” and the spiritually enlightened music of Maui-based singer Keali'i Reichel is cherished by such star performers as Sting, Bonnie Raitt, and LeAnn Rimes, with whom Reichel regularly shares concert stages. His songs place him alone against a stunning landscape, evoking ancestral spirits. In tradition, “name chants” are comparable to mantras insofar as they focus concentration on the name of a beloved one to conjure up his or her virtues. “He Lei No Kamaile” is a poignant melody in honor of Reichel’s grandmother. He explains in CD booklet notes that the related “Mo'o Ku'Auhau” (Genealogy Chant) “reminds us of who we are and where we come from. It gives us a strong sense of place, a foundation to build on, and is a source of immense pride.” Cherishing predecessors, Keali'i Reichel’s soothing, glowing music supports and affirms us as it transforms solitude into an opportunity for contemplation of ancestors and nature.