Live In Hawaii
DMac, 2021
8/10
The veteran jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald invites us to a live performance here, where he’s in the company of Noel Okimoto, Dean Taba and Darryl Pellegrini as they flesh out a small handful of tracks in Hawaii, which is where MacDonald began his esteemed career.
“My Shining Hour” leads with MacDonald’s always meticulous guitar playing alongside frisky percussion from Pellegrini as Okimoto’s lively vibraphone adds much to the glowing atmosphere, and “Cat City Samba” keeps the fun going with a swift delivery of charming and melodic musicianship where the 4 play together dynamically in the MacDonald original.
Further into the evening, “Star Eyes” progresses with complicated and exciting guitar work as the rhythm section anchors the fluid delivery, while “Bossa Don”, the 2nd MacDonald original, showcases a keen attention to detail in the modern jazz landscape.
Approaching the end, the bouncy, swing friendly “Lester Leaps In” will get your moving to the grooves and upbeat demeanor, and “Stranger In Paradise” exits the listen with all the players taking their turn in the spotlight, showcasing their inimitable and timeless talents with much poise.
The tunes here were recorded at the Hawaii Public Radio’s Atherton Performing Arts Studio in Honolulu, and they sound great. In fact, it’s so well executed, it rarely seems live, as MacDonald adds yet another exceptional release to his large catalog of music.
Travels well with: Doug MacDonald Duo- Toluca Lake Jazz; Doug MacDonald- Califournia Quartet