Search - Cam Bros., Bros Cazimero :: Christmas Collection 2

"Sing bliss, sing peace, sing love."

Mary Whipple | New England | 11/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Volume II of the Cazimeros' three Christmas albums, originally released in 1991, has quite a different sound from their Christmas Collections of 1984 and 1985. Whereas the earlier albums feature the two brothers accompanying themselves, with no additional musicians and several novelty songs ("Me and my Teddy Bear," and "Hawaiian Santa"), this album is far more serious, with more religious songs, and a full chorus or choir on several tracks. The Cazimeros' harmonies are as beautiful as always, and their creative, Hawaiian-style rhythms are captivating throughout.



A chanter, Manu Boyd, opens the album, with Robert Cazimero narrating the poetic "Before the Marvel of this Night," while a chorus sings in the background in almost a canon effect. The jazzy blend of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/ Joy to the World" shows off Robert's fine acoustic bass and Roland's 12-string guitar as the brothers sing back and forth between these two songs, using syncopation and the chorus to pick up the pace, ending with rhythmic clapping. Two other blends--"Ring Those Bells/Christmas Lu'au" and "Away in a Manger/Ho'omaika'i"--continue the harmonies and their occasional use of Hawaiian falsetto. In "Away in a Manger..." a surprising piano accompaniment is introduced (also used on "Song of Christmas.") "E Ke Akua" is the most unusual song on the album, almost chant-like and very quiet, with an eerie, dark sound, and echoes in a minor key.



The lyrics in the Hawaiian language and the native Hawaiian rhythms ground the album unmistakably in the islands, so it is not surprising to hear references to leis, aloha, lu'aus, opi'i, and "talk-story" within more traditional western Christmas songs. More highly "produced" than the previous album, with a bigger sound and more backup singers, this Christmas album features primarily religious songs for the holiday season. Mary Whipple

"