Lee Oskar: “She Said Mahalo” (2023) CD Review

Early last year, renowned harmonica player and composer Lee Oskar released Never Forget, a personal and compelling album that addressed fascism, yet with music that was beautiful and uplifting as well as moving and thought-provoking. Now he is following that with She Said Mahalo, an album that seems designed to raise our spirits and encourage hope and compassion. This is music that takes us in a positive direction. As was the case with Never Forget, this new album contains all original material, instrumental tracks written or co-written by Lee Oskar. Lee Oskar also produced the album, and created the paintings that grace the liner notes, a painting for each track. Joining him on this album are Darian Asplund on saxophone, Brian Monroney on guitar, Alex Mortland on guitar, Dean Schmidt on bass, Andrew Cloutier on drums, Mack Grout on keyboard and piano, and Paul Hanson on bassoon, along with several guests on various tracks.

Lee Oskar opens this album with a piece titled “Caribbean Love Song.” My girlfriend and I have been saying more and more that we need a vacation, that we just want to get away. I’m guessing many, or perhaps most, folks feel that way. Well, this song, with its easygoing rhythm and relaxed vibe, takes us away, if only in our minds and hearts, from our troubles. Sometimes music can do for us those things we are unable to do ourselves. So close your eyes and enjoy, letting Lee Oskar’s harmonica take over as tour guide. This tune was composed by Lee Oskar and Harold Brown. Harold Brown plays drums and percussion on this track. Joe Doria is on organ, and Randy Oxford plays trombone. That’s followed by “Children Of The World,” which begins with a delicious rhythm, with Thione Diop playing percussion. The harmonica has a rather cheerful and hopeful tone. This tune makes me smile every time I listen to it. When politics fail us (as they will nearly always do) and a large portion of the population seems to have gone round the bend with no chance of returning, music will keep us sane, keep us moving in the right direction. Music like this seems to be telling us to take a breath, step back and look at the larger picture, and then focus in again on what our individual parts are in that picture. What’s more, the music makes it feel feasible, whatever it is we feel are our parts. Andrew Jostlyn adds some wonderful work on strings.

The harmonica calls out to us at the beginning of “Be. Happy.” over some percussion. The song then builds from there, and the joy seems to grow and rise from within the piece, until it’s ready to bubble over. There is so much sadness in the world, so many causes of sadness, and while we can’t ignore those, this music reminds us that we shouldn’t let those things consume us, for there are also many causes of joy. There are moments when this track’s rhythm takes on something of a Bo Diddley beat. Both Harold Brown and Denali Williams are on percussion on this track. That’s followed by “Morning Rush,” the harmonica beginning this one. As the song kicks in, it takes a decidedly cheerful route. We may not be in control of everything that happens, but we can do our best to be in control of how we react to things, and if we come from a place of joy and excitement, perhaps we can shape the day in a positive manner. This music helps us to face the day. I particularly love that section in the middle, when things slow down a bit, when we seem to take a closer look at certain aspects of the world. This track features some excellent percussion. Thione Diop is again on percussion here. And Phil Peterson delivers some beautiful work on strings. There is also some really nice work by Takahiro Miyazaki on flute and saxophone. Also having a strong impact on the track’s fantastic sound and flavor are Sancho Youichrou Suzuki on shakuhachi and Mayuko Higa on shamisen. This is one of my personal favorites.

“She Said Mahalo,” the album’s title track, has a gentle and pretty opening, featuring some nice work on guitar. However, it is Lee Oskar’s work on harmonica that is the piece’s strongest voice, a voice that seems to let go of past troubles, while keeping in mind all the good things that have happened, acknowledging them. This track also contains some wonderful work on strings by Andrew Jostlyn. And then that electric guitar seems to answer the harmonica, to second every point it has raised. This track builds beautifully. That is fittingly followed by “Memories,” the harmonica sounding happy and relaxed, the track’s main theme being rather catchy. Ah yes, life is good, in spite of all the worries, the troubles, the nonsense. It can be difficult to keep that in mind, but again, music acts as a great reminder. This music suggests we take joy in the moment, and in those who share the time with us. It all goes so quickly, and we need to pause to acknowledge the good stuff, and to dance through the rest of it. Andrew Jostlyn again adds some good work on strings, and Joe Doria delivers cool stuff on organ.

“Most Favored Nation” soon takes on a reggae rhythm, and I especially dig that bass line. Lee Oskar offers some strong work on harmonica, and it is that which makes this track something special. This piece urges us to dance, and to treat everyone well. “Most Favored Nation” was written by Lee Oskar and Harold Brown. That’s followed by “Funky Rhetoric,” which features a bouncy, funky rhythm and some hand claps, a groove to dance to. The track also contains some fun work on saxophone and great stuff on harmonica. It adds up to another joyful number, with energy to spare. It was composed by Lee Oskar and Greg Ericco. Then “Sweet Lullaby” is a mellower, thoughtful number, with a gentle, loving sound to the harmonica work. I also like Mack Grout’s warm work on piano. This is such a pretty track. The album concludes with “One-World Fist,” which begins in a somewhat more somber place, but before long develops a good groove. This is one of the album’s most interesting pieces, and it features wonderful stuff on saxophone and bass. It feels like a slow march to a better, more united world.

CD Track List

1. Caribbean Love Song
2. Children Of The World
3. Be. Happy.
4. Morning Rush
5. She Said Mahalo
6. Memories
7. Most Favored Nation
8. Funky Rhetoric
9. Sweet Lullaby
10. One-World Fist

She Said Mahalo is scheduled to be released on September 15, 2023.