For those not in the know, originally from Philadelphia, west coast journeyman guitarist Doug MacDonald began his career in Hawaii in the mid-70s.

He relocated to Las Vegas, and then to Los Angeles and now with a prolific catalog of 18 albums spanning from solo performance to big bands, the guitarist has built a solid reputation for technique, tone and taste.

Co-produced by Don Thomson, Live in Hawaii casts MacDonald with Noel Okimoto (vibraphone), Dean Taba (bass) and Darryl Pellegrini (drums) at a November 2019 show at Hawaii Public Radios Atherton Performing Arts Studio in Honolulu.

The quartet clearly has good chemistry. MacDonald acknowledges that their musical relationship is empathetic and inspiring and that Okamotos vibraphone lends a unique color to the groups palette.

1. My Shining Hour
2. Cat City Samba
3. Blues in the Closet
4. Star Eyes
5. Bossa Don
6. Lester Leaps In
7. Stranger in Paradise

Opening on the upbeat, flighty and gently manic pairing of Harold Arlens My Shining Hour and MacDonalds melodious original Cat City Samba, they are backed seamlessly by the expressive, upright bass-led Blues in the Closet and the finger-snapper Star Eyes.

Next up are some gossamer lines of samba expression within the highly evocative, self-penned Bossa Don, the dancefloor swing of Lester Leaps In, with this fragrantly mesmerizing new album closing all-too-soon on the mid-tempo hipsway of Stranger in Paradise.

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