Paradise Blues
Mensch House Records
Of Samoan background, John Akapo grew up in Alaska, spent his youth in America Samoa and currently based in Hawaii. He is a singer-guitarist-songwriter who debuts on CD with a Robert Johnson cover, closes with a Tommy Johnson and contributes seven originals, mostly based in the blues that are delivered naturally without contrivance as can be heard on his relaxed vocal of "Ramblin' on My Mind" that opens this recording, backed by guitar and sounds like dobro. Rather than try to sing with a false urgency, he cleanly delivers the lyrics while playing a brief slide solo.
There is no identification of personnel in the press release for this release or on the CD package. There is nice acoustic harmonica backing his vocal on the original "Little Lani," about this girl who gives John the blues by her behavior. "Maui Drive" has some more poetic imagery with easy driving slide guitar, harp backing, and a slightly brisker tempo and cleanly delivered vocally. His Muddy Waters cover, "I Can't Be Satisfied," benefits from Akapo's easy going rendition. There is a country-folk quality to the delightful "Caracas," with the slide/dobro lending a Hawaiian music tinge, and the lament, "Fighting For Love."
"Hindsight" is a delightful, low-key original blues, and by the time closes with Tommy Johnson's "Big Road," one has been thoroughly entertained by the performances here. He may not be able to invest this performance with the emotional force of the original, but like the opening Robert Johnson number, it benefits from his unforced, engaging performance that also characterizes this entire recording.
I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the November-December 2108 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 381). Here he performs "Little Lani."
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