Exotic Dreams - Ethel Azama

Green Fire

Exotic Dreams
The Enticing Voice Of Ethel Azama

Producer: Martin Denny

Color Photography: Garrett-Howard

Engineers: Bob Land and Ted Keep
Liberty LRP 3104

1959

From the back cover: Ethel Azama is a little Japanese-Hawaiian girl who "comes on" with a big jazz sound – this little lady's personality virtually fills the room. For the past several years she has been amazing Island visitors with her up-beat styling of traditional Island music... modern,  up-tempoed and bursting with life, yet always maintaining the soft Island melodies and the delicate oriental flavor.

Ethel's only singing lessons were from her father. An old-school Okinawan entertainer, he tutored her from early childhood in the dance rituals. Fortunately, Ethel's mother persuaded her to branch out, and her father, pleased with his daughter's success, remains her "number one" fan.

Probably Ethel's "number two" fan would be Paul Conrad, her arranger and accompanist. A popular Honolulu pianist, with both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in music from Carnegie Tech, Paul not only has done all of her arrangements, including those in this album, but is largely responsible for her development as a singer.

In the nearly three years that these two artists have been working together, Ethel's style has matured and her popularity grown. A steady stream of top Honolulu night club and concert engagements vouch for that.

This album and her first tour of the mainland should debut about the same time. – Martin Denny

Ringo Oiwake

Two Ladies In De Shade Of De Banana Tree

Shady Lady Bird 

Lazy Afternoon

Friendly Island

Green Fire

Kawohikukapulani

Speak Low

Mountain High, Valley Low

Happy Talk

Nightingale 

Autumn Leaves