WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
The event will feature a full-length screening of the beloved movie accompanied by live performances of a unique on-stage musical ensemble of top Hollywood studio musicians, including Polynesian rhythm masters and vocalists, celebrating the music and songs from this award-winning Walt Disney Animation Studios’ classic.
The ensemble is built around rhythm. Of the seven members, five are percussionists (one, Kai Kalama, on a dedicated drum kit), joined by woodwind player Lester Paredes and guitarists Vaea A’etonu and Ryan Keau Kalama. The arrangement highlights Moana’s roots in Pacific Island music, giving the performance an earthy, pulsating energy. The band is even given a showcase of its own with an extended performance of “Logo Te Pate,” complete with solos that spotlight each member’s talent.
With no conductor, vocalist Nina Sosefina anchors the evening, introducing the program and explaining its structure. She handles many of the traditional chants, such as “Tulou Tagaloa,” and closes the night with a rousing encore of the end-credit pop version of “How Far I’ll Go.”
