Sam Ahia and Charles Haynes

Stellar local reed-man Charlie Haynes makes periodic trips to gig in Hawaii. At the beginning of this year he and Hawaiian guitarist Sam Ahia recorded this CD in Maui. Jazz on a New Year’s Day features Haynes entirely on flute, performing a line-up of eight widely known standards with Ahia (yes, Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” has become as much a jazz standard as “Autumn in New York,” also on this disc). Haynes’ flute work on Luiz Bonfa’s “Black Orpheus” is beautifully haunting, and Haynes and Ahia trade fours admirably on “One Note Samba.” “When Sunny Gets Blue” proves that Haynes can play a lovely ballad. Overall, a fine piece of work from a pleasing and able duo.