Treasures of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
Daniel Ho Creations
www.DanielHo.com

As part of the growing collection of the master of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series recordings, Daniel Ho brings listeners another fine assortment of slack key guitar’s finest. (And another Grammy winning recording, as “Treasures” won the award for Best Hawaiian Music Album at the 2007 Grammy’s.) Recorded live at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui, this third CD in the series proves yet again the incredible talents that exist in Hawai‘i are continuing the tradition of slack key guitar – a tradition that had in origins in the 1800s.

    Featuring the artistry of George Kahumoku, Jr., Led Kaapana, Cyril Pahinui, Dennis Kamakahi, Martin Pahinui, and so many more, as well as special guests Ricahrd Ho‘opi‘i and Bobby Ingano, the disc is nearly 40 minutes of some of the Islands’ best performances. Each track is an exploration in guitar playing greatness and more than half have vocals sung in traditional Hawaiian.

    While the singing, is superb, the instrumental tracks are among our favorites. Somehow  the guitar itself becomes the voice of Hawai‘i. Track two, performed by Ledward Kaapana, is 2:33 minutes of pure musical goodness, with sweet and playful picking. Keoki Kahumoku plays the instrumental track  “Blue Slacks Slack Key” which proves to be as much fun as the title.  This is followed by Bobby Igano’s “Wailana,” which has a soulful sound that will resonate with the most traditional of Hawaiian music fans. Igano performs this wonderful song on a Jerry Byrd Frypan Hawaiian steel guitar in a C6 tuning.

    Every track on this CD is delightful and Slack Key guitar fans and aficionados will definitely want to add this to their collection.


Moea - From this Moment Onward
Blaine Kamalani Kia
Keala Records
www.Mele.com

Blaine Kamalani Kia has mentored 2000 hula students and comments that, “Because of ‘hula’ my life has been rewarded with countless and endless affirmations of just common, everyday life experiences.” Now Kia shares his passion and accomplishments with a collection of 15 songs, including 12 originals that guide the listener through a journey of exploration and joy for hula.

    “Hula has been a special gift, a way of life,” Kia explains, “that has provided me with the mana to go forward and share all that I have gained by teaching Hawaiian traditions through song and hula.”

Opening with a chant composed for the CD of the same title by Tuti Kanahele, “Moea” distinctly recalls the heart’s path of spirituality from the far-off Kahiki to Hawaii, and from the past to the present. This is followed by an original song written by Kia that is begins with a tow tapping guitar strum, leading into a wonderful melody sung by Kia in traditional Hawaiian, which is then translated in the second verse.

The tone has been set then for truly enjoyable listening experience. Each song has a story to tell and some are set in traditional style while others are more contemporary and sung in English.
Collectively “Moea” is a charming musical experience, one that will transport listeners to a simpler time and place to experience some of the joy that comes from “hula” and Island living.


Don Ho – My Music, My Life
Don Ho and Jerry Hopkins
p. 164 color hard cover
Watermark Publishing
www.bookshawaii.net

While not a CD, a review of Hawaiian music would not be complete without mention of the latest book on the life of Don Ho.

    Completed just two days before his death, this authorized memoir is filled with revealing anecdotes and hundreds of personal photos of the career and home life of one of Hawai‘i’s greatest entertainers.

    The book’s 18 chapters chart the singer’s life from his youth, his military career, his first years in Waikïki, the creation of his most famous song eve, “Tiny Bubbles,” his Las Vegas years, his long-running show at the Beachcomber, and culminating with his diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and ultimately the tribute and service that was held for him on April 12, 2007.

    Every page is filled with quotes from Ho and his friends and family, describing unknown details about this incredible man’s life and career. The photos are as much entertaining as enlightening—and in some cases very revealing.

    Of his signature song, Ho writes, “Everything in my life is an accident, including ‘Tiny Bubbles.’ This song was recorded at the request of Sonny Burke. I called him to come to Hawaii because I wanted to record a song called ‘Born Free.’ I didn’t like the song [Tiny Bubbles], but I sang it one time, and walked out of the studio. One week later it was all over the country.”

    Don Ho was a true entertainer. For anyone who has been entertained by Don Ho and wants to remember the life that in many ways helped put Hawaiian music on the charts, this book will be a collector’s item to enjoy as much as you enjoyed his music.