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| Song List
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| Reviews
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"LEGENDS OF HAWAIIAN SLACK KEY: LIVE FROM MAUI" BY VARIOUS ARTISTS; DANIEL HO CREATIONS Genre: Ki ho'alu instrumentals, with some vocals. Distinguishing notes: Recorded live at The Ritz-Carlton resort at Kapalua, this 12-song collection features a host of slack-key greats. The disc opens with Ledward Ka'apana's tranquil " 'Opihi Moemoe" and closes with a collaboration by George Kahumoku Jr., Keoki Kahumoku and Da 'Ukulele Boys on "Ka'aahi Kahului," the train song by Palani Vaughan. In between, there's a wealth of classic showmanship — Cyril Pahinui's vocal on "Ka Makani Ka'ili Aloha," Dennis Kamakahi's "Ahulili" vocal, Martin Pahinui's "Ka 'Ano'i" vocal, Ozzie Kotani's "Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua/Papakolea Medley," Richard Ho'pi'i's "Papalina Lahilahi" vocal, Bobby Ingano's "Hula Blues" instrumental, Daniel Ho's "Kumu Mele" vocal, and George Kahumoku Jr.'s "Aloha 'Oe" vocal. Daniel Ho mixed and mastered the session, capturing the live quality complete with applause and some impromptu chatter. Tracks with voices add earnest emotion to the spirit of the tunes. Our take: Since "Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 1" — also a collection of live ki ho'alu performances — earned a Grammy Award last year for Best Hawaiian album, this one surely is a contender. The same team was involved. |
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| Excerpt from Hawaiian Style Magazine, February 2007 "Legends of Hawaii Slack Key Guitar – Live from Maui" From the first track of the latest compilation album, “Legends of Hawai‘i Slack Key Guitar,” recorded live at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, a Ledward Kaapana instrumental titled ‘Ophihi Moemoe, the proper tone is set and the listener knows they are in for a real treat of some of the finest slack key guitar music from Hawai‘i’s top musicians. The threeminute song is a prime example of slack key picking. Recorded live, this is the second album produced by Daniel Ho from the weekly concert series held at the grand resort on Maui. The recording is perfectly clear and every guitar note is easily heard making for a hypnotizing effect on the instrumental tracks. Musicians will find the liner notes fascinating and appreciate the fact that the chords and tuning are provided for each track, along with info of the song’s history and performer profiles. This is a nice touch for an album that truly celebrates the art of slack key guitar. For anyone who enjoys slack key guitar this CD should become a standard for your collection. It is filled with prime cuts and some of the best Hawaii has to offer. |
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| Album Notes
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| Live, Hawaii’s Top Slack Key Musicians, Together on One Album! More than any other music, Hawaiian slack key guitar takes you to a tranquil evening where a warm and gentle breeze blows, and calm waves lap soothingly on a quiet island shore. This beguiling music, played mostly in local family gatherings and traditionally passed down from father to son, is quintessentially Hawaiian. At the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series on Maui the tradition is kept alive. Each week Hawaii’s best musicians gather to play this unique style of music. This is the second album of songs recorded live at the slack key show. Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume One was awarded the 48th Annual Grammy for Best Hawaiian Album of the Year. The concert series continues at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. For information and reservations go to www.slackkey.com or call 888-669-3858 toll free. |
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| Song Notes:
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Island musicians have been playing the uniquely Hawaiian slack key guitar for a century and a half. During that time they have developed over 100 different tunings. Sometimes the guitar is tuned for the song, and often it is tuned to suit the vocal range of a particular performer. On this album we feature not only slack key guitar but also ukulele, Hawaiian falsetto and Hawaiian steel guitar. Here’s some information about the songs on this album and the tunings used. 1. ‘Opihi Moemoe (Sleeping Limpet) is the classic slack key song. If you want to demonstrate that you can play slack key guitar, this is the song you play. Composed by Leonard Kwan, Ledward Kaapana plays it in G “Taro Patch” tuning (D-A-D-G-B-D). 2. Ka Makani Ka’ili Aloha (The Kipahulu Zephyr) was composed by Mathew Kane. It is about a man who uses a love potion from a kuhuna to get his wayward wife to return to him. It is played by Cyril Pahinui in C tuning (C-G-E-G-A-E). 3. Ahulili is composed by Scott Ha’i. The title is the name of a mountain peak in Kaupo on Maui. It is really a song about jealousy (lili is Hawaiian for jealous). Dennis Kamakahi plays it in C6 “Mauna Loa” (C-G-E-G-A-E) tuning. 4. Aloha Oe is one of the most famous compositions of Queen Lili'uokalani. Hawaii’s last monarch (1891-1893), the Queen was an immensely gifted composer. This poignant song was inspired by the affectionate farewell of two lovers of the Queen’s acquaintance. George Kahumoku Jr. plays in F (C-F-C-F-A-C) tuning. 5. Kou Aloha Mau a Mau (Your Love Forever and Ever) is a love song composed by Dennis Kamakahi, who also plays on this album. Performed by Keoki Kahumoku, it is played here in G tuning (D-A-D-G-B-D). 6. Ka ‘Ano’i (Longing) is a love song believed to be composed by Kamealoha in the 1800’s. It is one of Gabby Pahinui’s old favorites. It is sung by his son Martin Pahinui playing in C6 (C-G-E-G-A-E) tuning, capoed up to the key of F. 7. This is a medley of two songs. Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua (Lehua Buds of Pauoa) composed by Emma Bush seems to be about the beautiful flowers of Pauoa. Like many Hawaiian songs there is a kaona, or hidden meaning, with the Lehua buds representing a pretty young woman. Papakolea by John K. Almeida is a place on Oahu, and the song is about stringing flowers for leis, which is in Hawaiian poetry symbolic of making love. It is played by Ozzie Kotani in G tuning (D-A-D-G-B-D). 8. Kumu Mele (Simple as a Sunrise) is composed by Daniel Ho, with lyrics by Lehua Kalima. Recognized as a Hawaiian wedding standard, this song paints love in the image of a sunrise. It is played by Daniel Ho in his “Kilauea” tuning (D-G-C-G-B-E). 9. Papalina Lahilahi (Dainty Cheeks) is a sassy hula mele, a classic, traditional Hawaiian melody. It is performed by Richard Ho’opi’i in his famous leo ki'eki'e or Hawaiian falsetto, accompanying himself on ‘ukulele. 10. Hula Blues goes back to the 1920’s. This was the Golden Age of Hawaiian music, when it was the most popular music in America. The lyrics and music are by Sonny Cunha and Johnny Noble. Bobby Ingano plays his seven string steel guitar in G-E-C-A-G-E-Bb tuning, backed up by Derrick Mau on guitar. 11. Bodysurfing was composed by the illustrious ‘ukulele artist Herb Ohta (Ohta San). It is always a crowd-pleasing favorite at the slack key shows on Maui as played by Da Ukulele Boyz, Peter deAquino and Garrett Probst. 12. Ka’aahi Kahului (Kahului Train) was composed by Palani Vaughan. With its “choo-choo” sounds, it celebrates the inauguration of the first passenger train service in Hawaii (on Maui) in 1879. The only remaining train on Maui today is the Sugar Cane Train. The song is performed by George and Keoki Kahumoku, and Da Ukulele Boyz. |
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| About the Artists
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| Besides being one of Hawaii’s best loved composers and musicians, GEORGE KAHUMOKU, JR. is a high school teacher on Maui. He’s an accomplished chef, and had his own television cooking show. George is the author of a recent book, “A Hawaiian Life,” containing stories about growing up Hawaiian. An acclaimed sculptor, his work has been exhibited throughout Hawaii. He’s long time farmer, an expert in sustainable agriculture, and is a winner of the Hawaii State All-Pork Award. No wonder he’s been called a modern Hawaiian Renaissance Man. George hosts The Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series on Maui each week. LEDWARD KAAPANA is considered by his peers to be a true virtuoso guitarist. He’s also proficient on the ‘ukulele, mandolin and autoharp. His vocal ranges from baritone to leo ki'eki'e (falsetto). His joy for performing is obvious, and his infectious and kolohe (rascally) sense of humor make him a favorite with friends and audiences alike. One of Hawaii’s most prolific composers, DENNIS KAMAKAHI has written many songs (Wahine Ilikea, Kou Aloha Mau a Mau, etc.) that are considered to be Hawaiian music classics. As a young man his rich baritone voice and superlative guitar skills led him to be selected to replace Gabby Pahinui in the Sons of Hawaii group. He recently accepted the Na Hoku Hanohano Ki ho’alu award for perpetuating the art of slack key guitar. CYRIL PAHINUI, surely one of the most soulful of Hawaiian musicians, grew up in a household filled with song. Backyard jam sessions at the home of his father, the renowned Gabby Pahinui, are legendary. Many of Hawaii’s most celebrated musicians showed up to play music, and Cyril started playing slack key guitar at an early age. As one of Hawaii’s most respected musicians he lovingly plays the standards and gratefully acknowledges his teachers, while freely drawing on a variety of music styles. OZZIE KOTANI is a respected teacher, arranger, composer and accompanist as well as a solo performer. Ozzie has established a style of his own. His completely unique guitar techniques are instantly recognizable to aficionados of ki ho`alu. Some distinctive features of Ozzie's playing are his frequent use of the nylon string guitar, a distinctive, vocalizing approach to ballads, his use of atypical chord progressions, rolls played with the thumb and three fingers and a stand-up bass-type sound on the low strings on the first and third beats of the measure. He has played ki ho`alu, Hawaiian slack key guitar, for over 20 years, representing it on the Mainland, in Spain and Japan, as well as all around the Hawaiian islands. KEOKI “Liko” KAHUMOKU is well known in Hawaiian and on the mainland as a performer and teacher on the ‘ukulele as well as the guitar. Inspired by his father, George Kahumoku Jr. as well as his uncle Moses Kahumoku, Keoki has been playing music professionally for many years and has recorded seven albums, some of them with his famous dad. He is the only Hawaiian artist to appear on two Grammy-winning albums. During his 17-year career, DANIEL HO experienced many aspects of the music industry. He orchestrated music for films, worked as a studio musician, founded his contemporary jazz group, Kilauea, toured with Peabo Bryson as a keyboardist, wrote and published over 150 songs, and produced over 40 CDs for his record company Daniel Ho Creations. In recent years Daniel began a return to his roots, recording several albums with George Kahumoku, Jr. In 2000 and 2006, he and George won Na Hoku Hano Hano awards for their albums Hymns of Hawaii, Volumes 1 and 2. Young cousins GARRETT PROBST and PETER deAQUINO have been performing since they were children under the guidance of George and Keoki Kahumoku. Now known as Da Ukulele Boyz, they appear regularly at the slack key show at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Their lively music and captivating stage presence provides ample evidence that Hawaiian music is being passed on to the next generation of performers. One of Hawaiian music's most gifted vocalists, MARTIN PAHINUI has performed with a host of top artists, including his father's legendary Gabby Pahinui Hawaiian Band, The Peter Moon Band, The Pahinui Brothers and slack key group Hui Aloha. After nearly a half century making music, Martin illustrates that good music well played exists in a special place outside the confines of passing fads. He also reflects a firm commitment to both honoring and extending the Pahinui slack key legacy. "My daddy always said the key was to respect the culture and then do your music in the way that brings you the most enjoyment." RICHARD HO’OPI’I is surely a living legend of Hawaiian music and has been practicing the traditional art form of leo ki’eki’e, Hawaiian falsetto, for most of his life. For years he performed with his brother Sol as the Ho’opi’i brothers. A recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Folk Heritage Fellowship, America’s highest honor for traditional artists, Uncle Richard knows that he is helping to maintain a rich cultural legacy. BOBBY INGANO is arguably the greatest living performer of Hawaiian steel guitar. He has played on the albums of a “Who’s Who” list of prominent entertainers from Amy Guilliom, the Cazimero Brothers, Bill Kaiwa, Theresa Bright and Martin Pahinui to The Ka’au Crater Boys, Palolo, Kapena, Valley Boys, to most recently BB Shawn. Bobby plays with such humbleness and enjoyment, that you can’t help but sit back, relax and smile. |
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| Credits
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Recorded by Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Productions, Inc. at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui |
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