Aloha mai!This page is out a day late because I wanted to see Kukahi first. [g] For those of you who haven't heard, Keali'i Reichel cut a major, four record deal with Atlantic, which will re-release his first two CDs, Kawaipunahele and Lei Hali'a on the Mainland in early April, and which will also handle his third release, tentatively entitled Eo Mai and set to come out in late spring. A commentary on this deal, entitled " Playing with the Big Boys," appears on the NahenaheNet home page, which can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
I've received a number of requests to write up the show, and thought I'd give my impressions here. Keali'i's Kukahi concert was a major success. He featured the two other Punahele Production artists in the first half of the show. Uluwehi Guerrero sounded quite fine, but Kekuhi Kanahele really had the audience roaring with her flat-out, from the heart singing and playing. She brought her family on stage to help out with a foot-stompin' "Mele Puhi," and they did an a cappella follow up, a beautiful, old-style tribute to Princess Ke'elikolani that I hope she records very soon. She started off with "Cut'm Loose," (a personal favorite!), and also sang "Pualani Lei," "Pua Milo," "Hahani Mai," and "Don't Cry 'Oe." She closed with a rowdy version of her grandmother's "Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai," with Melelani Spencer singing and Kekuhi and three family members dancing in a way that made the kaona very clear. [g]
Keali'i opened the second half with oli (chant), with his dancers on stage and him on a video screen overhead. Interestingly, one of the oli was "Kananaka," a song that he usually sings. Here it was chanted while the women did a hula noho (sitting hula). After the chanted numbers, Keali'i literally rose from the floor on an elevated platform, and took the stage with his six member band. They did quite a few new songs, including "Eo Mai" and a beautiful tribute to the late Doris Krauss, mother of Punahele Productions' Fred Krauss, and a full slate of old favorites, including "Ku'u Pua Mae'ole" "Toad Song," and "Kananaka" (with his men dancing it in a hula auana style).
After a full set, he sat on the front of the stage, just him and one of the guitar players, and sat and talked story and sang "Kawaipunahele" and others, in a very simple, intimate mode. I missed a bit of the show at this point, but got back in time to hear "Hanohano Ka Lei Pikake" and his closing number, "Kauanoeanuhea." The curtains closed and Keali'i came out and recognized some friends and family in the audience, and then the curtains opened one last time and the Hawaiian rap group Sudden Rush and Keali'i did a very contemporary number, "Don't Blame the Youth," and everyone backstage piled on stage to rock out with the song. When it was over, Keali'i grabbed hands with the people around him and started, "E Hawai'i e ku'u one hanau e...." and the audience surged to its feet to sing "Hawai'i Aloha."
Oooooh. This is the same concert, I hear, that he'll be doing in Carnegie Hall in July. I understand that more Mainland concerts will be scheduled in April, but have no details yet. But see below.... [g]
*** Hawaiian music on the Internet! I've just been informed of a new site on the internet with Real Audio featuring Hawaiian music in stereo. The site is the LD Reynolds web site, offering, as they put it, "tons of free near-CD quality music" using RealAudio 3 which you can download free. The web site is at http://www.mauigateway.com/hwnintro.htm .
But first, for newcomers, this is how this page works: every two weeks I list the latest Hawaiian music CD releases, and the Hawaiian music concerts for the ensuing two week period around the world. I also list new concerts that I hear of, no matter when they are, to give those of you out there a "head's up" to get those front row seats.
If you're looking for other concerts, or for gigs, you can use the Dakine Online link at the bottom of my page. I listed quite a few Mainland spring concerts on my early March page that might be of interest to you. Recordings
Ken Emerson, Slack & Steel (Liko Records - Liko Hawaiian Folk Collection Vol. 3 LRCD 2002) I don't usually buy CDs on first hearing. Normally, I listen to them a couple time at the listening station, catch the artist's promo interviews on the radio, hear a cut or two over and over on the radio, before I decide to sink my hard-earned cash on it. However, this one I bought the first time I heard it. I just plain *liked* it. Ken is an extremely talented instrumentalist who handles both the steel guitar and the slack key on this tour de force. One caveat: I'm not really a steel guitar aficianado, so I can't comment on the steel guitar technique per se. But it says something about the CD that it attracted so strongly someone who isn't a big fan of the genre. It's more than just a novelty to hear ki ho'alu classics like Moana Chimes, I Kona, and Punahele on steel guitar. These versions shed a new light on those songs without distirting the original, plus Ken contributes five originals. These is a real sit-on-the- lanai-with-a-big-pitcher-of-whatevah-and-kick-back CD.
Chris Rego, Road to Hanalei (Acoustic Paradise Productions APP 523) An appealing CD by a performer making the move from supporting to solo. These songs (plus two instrucmentals) capture facets of life in Hawai'i (check out "Kapahulu Lament") in a variety of styles that, for once, seem to meld rather than stand out as the artist's attempt to reach the broadest possible audience. Some nice love songs, a folky number, a couple of more contemporary pieces. Songs include the title track, Why, and The Race.
Kalapana, Captain Santa Island Music (OTB Records OTB 004). Kalapana fans, don't be alarmed by the title -- this is very much a typey Kalapana CD, not a Christmas CD. I understand that this CD was released in Japan last May, and the title was chosen to appeal to the Japanese audience. Kalapana still puts out its trademark sound in songs such as "I Need Your Love," "Hero of Mine," and "Molokai Sweet Home."
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