Wow! Plenty of good recordings this month, some great concerts (including you folks on the Mainland and Japan!), and even a TV show featuring some great Hawai'i musicians!
One sad note: I've heard that the "Portrait of Hawai'i's Music" concert scheduled for Phoenix, Arizona is close to being cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Apparently there was some kind of glitch that caused Dillards Box Office to reject phone orders. This has now be straightened out and it is okay to call for tickets and they WILL take phone orders and they WILL mail the tickets. This is a terrific concert with greats such as the Makaha Sons, Jerry Santos of Olomana, Cyril Pahinui, and Robi Kahakalau. If you're at all thinking of going -- call and order your tickets *now*! Call Dillards for tickets at (602) 678-2222. It's worth the drive!
How this page works: I list the coming two weeks in Hawaiian music, as well as announcing new concerts I hear of. You may find it useful to peruse my past pages (I post two each month) for advance notice of other concerts I have posted. I do not post all concerts at once due to space limitations.
Recordings
The Ho'opi'i Brothers, Ho'omau (To Perpetuate) (Mountain Apple MACD 2037). For all lovers of traditional Hawaiian music, this is the CD to get! The well-beloved Ho'opi'i Brothers, who received a National Endowment for the Arts folk heritage fellowship this year, have produced an album as authentic and fresh as a backyard jam session, yet with the superb quality of a studio session that includes such greats as Ledward Ka'apana, Auntie Genoa Keawe, Jerry Koko, and Herbert Hanawahine. The songs are cherished favorites such as Pua Lilia, Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua, Puamana, I Ali'i No 'Oe, Ka Uluwehi o ke Kai, 'Alika, and the incredibly fast-paced and joyful Kupa Landing, but the Ho'opi'i's take on them is anything but hidebound. Their sweetly authoritative leo ki'eki'e (falsetto) and lightning-fast 'ukulele make this CD a joy. This is the real thing.
Ho'okena, Ho'okamaha'o (Ho'omau Inc., HICD 1004). Followers of Ho'okena will want to rush out to pick up their latest, with variety of songs done in the classic Ho'okena harmonies. Songs include Ku'u Lie Pikake Anuhea, 'Alekoki, 'Ahulili, and a particularly catchy song, Ka I Ka Hoe.
The Nihau Brothers featuring Oliver Kelly, Say That You Love Me Forever (PBC Records PBC 1795). A mixture of music ranging from traditional Hawaiian (Kokee, Kalamaula) to the contemporary (Save the Last Dance for Me).
Carrie Nicol, Kiawe Skies (CNC-101) Carrie Nicol is a new name to me, and her CD touts itself as all the artist's original songs. It's a fresh, contemporary, clean sound. I'm not sure I'd call it Hawaiian, but there is one song in Hawaiian, Ho'ohelele'i, as well as other songs with Hawaiian themes (Paniolo Cowgirl, Hanakapiai Lullaby). Anyone who catches it, drop me a line and tell me what you think.
*Note: some of you have asked about the Na Leo Pilimehana anthology that was to have been released October 1 for limited distribution (until December 31). The album is supposed to contain 12 favorites and three new pieces. As of the date I finalized this page, however, it was not yet available in the stores. I will inform you when it is, as this one may go fast!
Concerts
Unless otherwise specified, all concerts are in Honolulu.
| October | |
| October 19 (San Francisco) | The Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association
(PICA) presents Israel Kamakawiwo`ole in concert at Marin Civic Center (off
Highway 101, take the North San Pedro exit in San Rafael). Note site
change!! Doors open at 5PM -- food and craft booths open Concert starts at
7PM. Tickets are $35/reserved seating and $25/general. Tickets can be ordered with VISA or MasterCard from the theatre box office at 415-472-3500, and general admission tickets (only) are still available for credit card/cash/check purchase at Sun Jose Hawai`i in San Jose BUT only through October 17. All cash and check purchases after that date will have to be made in person at the box office in San Rafael (open Monday-Friday 11AM-4PM). |
| October 19 (Toyko) | Halau fundraiser for Sachi, with Keali'i Reichel, Tony Conjugacion, Brother Noland, Nina Keli'iwahamana, and Chinky Mahoe. Sorry, no further info. |
| October 19 | Ledward Ka'apana and friends at the Hawaii Theatre. Info: 528-0506. |
| October 19 | Hanai Pono Benefit concert with Kapena (*not* Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, who will be in California!) at the Sheraton Makaha Luau grounds. Arts and crafts, keiki games, food booths, and door prizes. Call: 696-4039. |
| October 24 | Harold Kama Jr. at Gordon Biersch, Aloha Tower Marketplace, 4 - 7 p.m. Free. |
| October 24 | Willie K, Pier Bar, Aloha Tower Marketplace. Free.
|
| October 25 (Maui) | Keola Beamer and Family in concert at the Maui Arts and
Cultural Center, Kahului. For further info, contact the facility.
|
| October 26 | Teresa Bright and Kawaikapu Hewett in a mini-concert at Borders, Waikele. 4 p.m. Free. |
| October 26 | Na Leo Pilimehana mini-concert at Borders, Ward Center. 9 p.m. Free. |
| October 27 | Harold Kama Jr. in HKJ's Backyard Island Stye
Jam. 4 - 7 at the Hard Rock Cafe.
|
| November: | |
| November 1 & 2 (Los Angeles) | Keola Beamer in concert at
Whittier College. For more info, contact David Palmer at (310) 907-4835.
|
| November 2 | Ho'olaule'a '96 at St. Andrew's Priory. A
fun fair with games, food, auction, haunted house AND the music of Na Leo
Pilimehana. Rumor also has it that Auntie Genoa Keawe and Melinda Carroll will
play. Free.
|
"Eazy Tunes" is a six-part series hosted by Erin Chang and Kenji Matsuda. Each show features a special guest who will teach Erin and Kenji two songs on guitar. The show is for both new and experienced players and anyone who is interested in music. It's a "talk story" session with guitars!
Special Guests are:
Oct. 16th "Uncle Harry" KoizumiChannel 56 on Oahu: Neighbor Islands please check local listings. Shows air every Wednesday at 5:30pm, and every Show will repeat Friday at 8:00pm/Saturday at 9:00pm/Sunday at 5:30pm.
Oct. 23rd Lehua Kalima of Na Leo Pilimehana
Oct. 30th Kelly Boy DeLima of Kapena
Nov. 6th Keli'i Kaneali'i of Hapa
Nov. 13th Teresa Bright
Nov. 20th Jason Scott Lee
Where and when you can find it?
Questions? E-Mail - Ann Marie Kirk
Director/Producer of "Eazy Tunes" at
billie@lava.net
Please note: I've already asked Ann Marie, and copies of the show will *not*
be commercially available. You need to bug your friends with cable to tape
it! (So sorry, I don't get cable, so don't ask me.
Gigs
I no longer list them individually thanks to Keola Donaghy's terrific DaKine
Online computer database! Click here to check out your favorite musician's
gigs. You can also search for concert info.
That's it for October -- see you in early November!
A hui hou--
--Susan
susanj@lava.net
Music Pages read since 9/20/96.