Slack Key DVD Documentary by Eddie Kamae

A few days ago I received my copy of Ki Ho'alu: Slack Key The Hawaiian Way, a DVD documentary of Hawaiian slack key guitar, Hawaii's gorgeous, indigenous fingerpicking guitar style. I've really been enjoying it! You'll recognize some of the names and faces that have appeared at the Southern California Slack Key Festival like George Kahumoku Jr, Ledward Kaapana and Dennis Kamakahi. Gary Haleamau, who was a part of the 2008 Aloha Falsetto Festival, is also in there and you'll get to see him again at the 2011 Slack Key Festival in Redondo Beach January 23. Lots of great interviews and music from Gabby Pahinui (Cyril's father), Raymond Kane, George Kuo, and even my UH college professor Lisa Smith!

I never would have thought - back when I was attending the Slack Key Festival in Hawaii (when it used to be held at the McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana park) - that I'd be hiring these people for my shows and becoming friends with them.

This film premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., during a special day of screenings at the American Film Institute honoring Eddie Kamae's Legacy Series. Jim "Kimo" West says he was there on Maui back when they had just wrapped up the filming and remembers them partying it up at the local restaurant/bar. Lots of great playing techniques that you just don't see anymore like the sewing needle hanging from the mouth and banging up against the string and right hand tapping. I'm sure you'll enjoy this documentary as much as I am.

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Master Cyril Pahinui

I have been so fortunate to have Cyril Pahinui as a friend and supporter. Cyril was the first person I called to invite to participate in my first Southern California Slack Key Festival January 2008 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach - a showcase of Hawaiian ki ho'alu (slack key) guitar - and to have the honor of presenting him on stage has been nothing short of a blessing as has his friendship.

This past weekend he was in town here in Southern California for a couple performances in Culver City and Claremont and taught a workshop which was hosted by Na Mamo, the folks who put together the annual E Hula Mau hula competition in Long Beach. I've really only been playing slack key in Taropatch tuning (low to high: D-G-D-G-B-D) mostly out of laziness, I must admit. So the workshop was the first time I'd ever actually played in Cyril's tuning. He tunes his guitar to C-G-E-G-C-E, an open C tuning inherited from his father, the famous Gabby Pahinui. It is just one of the many Hawaiian slack key tunings out there but a very versatile one. Nice how you can get that alternate bass thing going not just between the root and the fifth but with the third in there as well, plus you can get octaves in 3 different string combinations which is also nice for soloing.

While Cyril had to learn everything by ear from his dad (who apparently never actually formally taught anyone anything), Cyril travels across the country sharing all he knows to anyone who wants to learn. If you ever have the opportunity to catch him at one of these workshops in your area, don't pass it up. Not only do you get a nice education in the Pahinui slack key style but you get to hear some great stories as well, sure to motivate you!

Here's a couple of nice videos of Cyril and his father. You can become a friend of Cyril on his Facebook page as well.

Jeff Peterson, Slack Key Guitarist and So Much More

It was a weekend of wonderful and inspiring performances by Jeff Peterson here in SoCal. What an incredibly diverse repertoire - he played everything from original slack key guitar - "ki ho'alu" in Hawaiian - arrangements of standard Hawaiian tunes like "Koke'e", "Hawaii Aloha" and "Kaimana Hila", slack key renditions of jazz songs like "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "Begin the Beguine" and "Blue Hawaii", original compositions like his "Kukui Nut Run", "Kahealani" and "Let's Ride" and even pop tunes like "Every Breath You Take" by the Police.

Don't hesitate to checkout out one of the most diverse guitarists you'll ever hear - Jeff can do it all! Jazz, classical, pop and, of course, slack key guitar. Everyone's anxiously waiting for his next CD to come out which should include beautiful new tunes he wrote, which he previewed for everyone over the weekend - watch this video of his new tune "Lilinoe" - some Facebook comments from fans: "Just watching you play the instrument is something to behold", "Beautiful! Jeff is truly gifted! Mahalo for sharing this!"

Be sure to catch Jeff Peterson as he performs in the house band for the upcoming Aloha Falsetto Festival this July in Redondo Beach and, of course, in the 2010 Southern California Slack Key Festival.

Let us know what you think of his music!

What is "Slack Key Jazz"? pt 2

Who are some of your jazz influences?

Jeff: I am influenced by many jazz guitarists including Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Tuck Andress, Pat Metheny, and Larry Koonse. There are many other artists I enjoy including John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Roy Haynes, Ray Brown, and Ella Fitzgerald. Jazz music has left an incredible legacy of innovative artists. The music continuously evolves and covers a tremendous range of sound and style from Blues to Dixieland to Swing to Bebop to fusion. I am particularly found of jazz from the 50s and early 60s.

Why does slack key guitar and jazz sound so good together?

Jeff: Swing and jazz music had an impact on Hawaiian music during the big band era in the 20s, 30s and 40s. Hawaiian musicians took the swing feel and harmony and adapted it to their own music. You can hear it in many hula classics and hapa haole songs like Puamana, Sophisticated Hula, Alika, Hula Blues, and Little Grass Shack. The swing feel is there and the chords progressions follow
patterns and cycles that were common in jazz at the time. Slack key guitarists play these songs and use the same chord progressions. What makes slack key guitar playing unique is not just the tunings but the feel and phrasing of the music. Although it is not exactly like swing music, it uses similar scales, syncopation, and chromatic notes.
A very important link is also improvising. Playing in the moment is the heart of jazz and is very common is slack key. You play how you feel. It keeps the music fresh and exciting.

Don't forget to join us for three wonderful evenings in Dana Point, Malibu and Redondo Beach with one of Hawaii’s most gifted and respected musicians! From Hawaiian slack key guitar to classical to jazz, Jeff Peterson’s versatility makes him an artist highly sought after by Hawaii’s top recording and touring artists!

Jeff Peterson has performed at a variety of venues from Symphony Space in New York City to the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia. He appeared on Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2 which won the first ever Grammy Award for best Hawaiian recording in 2005. Jeff was a featured artist in the 2008 and 2009 annual Southern California Slack Key Festival in January 2008 which included Cyril Pahinui, Dennis Kamakahi, George Kahumoku Jr, Ozzie Kotani, Owana Salazar, Makana, Kimo West and Steven Espaniola.

What is "Slack Key Jazz"?

Jeff Peterson answers some questions about the relationship between Hawaiian and jazz music and what is behind his unique blending of the two.

Has anyone combined ki ho'alu (slack key) guitar and jazz tunes together before?
Jeff: Leonard Kwan played in many different slack key tunings on archtop jazz guitars and was definitely influenced by swing music. Gabby Pahinui and Atta Isaacs both loved jazz and played songs in a jazz style like "I'm-A-Livin'-On-A-Easy". Many early slack key guitarist who recorded had a strong ragtime and swing feel like Tommy Solomon and William Namahoe.

How did you come to develop this style?
Jeff: I took this concept a little further by arranging songs by Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, Cole Porter, Glen Miller, Miles Davis, and other jazz greats in slack key tunings with phrasing from both Hawaiian music
and jazz.

to be continued.......for audio samples of Slack Key Jazz, click HERE

Hawaiian Jazz Nights with Jeff Peterson

Tickets available now for three wonderful evenings with one of Hawaii’s most gifted and respected musicians! From Hawaiian slack key guitar to classical to jazz, Jeff Peterson’s versatility makes him an artist highly sought after by Hawaii’s top recording and touring artists!

Coming up next week Friday through Sunday (May 15-17), Jeff Peterson will be performing his unique brand of "slack key jazz" as the featured artist in Kala Koa's Hawaiian Jazz Nights Series! Friday May 15 he will be performing at Lord of the Strings in Dana Point, Duke's Malibu in the Moana Room on Saturday night and on Sunday evening at Delzano's By The Sea in Redondo Beach.

The Lord of the Strings concert series features the best guitarists from around the world and focuses on acoustic styles. Past performers include Muriel Anderson, Andrew York, Laurence Juber and Ledward Kaapana.

The performance at Duke's will include an awesome appetizer reception with ono (delicious) food like Babyback Pork Ribs in Sweet Mango BBQ Sauce, Hawaiian Style Poke, Korean Style Marinated BBQ Sirloin Beef Satay, Thai Chicken Pizza, Moana Sushi Rolls, Primo Beer specials & More!

At Delzano's you get to enjoy great music and the price of admission here also includes award-winning cuisine prepared by Chef Rafael Solorzano with a gorgeous sunset oceanview from the Redondo Beach Boardwalk.

Jeff Peterson has performed at a variety of venues from Symphony Space in New York City to the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia. He appeared on Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2 which won the first ever Grammy Award for best Hawaiian recording in 2005. Jeff was a featured artist in the 2008 and 2009 annual Southern California Slack Key Festival in January 2008 which included Cyril Pahinui, Dennis Kamakahi, George Kahumoku Jr, Ozzie Kotani, Owana Salazar, Makana, Kimo West and Steven Espaniola.

The son of a Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy), Jeff grew up on Haleakala Ranch on Maui. His fluency in a variety of guitar styles, including jazz and classical, has distinguished him as a prominent young artist with his own personal approach to slack key.

Peterson has performed with Eric Clapton, James Galway, Michael Feinstein, the Honolulu Symphony, Ledward Kaapana, Dennis Kamakahi, Hawaii Opera Theatre, jazz bassist Rufus Reid, shakuhachi master Riley Lee, and soprano Dana Hanchard. He has appeared in Europe, Asia, Australia and the US at countless venues, including the Symphony Space in New York City, and has also performed privately for Bill and Hilary Clinton.

Jeff Peterson has studied with David Russell, Carlos Barbosa Lima, Benjamin Verdery, Ozzie Kotani, Larry Koonse, and Joe Diorio, and has performed in master classes for Scott Tennant, Antigoni Goni, Ricardo Cobo, and Dusan Bogdonovic. Jeff currently lives in Honolulu with his wife, Kahealani.

How I Got Started Playing Slack Key Guitar Part 2

Another thing that really got me going was the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters CD which is still my favorite to this day. Especially when I was living in Japan, I'd listen to that CD a LOT. When I was still attending the University of Hawaii I'd visit the library and check out some of the slack key sheet music they had on hand. Also, my friend Ruth Komatsu let me borrow the Leonard Kwan book that is now unfortunately out of print although after all these years I was finally able to snag it online on Ebay! Ruth is the sister ofJoanie Komatsu, a wonderful musician who I used to always go down and watch in Waikiki. Joanie appears on the "Ki Hoalu Christmas" CD playing "Silent Night" with Ruth on recorder. Ruth was a major influence on me wanting to go into music seriously. When I told her I was thinking of studying guitar in college she told me I'd have to learn classical technique, of course I had no idea what that was. And when another friend said "You know - like Andres Segovia?" I was like, "Who??"

Ruth also let me borrow tablature copies of stuff by Ozzie Kotani and Keola Beamer and these I worked on in Japan since my work schedule really was only 4pm - 9:30pm for most of the time I was there so I had lots of time on my hands - nice eh? I remember it felt a little ironic to be learning "Koko Ni Sachi Ari" arranged for Hawaiian slack key while in Japan. Also had Beamer's "Wi-Ha", "Pua Lililehua" and "Ho'omalu Slack Key" as well as a bunch of slack key Christmas songs which I still have to this day. Only thing about Beamer's first CD is that a lot of it is duet stuff but still, what beautiful arrangements. George Kahumoku told me (I didn't realize this) that Beamer is classically trained and writes out his stuff. Can anyone verify this?

Speaking of Leonard Kwan, last summer when I was back in Hawaii I found a CD with like, 25 of his songs on there, reissued by Cord International. I didn't know that the slack key piece he played on the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters CD was unusual in that I think I read once that that was the first time he'd recorded with an acoustic guitar instead of his usual electric hollow-body. Jim "Kimo" West told me that the old amps back in the day had a vibrato setting which would explain how Leonard Kwan and some other guitarists from back then got that sound on their guitar.

Anyone else think I should get a kickback from Aunty Maria at Mele.com?

Hawaiian Music Survey

Earlier today I sent out a survey to those who have been coming to my shows - did you get the invitation email?

One of the big questions on the survey is "Thinking back to the Kala Koa concerts you've attended thus far, who has been your favorite artist?"

The responses so far have been in favor of:

Cyril Pahinui, Makana (2008 and 2009 Southern California Slack Key Festival participants)
Ledward Kaapana (Did a solo show for him in April of last year)
Raiatea Helm (2008 Aloha Falsetto Festival)

Another question - "Name one artist you would love to see in a future Kala Koa concert on the mainland" - got these names (top responses so far):
Koala Beemer (I think they meant Keola Beamer, not some cute little bear)
Cazimeros
Keali'i Reichel
Amy Hanaiali'i

Makana also scored high on this list too. It would be totally surreal to have Keola someday as he was one of the ones I really listened to a lot but have never had the chance to meet. Amy would be awesome to have as part of the Falsetto Festival but the Cazimero Brothers actually already come to California every year, as part of the Aloha Series at Whittier College and have been coming for oh, 15 years now? So I find it hard to believe that there are still a lot of people out there who don't know this.

If you've been coming to the shows but aren't on the email list yet please follow this link to participate in this survey and you might even win tickets for the July Festival!

Slack Key Open Mic

Going to pick up a friend coming in to L.A. today from Honolulu and going down to Dana Point in Orange County. Thinking of maybe stopping in at Kaisen's Sushi in Oceanside where the Southern California Slack Key Society hosts a ki ho'alu open mic session at 6pm every Tuesday. My nail on my right hand middle finger was ripped off last week so I cut off all the other nails - first time in probably years - so not sure if I can play good right now but might give it a try. Kaisen's is at 1906 Oceanside Blvd in Oceanside and it's one of those wannabe Japanese restaurants not actually owned by Japanese so don't expect authenticity, the service sucks in my opinion and they're too tight-fisted to even give some sort of discount to the people who come and play (which in turn brings more people to the restaurant) but the people in the Society like Mike and Bill and Dusty and Terry (who make up pretty much the entire Society membership) are all wonderful people who play good slack key and they are supportive so fun can still be had here. So maybe I'll see you there tonight!