| Title: |
"Tradewinds: Ki Ho 'alu (slack-key guitar)" |
| Artist: |
James Edwards |
| |
|
| 1. |
Moonstone Beach - James Edwards |
| 2. |
Otter Water - James Edwards |
| 3. |
Moe Uhane (Dream spirit) - Sonny Chillingsworth |
| 4. |
Mahina Hone (Honeymoon) - James Edwards |
| 5. |
Rainforest - James Edwards |
| 6. |
Isa Lei - traditional Fiji song, arr. Keola Beamer |
| 7. |
Kalena Kai (Bath house) - Charles E. King, arr. Keola
Beamer |
| 8. |
Waves - Danny Johnson, arr. James Edwards |
| 9. |
Okole Maluna (Cheers) - James Edwards |
| 10. |
Taro Patch Medley |
| |
|
Hi'ilawe - Mrs Kuakini, arr. Keola Beamer |
| |
|
Molehu - Ozzie Kotani |
| |
|
Mauna Loa - traditional, arr. Ozzie Kotani |
| 11. |
The Hawaiian Wedding Song - Charles E. King, arr. James
Edwards |
| 12. |
Punahele - Ray Kane / Mona's Laundry Basket* - Keola
Beamer |
| 13. |
A Grandmother's Wish - Keola Beamer |
| 14. |
Ku'u Home O Kahalu'u - Olomana, arr. Kalani Smythe |
| |
|
|
| |
* with needle and thread |
|
| MOONSTONE BEACH |
- |
this was my first slack-key composition. Inspired by the beauty
of Moonstone Beach near my home in Cambria, California. |
| OTTER WATER |
- |
I love the playful nature of sea otters, which are plentiful near
Cambria. I've tried to give a musical impression of various otter
behaviors: cracking shellfish on their chests with rocks, spinning
on the surface to clean themselves, diving for food, etc.; having
a great time in the Pacific Ocean. |
| MAHINA HONE |
- |
I wrote this on Maui in 2003 while there with my wife Jana, who
was pregnant at the time (Isabella was born February 13, 2004). thanks
to our friends David and Beth, who sent us on this musical 'field
trip', we finally had our honeymoon! |
| WAVES |
- |
written by my friend Danny Johnson when he was just sixteen. Danny
has always been an avid surfer and this song expresses the magic of
being out on the waves. Danny lives on Maui, and used to play with
Willie K. in a band called 'Da Buggas'. |
| OKOLE MALUNA |
- |
this tune was also written on Maui. I had been listening to the
local radio station which played only Hawaiian music, and I wanted
to compose something that was 'bouncy', like the old-style music.
We asked our friend Kalani Smythe how to say 'cheers' in Hawaiian. |
| MOE UHANE |
- |
this was the first song I learned (way back in 2002) )in slack-key
style. The sweet and soothing feel of this piece got me hooked! |
| TARO PATCH MEDLEY |
- |
these three tunes are more in the traditional slack-key style. |
| RAINFOREST |
- |
this song evokes the memory of the incredible rainforest we saw
on the road to Hana in Maui; mysterious and timeless... |
| ISA LEI |
- |
an enchanting arrangement by Keola Beamer of a traditional song
from Fiji. |
| KALENA KAI |
- |
one of my favorite arrangements, by Keola Beamer |
| THE HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONG |
- |
I am available to play at weddings... |
| PUNAHELE / MONA'S LAUNDRY BASKET |
- |
two great tunes by Ray Kane and Keola Beamer. On 'Mona's Laundry
Basket' a needle is dangled over the strings of the guitar by a
thread held between the teeth. |
| A GRANDMOTHER'S WISH |
- |
a classic by Keola Beamer, in the old style. |
| KU'U HOME O KAHALU'U |
- |
I learned this arrangement from Kalani Smythe. |
Slack-key and me
Slack-key guitar is a traditional
solo finger picking style unique to Hawaii. Hawaiians have been playing
slack-key since the 1800's when guitars were brought to the islands by
the Spanish cowboys. The Hawaiians tuned or 'slacked' the strings to suit
their own music. The tradition has extended beyond the Islands to influence
many mainland musicians.
I was introduced to this style of
guitar playing by David Yudovin, who gave me an album of Keola Beamer's.
David and his wife, Beth, love to sail and have spent much time on the
Islands, so this music 'struck a chord' with them. It is so evocative
of Island life, and the spirit of the ocean. I was born on the Atlantic
coast, and have lived near the Pacific shores most of my life, so maybe
that has something to do with why I'm drawn to this music. However, one
of the great qualities of slack-key that can be enjoyed by anyone, is
its soothing nature. My friend Kalani Smythe, a wonderful guitarist and
singer from Maui, describes it as being 'like a mental massage.' It certainly
has been therapeutic for me!
| Suggested resources and educational materials: |
| Music Books: |
| Learn to Play Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar |
by Keola Beamer and Mark Nelson, Mel Bay Publications |
| Guitar Playing Hawaiian Style |
by Ozzie Kotani, Mel Bay Pub. |
| Keola Beamer teaches Hawaiian Slack-key Guitar |
Hal Leonard Pub. |
| Secrets of Contemporary Slack-key Guitar |
by Daniel Ho and Steve Sano, Alfred Pub. |
| Masters of Hawaiian Slack-key Guitar |
by Mark Hansen, Music Sales Corp. |
| |
| Videos: |
| Ki ho' alu That's Slack-key Guitar, Rounder Records,
available through Mel Bay Publications |
| The Art of Hawaiian Slack-key Guitar - Keola Beamer, Homespun
Tapes |
| |
|
| Guitars: |
| Tracks 1-6, 7-12 |
Dake Traphagen 1979 |
| Tracks 4-5 |
Antonio Loriente 2003 |
| Tracks 13-14 |
Steve Grimes 2002 |
| |
| Tunings: |
| Tracks 1, 2, 3, 8, 11 C wahine "C-G-d-g-b-e" |
| Tracks 4, 5, 14 "Kalani" D D-A-d-f#-a-d |
| Tracks 6, 7, 12 Taro Patch D-G-d-g-b-d
|
| Tracks 9, 10 F wahine "C-F-C-g-c-e" |
| Track 13 Bb wahine F-Bb-C-f-a-d |
Special thanks to: David and Beth Yudovin, Kalani Smythe, Jana
Edwards, and Steve Crimmel, and Danny Johnson
|
James Edwards plays Ki Ho 'alu (slack-key guitar)
recorded July 2004 at Painted Sky Studios - Cambria, CA
engineer - Steve Crimmel
photography - Jana Edwards
copyright 2004, James Edwards
There's just one place I long to be, across the mountains to the
sea,
to bring back the
magic I once knew
When I'm walkin' across her sands, and I embrace her with my hands.
she tells of the
love that she has for so few
And I thank her, when I'm out on the waves,
for the loving
she so tenderly gave
Watching, as her waves turn in to view
And she's flowing, and I'm kissing her face,
and I'm turning
just to meet her embrace
she covers me,
and hides me in her womb
Even though I know I can't be there, I still hear her voice, in
the salty air
and remember the
love we shared
Waves - lyrics by Danny Johnson
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