“Paniolo Slack Key”
George Kahumoku Jr.
(Kealia Farms Record Co.)
George Kahumoku’s three Grammy Awards for his work as a record producer represent only a small part of his overall contributions to Hawaiian music. Kahumoku draws on most facets of that broad repertoire with this collection of songs about paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys).
Three of the songs are originals. The 15 others represent more than 150 years of paniolo culture in Hawaii, and most of them are Hawaiian rather than hapa haole. Kahumoku’s warm and well-weathered voice evokes prior generations of singers, songwriters and paniolo. He accompanies himself on a 12-string acoustic guitar; the doubled strings add to the natural nahenahe (sweet, melodious) sound of slack key.
Kahumoku provides essential cultural information in premium CD packaging that includes a brief history of cattle ranching in Hawaii, the genesis of ki hoalu (Hawaiian slack-key techniques), the slack-key tunings he used on these recordings, and the personal significance of each of the songs. Lyrics and translations are the only things he could possibly add to it.
Visit Kahumoku.com.
“‘Aina Hanau”
Nathan Aweau
(Bass Plus Music BP-1007)
Nathan Aweau made history in 2006 when he won Na Hoku Hanohano awards for three different projects. There was one for him as a solo vocalist, another for his work as a jazz instrumentalist, and three more as a member of Hapa. Nine years later Aweau continues to be an artist of broad diversity.
The title song displays his strength as a soulful vocalist. “Lilia” utilizes his falsetto range. Two other songs set Hawaiian lyrics to acoustic pop-style arrangements and create an unconventional type of hapa haole music. Aweau’s trademark seven-string electric bass guitar is spotlighted in an instrumental titled “Healing Waters.”
“Iaorana Oe” adds a traditional-style Tahitian song to the set list, and “Inori,” co-written with Ai Ishida and sung by Aweau in Japanese, will appeal to audiences in Japan.
From start to finish “‘Aina Hanau” is a one-man project. Aweau plays all of the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and wrote or co-wrote all 13 songs. Their Hawaiian lyrics and English translations are not yet posted on his website but the liner notes indicate that he plans to make them available there.
Visit nathanaweau.com.
