Re: "Aloha Live" Mainland Concert

Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 10:51:56 GMT
Newsgroups: alt.music.hawaiian
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"puuwaialoha" <email-address-deleted> wrote in message
news:email-address-deleted...
> Makana is NOT technically the world's greatest slack key guitarist.
That's something Makana would tell you himself. He does not try to
pass himself off as a slack key guitarist.
> He has management that is paid to create hyperbole and hype around
> this kid, and they are marketing him to the hilt, even in Honolulu
> (where the BS is greeted mostly with chuckles.)
Chuckles? Makana's talent as a guitarist isn't laughed at by many of
the prominent musicians that I know. I don't know who is managing
him now, but he did have some management that was laughable, even
if effective...
> The most Hawaiian
> trait is humility, and that's what's missing from this equation.
I've seen him be tempramental from time to time, as can be seen
in many highly talented people. But, he has always shown humility
anytime I've sat and talked with him.
It's also a Hawaiian trait to not diss another musician in public.
Because to do so would not be humble... There you go...
> He was a whiz when he was a young "Ki Ho'alu Kid," but a lot of the
> buzz had to do with talent at such a young age. Now he's growing up.
> Or growing taller, anyhow. Yeah, he can play stuff but I'm afraid his
> mentor Sonny Chillingworth left the scene before Matt could absorb the
> lesson about putting your feelings into your music, using it to say
> something. Or maybe it's just that Matt doesn't have that much to say
> yet. I find him tedious, self-absorbed, pretentious in music and
> dress, and even silly. The music is a snooze.
A big problem in Honolulu is that anything original is put off. Honolulu
has got to be the only city in the world that books concert after concert,
almost weekly with the same tired old "Jawaiian" groups and people still
attend... The only reason to go to most concerts is so that you know that
a different group is playing if you can see the personelle change. Otherwise
they all sound alike...
> As for tours like this one, I always feel sorry for mainlanders who
> get taken -- the tour may be called "Hawaiian", but often consists of
> the same cross-over types. The thematic thread that ties this
> particular bill together, the trait package which Amy, Willie and
> Makana share, is big ego + talent + unpredictible taste in music, with
> occasional brilliance. Wish you all could see and hear some of the
> real Hawaiian music that is taken for granted over here.
Your problem should be with the promoters. Anyone who knows these
people could easily predict their taste in music. They make no bones
about their desires to not be pigeon holed as only playing one type of
music.
I would have thought that you would be "savvy" enough to know that
some of the most highly regarded "Hawaiian" musicians enjoy playing
other types of music.
Gabby Pahinui and Eddie Kamae (to name just two) were Jazz musicians
prior to the "rennaisance".
The Rev. Dennis Kamakahi (undoubtedly one the most prolific writers
of Hawaiian music) played rock and roll and likes country music as well.
Ever see Aunty Genoa and Obrien Oselu sing together? They always do
a mainland hit song.
Ledward Kaapana? He'll play practically ANY thing and make it all his.
If you're going to trash Makana and Willie K, you might as well go for
all three Cruz bros, Dennis Kamakahi because he still writes Rock
and Country music, Simplisity (go ahead and tell them to their face they're
not Hawaiian), the Cazimeros, Melveen Leed, Mike Kaawa, Brother
Noland and a huge list of other "Hawaiian" musicians because they all
like to play something a little more complex than just simple Hawaiian
music. Even Makaha Sons play songs outside the genre...
> And did someone mention IZ? Total phenomenon, not to be repeated,
> mostly having to do with the soul which came thru his music, an
> amazing Hawaiian voice and spirit, even tho he completely screwed up
> "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." It didn't hurt that the song was in
> more than one big-time Hollywood movie.
"Screwed it up"??? The braddah made the song his own...
You see, it's not necessarily the genre of the music that is so important
to many of these musicians it's making the music theirs no matter the
origins of the song. That's where the mana'o comes in. The heart. They
love the song and give it something of their own. If that's "screwed up"
to you, then maybe you shouldn't be commenting on what is "Hawaiian
music"?
After all, there was no "Hawaiian Music" per se pre-contact. The music
that is known as "Hawaiian Music" has always been a blend of world
instruments and music done with Hawaiian heart... And as with all music
genres there will be those that want to preserve a time period in that music
and others that will help it evolve further. Like it or not... That's music.
> By the way, Iz often got the lyrics wrong, something he shares, come
> to think of it, with Uncle Willie K. But that's another thread ...
>
> Aloha.
There are quite a few musicians who can change the lyrics to songs on
the fly to make comments or send messages to friends in the audience.
And you have to be listening closely to pick this up.
Gordon Freitas is a master at this to name one. I just heard Haumea
Warrington come up with some good ones tonight. Jonah Cummings
is another. Iz was the best...
>
> email-address-deleted (saffron) wrote in message
> >
> > Huh? Because Willie K doesn't want to be known as a specialist in
> > hawaiian music? Who is matt? Makana might be TECHNICALLY the worlds
> > greatest slack key guitarist, but that doesn't mean he's the best.