Jeff Peterson

Slack Key Guitar

Ka Nani O Ki Ho’alu, The Beauty of Slack Key

$15.00

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Description

  1. Song For Keola   
  2. Pu‘uanahulu
  3. Kamuela Inn
  4. Mauna Loa
  5. Malama Ka Punahou
  6. Cyril’s Mele
  7. The Beauty of Mauna Kea
  8. Ulupalakua
  9. Ho‘onanea 
  10. Meleana
  11. Noho Kai
  12. Lili’uokalani Waltz
  13. Hilo E
  14. Kolea
  15. Ua Lanipili
  16. Ka Wailele O Nu’uanu
  17. Hula O Makee
  18. Mele Kahiko
  19. Waipio

The sweet, nahenahe sounds of ki ho’alu have been serenading the people of Hawai’i since the introduction of the guitar by the vaqueros who also introduced ranching traditions in the 1830s in the town of Waimea on Hawai’i Island.  A new style of guitar playing developed as Hawaiian musicians explored open tunings and blended sounds from their musical heritage with the new instrument.  The music was later celebrated by King David Kalakaua in the late 1800s but was not widely known outside of the islands until it was first recorded in the 1940s by Gabby Pahinui.  Other musicians of this generation also recorded the style including Ray Kane, Leonard Kwan, Alice Namakelua, Sonny Chillingworth, and Atta Isaacs.  These slack key players inspired young artists of the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance of the 1970s including Keola Beamer, Ledward Kaapana, Dennis Kamakahi, Cyril Pahinui, Peter Moon, George Kuo, Ozzie Kotani, and Haunani Apoliona who celebrated the music and brought it to a wider audience.

This recording is a tribute to these artists and all of the inspiration they have given me over the years.  Ka Nani O Ki Ho’alu, the Beauty of Slack Key continues to thrive and wouldn’t be possible without the spirit and talents of many generations of dedicated Hawaiian musicians.  “E ola mau ke ki ho’alu”—may slack key live on and prosper.

Song Notes

  1. Song For Keola

I am grateful for all the experiences I have shared with Keola Beamer during tours to Zimbabwe, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, China, across the US mainland, and back in Hawai’i around the islands and at his annual Aloha Music Camp. His music has inspired me in countless ways.  This song uses the F Wahine tuning that Keola favors and is arranged for two guitars.

Tuning: F Wahine CFCGCE

  1. Pu’uanahulu

One of the first Hawaiian records I ever listened to as a child was the Gabby Pahinui Band, Volume 1.  The version of this song from the album became one of my all-time favorites with Gabby’s vocals, a variety of guitars from Atta Isaacs, Sonny Chillingworth, Cyril Pahinui, Bla Pahinui, and the wonderful opening by Gabby in his unique C Mauna Loa tuning.   The build of the song with a full string section and the subtle intro and ending with just Gabby is chicken skin.  It is arranged here for solo guitar.

Tuning: C Mauna Loa CGEGAE

  1. Kamuela Inn

I have been performing and teaching each year in November for over a decade at the Kahilu Theatre `Ukulele and Slack Key Festival in Waimea on Hawai`i Island. A wonderful group of musicians join the fun each year and has included Ledward Kaapana, Mike Kaawa, Cyril Pahinui, Sonny Lim, Nathan Aweau, Benny Chong, Jake Shimabukuro, Amy Hanaiali’i, Chino Montero, Raiatea Helm, Victor Wooten, Bobby Ingano, Dennis Kamakahi, David Kamakahi, Richard Ho’opii, and many others.  The group always stays for a week or so down the street from the theater at the Kamuela Inn.  We have many great kanikapila  jam sessions there after concerts.  I often wake up to the sound of Ledward warming up and playing for guests at breakfast.  This song was written there after a great evening of music with friends.

Tuning: Open DADF#AD

  1. Mauna Loa

The Peter Moon band recorded a beautiful version of this classic song about the sailing ship Mauna Loa featuring Martin and Cyril Pahinui on vocals.  In this arrangement I transcribed their vocal parts for two guitars to follow each syllable of each verse.

Tuning: Taro Patch DGDGBD tuned down a half step to F# (C#F#C#F#A#C#)

  1. Malama Ka Puanahou

A few years ago I performed in Singapore for a 175thanniversary celebration for Punahou School and wrote this song for the event.  It is arranged for multiple guitars with the lead playing on a classical guitar.  I have taught and performed at Punahou in Honolulu many times over the years and studied classical guitar with a brilliant teacher named Lisa Smith who taught there and at the University of Hawai’i.  She inspired me to study guitar at the University of Southern California and was a wonderful mentor with incredible talents in slack key, classical, and flamenco guitar.

Tuning: Taro Patch DGDGBD

  1. Cyril’s Mele

Cyril Pahinui’s first recording on the Dancing Cat label called 6 and 12 String Slack Key remains as one of my favorite recordings.  He would often use a C major tuning that he learned from Atta Isaacs with driving, syncopated rhythms or rich, lush harmonies.  I wrote the song the day that Cyril passed.  His music and teaching leaves a legacy that will inspire generations to come.  I have so many memories of good times with Cyril recording an album with Amy Hanaiali’i and other guitarist, performing together at many concerts and festivals including the Southern California and Seattle Slack Key Festivals, and lots of jam sessions and good meals with friends along the way.

Tuning: Atta’s C CGEGCE

  1. The Beauty of Mauna Kea

This song was originally recording on Keola Beamer’s album In The Real Old Style which is one of the most influential slack key recordings ever.   The songs captures the spirit and mana of the tallest mountain in the island chain that is often covered with snow at the summit during winter months. Keola’s gift for story telling and musical poetry is breathtaking.  It is arranged here for three guitars in Keola’s signature C Wahine tuning.

Tuning: C Wahine CGDGBE

  1. Ulupalakua

My father first worked at the Ulupalakua Ranch in upcountry Maui before moving the Haleakala Ranch where I was born in Makawao.  I have great memories of hearing his music and voice from a very early age.  He played guitar and sang Hawaiian music with friends as a way to unwind and relax. We explored the mountain on camping trips into the Haleakala Crater, the Peanut House on the ranch, and fishing trips in Kaupo on the stretch of coast past Ulupalakua where the mountain meets the sea.  He would always bring a guitar along the for the adventures and inspired me to play before I could even get my arms around the instrument.

Tuning: Taro Patch DGDGBD

  1. Ho’onanea

Lena Machado wrote many beautiful songs with inspiration from Jazz and Swing music.  This song has a unique sound with subtle harmonies and a calm lilt of swing rhythms.  My grandfather Edward Boone introduced me to jazz and loved playing melodies like this one on harmonica.  His favorite music was Dixieland Jazz but he knew hundred of melodies in many different styles.

Tuning: Taro Patch DADGBD

10. Meleana

I composed this song for my lovely niece Meleana who lives in Olinda, Maui. I wrote a song for her older sister Lilinoe for my album Maui On My Mind a few years back and was asked many times: “Uncle, when are you going to write me a song too?”   She was recently accepted into Kamehameha School on Maui and this was written to celebrate her wonderful spirit and nature.

Tuning: CGCGCE

11. Noho Kai

This song was written sitting by the sea shore in Kaapa, Kaua’i for students of the Aloha Music Camp organized each year by Keola Beamer.  There are many very talented and dedicated students there who continually amaze me with their music.  The song was written for two guitars dancing around each other like the wind and the waves creating ehukai or sea spray off the coast.

Tuning: Taro Patch DGDGBD

12. Lili’uokalani Waltz

Queen Lili’uokalani is considered one of the most gifted and prolific composers in Hawai’i.  Her music is still performed and celebrated regularly.  I recently joined a group called the Sovereign Strings that performs music from the Hawaiian Kingdom and Monarchy Era into the early 1900s with music as recorded and written down by the Queen, Kalakaua, Mekia Kealakai, David Nape, Henry Berger, and many others.  This waltz was composed in the style of this era and the music of Nalani Eha  or the family of royal composers.

Tuning: C Wahine CGDGBE

13. Hilo E

I first heard Dennis Kamakahi sing this song at a slack key festival and loved his style and the rich, soulful warmth of his vocals.  I learned so much from Dennis over the years and am was blessed to get to know him.  He was always so generous sharing his knowledge and aloha with students of all ages and backgrounds.  His songs are at the heart of the Hawaiian spirit and will be celebrated for many years to come.

Tuning: CGEGCE

14. Kolea

Each Fall the golden plover makes a harrowing journey flying across the Pacific Ocean from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to Hawai’i.  They make the flight without stopping over the course of many days.  They bask in the island sun for many months then all depart on the same day around the end of April each year.  This songs was composed as a tribute to this amazing journey across the Pacific Ocean.

Tuning: DADGAD

15. Ka Wailele O Nu’uanu

I live on O’ahu and pass the waterfalls in Nu’uanu Valley nearly every day. When the wind blows very strong from the South the water can actually be seen flowing upward in brief surges. This song by Jay Kauka is tribute to his father and memories of his childhood.  It is one of my favorite melodies.

Tuning: Taro Patch DGDGBD

16. Ua Lanipili

I have performed for nearly 20 years at a venue on the beach in Kaimana Beach at the foot of Diamond Head or Leahi as it is traditionally known.  I have witnessed countless sunsets that fill the skies above Waikiki with bursts of light that always move me.  This songs was writing after the sky glowed in many shaped before fading into darkness with a full moon rising directly over Leahi.

Tuning: Drop C CGDGBD

17. Hula O Makee

This arrangement of the classic song about a sailing captain is inspired by Ray Kane and his nahenahe slack key style. Ray loved the Taro Patch or open G tuning and often tuned down to the key of F to match his deep, powerful vocals.

Tuning: Taro Patch tuned down a whole step to F (CFCFAC)

18. Mele Kahiko

Long before the introduction of the guitar and other western instruments, Hawaiian music was based on minor tonalities and melodies from oli or chant.  This song develops some of these ancient sounds with more modern harmonies and a improvised, free style.

Tuning: G minor DGDGBbD

19. Waipio

One of the most famous slack key songs is Hi’ilawe about the twin waterfalls in Waipio Valley in Hawai’i Island. This song by Mekia Kealakai is lesser know but still beautifully captures the spirit of the unique village that has not changed over many generations.  Sam Lia was a gifted composer who lived in the valley and was know for his talents playing the fiddle in Hawaiian music nearly 100 years ago.  I recently heard his fiddle played and was touched by the warmth of the sound.

Tuning: Taro Patch DGDGBD

Credits

Produced and arranged by Jeff Peterson

Mixed and Mastered by Darin Leong

Photography by Dana Edmunds

Graphic Design by Disc Makers

Liner Notes by Jeff Peterson

Jeff plays handcrafted guitars by Goodall Guitars, www.goodallguitars.com.  A Goodall concert jumbo with Indian rosewood and Sitka spruce was used on this recording.  Jeff also played a classical guitar on M?lama Ka Punahou and The Beauty of Mauna Kea made by Gioachino Guissani in Italy.  Jeff uses D’Addario Strings, www.daddario.com.

Mahalo to Danielle Kahealani Peterson, Susan and Willie Wachter,Keola Beamer, Cyril and Chelle Pahinui, Amy Hanaiali?i, Darin Leong, Dana Edmunds, Wailea Magazine, Derrick Malama, James, Jean, and Luke Goodall, my family, friends, students, and all those who support my music at home and abroad.

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