Three New CDs From Daniel Ho
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Along with Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett‘s album Malama, Daniel Ho Creations rounds out its recent releases with Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Vol. III, Lili’uokalani: Legacy Hula Vol. 3 and Tia Carrere‘s Huana Ke Aloha.
Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Volume III features George Kahumoku Jr., Dennis Kamakahi, Sonny Lim, Keoki Kahumoku, Owana Salazar, Kawika Kahiapo, Daniel Ho and special guests Richard Hoopi’i, Bobby Ingano,
“All of the CDs in this series present some of the finest live performances of these slack-key masters. Each year hundreds of new recordings are created, from which only 11 or 12 songs are selected for a CD.
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Da Ukulele Boyz and Sterling Seaton.
“All of the CDs in this series present some of the finest live performances of these slack key masters,” says Daniel Ho. “Masters Of Slack Key Guitar, Vol.
III continues this tradition. Each year hundreds of new recordings are created, from which only 11 to 12 songs are selected for a CD. Because the library grows exponentially relative to our releases, the music gets better year after year, and harder to choose.”
This album is the sixth CD in the collection of music recorded at the live weekly Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar concert series on Maui, four of which have won Grammy awards for Best Hawaiian Album: Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Vol.1, Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Treasures of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar and Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Vol. 2.
The concert series continues at Napili Kai Beach Resort in West Maui. For more information, visit slackkey.com.
Proudly presented by award-winning kumu hula of Kulia I Ka Punawai (Kumu Hula Association of Southern California),
Lili’uokalani: Legacy Hula Vol. 3 is another album that took shape in Ho’s California studio. The songs on the album were carefully chosen by members of Kulia I Ka Punawai and are three sets of mele uncovered in archival sources.
Curated by respected hula scholar Dr. Amy Ku’uleialoha Stillman, the contemporary renditions of these historical hula chants are presented in their entirety to pay tribute to the mele and to properly honor Queen Lili’uokalani.
Kulia I Ka Punawai is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the perpetuation of hula.
Carrere is steady on the Hawaiian music scene with the release of her latest album Huana Ke Aloha.
“Huana Ke Aloha was inspired by the title track of our previous CD, He Nani,” says Ho. “We liked how the Hawaiian language flowed over a jazz/classical piano and bass accompaniment. The entire record is just Tia’s voice supported by the warm sound of piano and bass.”
Soothing and uncomplicated, the album was a true team effort that began with new treatments of traditional lullabies, which later sparked the idea of combining classic masterpieces.
“I wasn’t really sure we were going to do another record so soon, but Daniel and I were talking on my cell as I was driving up Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, and we just brainstormed transforming classical music with Amy Stillman’s command of Hawaiian language and poetry and turning things on their head musically,” says Carrere. “We’re all into stretching and growing and challenging the confines of what was before as artists.”
Her favorite song on the album is Track 1 Hiamoe Maika’i, a song she says works like a charm getting her daughter Bianca to bed. Other tracks include Huli Ho’i Mai, Huana Ke Aloha, E Ku’u Pepe, He Kama Makamae, Kia’i Mai, Hamau Leo, He Aloha Makamae, Pua I Ka Ua, Pomaika’i Ka Po’e Akahai and Piano Moemoe.
You can bet Ho has a few more albums set to come before the year ends. Expect a solo project, an instrumental slack key and bass CD, and a couple others that he’ll pop out. Even if it means a nonexistent social life, right, Daniel?
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