Track Listing

1. Panini Pua Kea - Cyril Pahinui
2. Ku'u Kika Kahiko (My Old Guitar) - Ozzie Kotani
3. Pohakuloa - Moses Kahumoku
4. Ke'ala's Mele - Leonard Kwan
5. Maui Medley - Barney Isaacs And George Kuo
6. Moe 'Uhane' (Dream Slack Key) - Sonny Chillingworth
7. Kalena Kai - Keola Beamer
8. Whee Ha Swing - Ledward Kaapana
9. E Ku'u Morning Dew - Keola Beamer
10. Waikiki Hula Medley - George Kuo
11. Punahele - Ray Kane

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14154 in Music
• Released on: 1995-05-23
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Hawaiian slack-key guitar began evolving in the 1830s, when Spanish and Mexican cowboys brought guitars to the cattle ranches of the Big Island. It became a recognizable style around the turn of the century. The term refers to the practice of slacking some strings from standard tunings to create open tunings; the thumb provides the bass line while the other fingers play melody and improvise. It might thus remind some listeners of the fingerpicking of a country master like Doc Watson, but the style has a wind-blown, wide-open quality all its own. Traditionally an accompanying instrument in a group setting, slack key has recently moved out front, and this all-instrumentals CD shows why. From the light touch of Moses Kahumoku or Leonard Kwan to the bluesiness of George Keo or Ray Kane to the pop feel of Keola Beamer, it offers the best possible introduction to the music. --John Morthland

Customer Reviews

Wonderfully mellow disc
This is a solid greatest hits collection, with perhaps only one or two clunkers in the bunch. Very mellow, and great for listening to at work (especially if you work in Hawai'i, I suppose).

It's a cliche to say that discs like this take a listener to the islands, but it's a popular sentiment for a reason: This CD is like a vacation to Maui that you can take any time.

Sweet Sounds
I have owned this album for a long time, and it remains one of my favorite samplers in any genre. This music is gorgeous, calming, gentle and yet very sophisticated. I don't play guitar, and I don't know anything about guitar tunings, but the slack key sound is distinctive and beautiful. A great introduction to these artists.

How Could Anyone Not Like This!
I remember listening to this kind of guitar sound when I was a teenager in Hawaii back in the summer of 1964. I fell in love with that sound then and am still a huge fan of this style of guitar playing.

It is still alive and fresh even after listening to this CD hundreds of times over the years. It makes you want to smile and dance and kick sand around on some beach!

The selection of artists for this CVD is alike an aal-star team - great stuff!