In the overall scheme of things, every year seems to be a bigger and better year for Hawaiian music. For those of us who remember times when the traditional music (and the language) of our Islands seemed doomed, it is exciting to look back each January at what has happened in the past 12 months.
Yes, there is a lot more diversity. Jazz has replaced Hawaiian music in many venues. Psuedo reggae, dubbed Jawaiian and Jamaican, is still with us, as is rap and hip-hop, in Hawaiian, no less. And if you're looking for something other than the most traditional Hawaiian music, it is pretty easy to find.
Although it seems to be constantly under attack and more watered down every year, Hawaiian music is alive and well.
Let's look first at THE GRAMMY!
We talked about it and dreamed about, and some people did something about it. Finally, in 2005, the first Grammy for a Hawaiian recording was awarded. It went to Charles Michael Brotman, for producing "Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 2." That Grammy Award-winning CD featured 10 guitarists playing 14 cuts of beautiful instrumental music.
The artists were Brotman, Bryan Kessler, Sonny Lim, Randy Lorenzo, Jeff Peterson, Keoki Kahumoku, John Keawe, Charlie Recaido, John Cruz, and Ken Emerson. They truly represented a variety of styles from very traditional to very contemporary. A tip of the hat to Brotman, Palm Records, and the thousands of local artists who recorded over the past many years, hoping to someday see a Hawaiian music category in the Grammys. Mahalo to all who paved the way.
Buy this CD!
Go to www.palmrecords.com to check out that winner and other great recordings.
IZ GOES PLATINUM!
This was also the year in which a CD by Israel Kamakawiwo`ole became the first Hawaiian recording to sell a million copies.
"Facing Future," by the late Bruddah Iz became Hawai`i's first platinum recording. Released on the BigBoy Record label and distributed by Mountain Apple Company, the sales of that particular CD were boosted nationally and even internationally because of Iz's recording of the medley of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and "What Wonderful World."
Jon deMello, Leah Bernstein, and the whole Mountain Apple `ohana are to be commended for a great marketing job that put that medley into dozens of films, television programs, commercials, and more. The result of course is that folks who bought that CD to get that non-Hawaiian medley, also got to hear Iz singing Hawaiian songs. It was GOOD for Hawaiian music.
Buy this CD!
Go to www.mountainapplecompany.com to check out that big seller and other great recordings.
"KEEPERS OF THE FLAME"
In a slightly different genre, Eddie & Myrna Kamae are also to be commended for "Keepers of the Flame," a 2005 film that won Documentary of the Year in the Louis Vittuon Hawai`i International Film Festival. It is about Tutu Mary Kawena Puku`i, Aunty Edith Kanaka`ole, and `Iolani Luahine, three of the greatest Hawaiian scholars and practitioners of our lifetime. We knew all three of these giants and they truly stand out and deserve this recognition. Their contributions to Hawaiian music is legendary.
Go to www.hawaiianlegacy.com to check out that film, and others produced by Eddie & Myrna Kamae, and for information about the music of Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawai`i.
Remember that 2005 was also the year that Eddie's biography "Hawaiian Son" was released, along with a DVD about the "Sons of Hawai`i" and another wonderful anthology CD of Hawaiian music by the Sons, a trendsetting group from the 60s whose sound was copied by many, and still is - a sincere form of flattery.
NEW STARS, NEW RECORDINGS
It would be difficult to name all of the wonderful recordings that have been released locally during 2005 (more than 170 CDs were released locally), but some do come to mind. It was clearly Brittni Paiva's year, recognized as the Most Promising Artist of the Year in Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for her first CD, and enjoying tremendous acceptance of her second CD, "Hear," featured in last month's column. She has come a long way for a teen, and we predict that 2006 will be an even bigger year for her. While she does play Hawaiian melodies, she may find herself as an even bigger star playing internationally recognized songs in front of symphony orchestras all over the world. That is what is happening with Jake Shimabukuro, another genius of the `ukulele. He plays all kinds of music, to all kinds of audiences, all over the world. And Jake, quite possibly the fasted `ukulele picker in the world, appeared on a national television talk show - not a first, but a significant milestone in his brilliant career. He's on a roll.
And we know there is much more great music to come. We've heard about an exciting new Brother Noland CD in the making; and Jack deMello, 89-year-old maestro whose Music of Polynesia recordings played so important a role in the development of Hawaiian music as we know it, will release a NEW CD. Jack's son, Jon DeMello, CEO of Mountain Apple, very likely will release more wonderful new CDs of newly recorded music, but may also re-master and re-issue more of his dad's great works, released earlier on the MOP label. As traditionalists, we say mahalo a nui loa to those who are re-issuing old vinyl and tape recordings on CD.
Maybe if we're lucky, there'll be a new Dennis and David Kamakahi release in 2006 too. And who knows what else lies in store.
ANOTHER GRAMMY WINNER ON THE HORIZON
More than two dozen of the 170 or so new CDs released in Hawai`i in 2005 also submitted their recordings for consideration in the 48th Grammy Awards. And five won nominations (selections were made by a NARAS committee), and one will become the second Hawaiian music CD to win a Grammy.
The five nominees include two that feature vocals - Kapono Beamer and Raiatea Helm - and four that feature slack-key guitar (Beamer, Ka`apana, Sonny Lim, and one by "various artists."
Remember, most of the 16,000-plus voting members have never heard of any of the artists on our local recordings, just as we have not heard of any of the artists in other folk categories - such as Native American. But many members have heard of "slack-key guitar." We're sure that lack of knowledge (about the artists) and some knowledge about the style of playing helped last year, when some pretty big names in our local recording industry were in the competition. Brotman's CD beat out The Brothers Cazimero, Ho`okena, Amy Gilliom & Willy K., and Keli`i Reichel last year, even though the "various artists" on his award-winning CD were not nearly as well known locally as those who lost. So, while name recognition and artist popularity might drive the local awards programs, it has little if any effect on the Grammy Award, where the local artists are not known.
- Ka`ulupono - by `Ale`a
- Nalei - by Kawika Alfiche
- *Slack Key Dreams of the Ponomoe - by Kapono Beamer
- Hawaiian Style `Ukulele - by Troy Fernandez
- Puka Kama`ehu - by Halau O Kekuhi
- Maui - by Hapa
- From Heart Aloha Wau Ia `Oe - by Hawai`i Loa
- *Sweet & Lovely - by Raiatea Helm
- Ulu Kau - by Kawaikapuokalani Hewett
- *Ki Ho`alu Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - by Ledward Ka`apana
- Na Hulukupuna - by Kamakele 'Bulla' Ka`iliwai
- `E - by Natalie Ai Kamau`u
- Welo - by Kaumakaiwa Kanaka`ole
- *Slack Key Guitar-The Artistry of Sonny Lim - by Sonny Lim
- Old Style II The Continual Perpetuation of the Folk Music of Hawaii - by Lono
- Ka`eha Ke Aloha - by Sean Na`auao
- Ukuleles in Paradise - by Herbt Ohta, Jr., and Daniel Ho
- Brittni X3 Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Instrumentals - by Brittni Paiva
- In Harmony - by Pali
- The Golden Voice of Hawaii, Vol. 1 - by Dennis Pavao
- Na Mele O Kauai - by Norman Ka`awa Solomon
- Ki Ho`alu Inn - by Paul Togioka
- Ka `Ukulele Lele - by Bryan L. Tolentino
- Hawaiian Steel Vol. 3 Byrd's Nest - by various artists
- *Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Vol. 1 - by various artists (Ledward Kaapana, George Kahumoku Jr., Ozzie Kotani and Cyril Pahinui).
- `Ohana Volume One - by various artists
* The five that were nominated for a Grammy this time around.
Talking with other writers/columnists gave us a feeling of how others might view the nominees and their chances in the 48th annual Grammy Awards (second for Hawaiian music).
"I think Daniel Ho might get a lot of votes because of his last name," said one writer. "They'll think of Don Ho, and probably think Daniel might be his son." Not too far-fetched a thought. Don is the most famous Hawaiian ever, and Ho is one of the few local artist names recognized by most of the NARAS voters. Daniel is also well known in LA (where a lot of the NARAS members live or hangout), as a top-notch studio musician. Daniel Ho is both a producer and artist on one of the nominated CDs.
"Ledward is probably the best known of the nominees," said another. He has performed all over the Mainland for many years, and is perhaps better known and more admired among musicians (read that "guitarists") than other nominees.
Noting that most of the voters will never listen to the recordings (can you imagine being a nominee and sending a FREE CD to nearly 17,000 voting members of NARAS, so they can hear your product, not knowing if they will even open the mail, or listen to this particular one of the more than 500 CDs nominated in more than 100 different categories - mostly music they NEVER buy or listen to?). Can you imagine being a voting member confronted with 500 recordings you're expected to judge?
Actually, NARAS encourages members to vote only in the categories where they have knowledge and expertise, but they are not restricted and may vote in any or all categories. The NARAS membership in Hawai`i nei and familiar with the music and artists is a very small number. Last year, that fact prompted observers to predict that the more well-known names would win - as happens in Na Hoku Hanohano Awards each year. But it's our guess that some Mainland members must have voted too, giving Brotman an edge over the more popular local artists.
"If they look at the covers, they'll vote for Raiatea Helm," said another. Yep, she is not only a beautiful young lady (looks probably count more among the NARAS folks than locally, where we concentrate more on talent) but it IS a great cover shot. And, the fact that an instrumental CD won last year and her CD is a vocal entry might help too.
One local producer gives Sonny Lim a good chance because he was on stage at the Grammy Awards ceremony last year with Brotman, so everyone who attended that gala event saw and heard him speak. They might remember his name.
Beamer's also is more vocal than solo instrumental, even though the CD name implies "slack-key guitar." Again, voters who remember what recording won last year (we do, but do they?) might want to balance it out a bit by voting for a vocalist. There are a lot of folks who think this category should be divided into two - one for vocal and one for instrumental.
Then who knows, next year we might have more slack-key guitar, steel guitar, `ukulele, and maybe even piano instrumental entries. There really should be two categories.
It is an exciting time for Hawaiian music, and for local recording artists and producers.
E ola mau loa ke mele Hawai`i nei.
