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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
 Posted - 03/22/2012 : 10:01:19 AM
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Eric Lee With Hula By Meleana Manuel And Ke 'Olu Makani O Mauna Loa...At The Pono Hawaiian Grill
The Pono Hawaiian Grill In The Reef (Formerly The Cypress Lounge)
120 Union Street, Santa Cruz
Friday, March 23rd
6:00 to 9:00 pm
No Formal Cover Charge
But a donation is suggested
Musicians gotta eat too!
Eric Lee is one of the premier talents of contemporary Hawaiian music today. Starting in 1998 Eric had a ten year association with the group he helped create called "Na Kama". During his time with Na Kama, Eric twice won The Na Hoku Hanohano Award. All together, "Na Kama" released 4 CDs that stressed not only fine musicianship but also the perpetuation of traditional Hawaiian music and song writing in the Hawaiian language. During this time he was also a member of the popular Hawaiian group called "The Ka'ala Boys". They produced three CDs during Eric's tenure with the group.
All of this dedication to traditional Hawaiian music, dedication to Hawaiian language and also a strong foundation in rock, country, blues, folk and jazz came together in Eric's first solo CD released at the end of 2009 called "Crossroads". Eric was given The Hawaiian Music Award Best Contemporary CD for "Crossroads" in 2010. In March of 2011 Eric released two singles, the classic Leonard Cohen song, "Hallelujah" sung by Eric with backing vocals by Peter Milo, and "Thunder Road" a rock inspired instrumental written by Eric. His next solo CD called "Kawehilani" is due out in early May of this year.
Also appearing in this special event will be Kumu Hula Meleana Manuel with dancers from Hula Halau "Ke Olu Makani O Mauna Loa" (The Gentle Wind Of Mauna Loa). The hula school which was started in 1990, is based in the aptly named town of Volcano located near the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawai'i. The school also maintains separate divisions in multiple locations in Japan and also in San Francisco. Traditional Hawaiian hula is a very complex art form with dance choreography passed on directly from kumu to student. Some students will undergo a long training process to achieve kumu status themselves. Lineage of teacher to student is of utmost importance in hula. Kumu Meleana's lineage credentials are impeccable. She became a kumu under the direction of Kumu Hula George Naope, a legendary figure in Hawaiian Hula. In 1964 George Naope helped to create The Merrie Monarch Festival, held each year in Hilo. It has become the premier hula event in the world.
The visit to Santa Cruz by Eric Lee and Meleana Manuel is an acknowledgement of the strong interest held by many people in our area for all things Hawaiian, especially the music and the dance.
There is no cover charge, but we suggest a $10 donation to help with the musician's travel expenses.
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"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
Edited by - markwitz on 03/22/2012 10:03:30 AM |
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Eric Lee and Meleana Manuel In Santa Cruz 03/23
