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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
 Posted - 08/05/2013 : 3:29:53 PM
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http://blog.sfgate.com/hawaii/2013/07/26/bay-areas-sounds-of-hawaii-pulama-espaniola-inglis-to-showcase-new-albums/
Bay Area’s sounds of Hawaii: Pulama, Espaniola, Inglis to showcase new albums
In Hawaiian, hiʻipoi means “to tend, feed, cherish, as a child,” which describes the loving, tender approach of Pūlama, i.e. Albany’s slack-key guitarist/singer Jim Romano and vocalist Paula Kauapālaukī Rudman, to traditional Hawaiian mele and new compositions — and certainly to the production of their recordings, given the length of time between their 2009 debut, “The Song Within the Song,” and tonight’s CD release party for their second album, “Hiʻipoi.”
I’ve previously related the story of how the two healers — she a reiki practitioner, he a massage therapist — lived a few blocks from each other in Albany for years, but never met until 2003, when the two carpooled to an event in Danville. After Romano put some slack-key guitar music on the car stereo, Rudman started singing along. The two not only sang their way through the Caldecott Tunnel, they took the scenic route back after the workshop, through Orinda and Tilden Park, where he turned up the car’s heat and said, “Let’s pretend we’re in Hawaiʻi.”
Soon they began singing together, combining his inventive slack-key arrangements and their mutual leo nahenahe (soft, melodious vocals) into the distinctive sound of Pūlama (which also means “cherish.”) The recording of their 2011 performance at Freight & Salvage of “Hiʻilawe” (video below) — a song that appears on the new album — is a good example of their style, as are the liner notes:
History records two songs with the same words but different melodies, written at or before the turn of the 20th century. This version of “Hiʻilawe” by Pūlama is from the song attributed to Mrs. Kuakini in “Songs Of Hawaiʻi” (1902) as distinct from the song attributed to Martha K. Maui and first recorded by the great Gabby Pahinui.
Romano performs one of his regular Aloha Friday lunch gigs from noon to two today at King Tsin restaurant in Berkeley, returning for Pūlama’s CD release concert with Rudman, hula dancers and other special guests from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The music is free, but reservations are suggested for dinner; call (510) 525-9890.
And speaking of sophomore albums, Steven Espaniola — profiled here before his June concert at the Palace of Fine Arts — performs his only two official release concerts in Northern California for his new CD, “Hoʻomaopopo,” this weekend. On Saturday, the slack-key/uke/vocal artist plays at the Surf Spot at 2 p.m. in Pacifica; on Sunday he returns to Pono Hawaiian Grill in Santa Cruz for a 5 p.m. show, with two bandmates and hula dancers a given ($10 donation requested.)
And speaking of Pono Hawaiian Grill and slack key, islands-based virtuoso Stephen Inglis performs music from his new instrumental album, “Soul Sound Slack,” tonight at the Santa Cruz restaurant/lounge, whose Hawaiian music program he helped inaugurate two years ago, when the Honolulu-born Inglis was living in Berkeley. Inglis has recently received acclaim for his “Slackin’ on Dylan” album and Molokaʻi-themed collaboration with Dennis Kamakahi, “Waimaka Helelei.”
Next weekend: the 18th S.F. Bay Area Aloha Festival, once again at the San Mateo County Event Center. Watch this space for details.
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2013 : 06:46:50 AM
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The Aloha Festival went off pretty well this year, judging by the attendance I saw on Saturday. Of, course Steven Espaniola was one of the highlights on Saturday with his wonderful falsetto voice. Hiram Bell opened the event with his usual quirky humor and substantial Ukulele skill, which he followed with an Uke workshop that I did not participate in. Our compatriot, Fran Guidry also did a pretty good Slack Key workshop on Saturday with Tab hand-out and everything. The little Fishman line-array amp he plugged into was intriguing, I will have to look up the specs. I think Hiram and Fran also did workshops on Sunday. Lots of other things going on as well. The weather is a little better (warmer) in San Mateo than foggy San Francisco, but the venue lacks the beauty and impressiveness of the Presidio.
I was not able to attend the Festival on Sunday cause I was too broke as The Wife had spent all my money at the Festival Vendors.
NOT...  - Just too busy with other stuff!
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 08/06/2013 06:52:17 AM |
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Bay Area’s sounds of Hawaii
