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qihai
Aloha
11 Posts |
 Posted - 07/14/2014 : 12:09:58 PM
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The latest issue of Fretboard Journal has a long interview with Ry Cooder. Here he talks about Gabby.
I still have the '76 Ry Cooder album "Chicken Skin Music" that Gabby and Atta Isaacs both played on, almost wore that record out.
FJ: How did you first discover the music of Gabby Pahinui?
RC: In the early '70s, my wife had a good friend there who was living in Honolulu, a Hawaiian-Japanese friend of hers. She wanted to visit her. I couldn't go for some reason. I said, "Ask 'em - I know there are good guitar players over there. Find something good and bring it back."
Suzie called me on the phone from Honolulu and said, "I'm with so and so, and we're at the record store," 'cause it's still LP days. "Is this something like what you're talking about?" And she played it to me over the phone. I said, "Oh, that's awesome? Who's that?" "Well, I don't know, someone named Gabby." I said, "Buy all his records and bring them back."
So she bought some LPs and brought 'em home. And I listened. I look at this character sitting in his yard with all these other guys. I saw that it was a modern label, it wasn't a reissue, it wasn't old. It was something being done right then.
It was easy enough to get an address, and I wrote him a letter. I said, "To Whom It May Concern, whoever you are" - Panini Records, they called themselves, in Honolulu. I said, "My name is so and so, and I make records for Warner Brothers, and I play guitar," and this and that, "And I really think this is great music, and Gabby Pahinui is fabulous. And can I please come and say hello some time?" And that's how it all happened. I got a letter back - not right away - that said, "Sure, come on out and we'll introduce you to him."
And it turned out to be. We're all still friends. Although, of course, Gabby and most everybody that I knew died. The sons are still alive.
I would say from all the people I've known, I've learned the most from him, just playing and hanging around. And he was Mister Open Tuning, real fascinating repertoire. Not only the tunings, but the style, the way he played, the beautiful touch that he had - tremendous relaxation and the beautiful languid sense. But a big sound on the guitar. If fascinated me how he made the thing sound large rather than little and picky. And he was an incredible steel player.
We spent a lot of time there, trips and sitting around and soaking it up. That was a big inspiration for me....
Tony
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2014 : 04:28:33 AM
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| Thanks for sharing that Tony. My subscription ran out a while ago. Nice publication. |
Andy |
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dagan
Aloha
37 Posts |
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Ry Cooder/ Gabby
