This week’s guests on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis are Danny Carvalho (6-6:20 pm) and Ke Kauoha the Jazz Project (6:30 -8pm).
 18 year old slack key guitarist Danny Carvalho started playing guitar at age 9. He learned his first songs from his parents (his mom was a student of Walter Carvalho and Raymond Kane). He then became a student of Ozzie Kotani, who taught Danny in the traditional style of “watch and learn,” and who adapted his teaching methods to suit Danny’s unique learning style. Ozzie also introduced Danny to a broad range of ki ho‘alu techniques and stylings by various masters, and later guided him in the development of his own style. Danny also learned a great deal by watching videos of slack key festivals and commercial tapes by Ledward Kaapana and Raymond Kane. He’s currently studying with Dennis Kamakahi, who has added vocals to Danny’s repertoire.
Danny also composes, having written his first song at age 10! In 2004 he became the first slack key artist to play ki ho’alu on National Public Radio’s nationwide music program “From the Top.” (His performance was included on their CD “From The Top - Volume Three.”) He released his first CD “Slack Key Journey • On My Way” in 2006, and was nominated for a Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Most Promising New Artist. Also in 2006, Danny played on Garrison Keillor’s program “A Prairie Home Companion,” which is broadcast live nationwide. Danny released his second CD “Somewhere” in 2008, and received another Na Hoku Hanohano Award nomination – this time in the Slack Key category. He plays at slack key festivals throughout Hawai’i, and has also performed with artists such as Ozzie Kotani, Makana, and Dennis Kamakahi. He most recently performed as both a solo artist and with an all-star group consisting of John Cruz, Walt Keale, LT Smooth and Stephen Inglis at the 2009 O’ahu Slack Key Festival.
 Ke Kauoha the Jazz Project was co-founded in early 2009 by Kapono Na’ili’ili and Halehaku Seabury. They have since been joined by Ioane Burns. The band specializes in traditional Hawaiian music set to jazz arrangements – their songs combine the elegance of Hawaiian music with the bold improvisations of jazz. (Regular viewers of Pakele Live may remember seeing them when they performed at the CD release party for Jeff Teves in June. Photo above was taken at that party by Malia Zuttermeister.)
Kapono, a UH graduate with a degree in Hawaiian Language, is a full time musician who performs a wide variety of musical genres, from traditional Hawaiian to contemporary soul, R&B, and jazz. He also teaches music part time at a local elementary school. Kapono has expertise playing a number of instruments, including electric and acoustic upright bass, electric and acoustic guitar, ‘ukulele and drums. In 2007 he won Maui’s Aloha Week Falsetto Contest, and in 2008 he was the lead guitarist in the quintet for the Hawai’i Calls concert at the Hawai’i Theatre. That same year, he also formed a band called The KN Orchestra, which specializes in R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Top 40. His extensive experience in both the Hawaiian and contemporary music scenes have contributed to and further cemented his desire to create music that reflects himself and his influences – thus , the creation of Ke Kauoha the Jazz Project.
Hale, who grew up in a musical family, is a vocalist who plays both guitar and ‘ukulele. He began playing ‘ukulele at age 7, and just three years later was playing alongside his father in the band “Kolonahe.” He fell in love with the guitar in 1998 after seeing Stevie Ray Vaughan on Austin City Limits, and within a year he had joined his school’s worship band and was playing guitar incessantly. Another major influence was the work of jazz/rock fusion guitarist John McLaughlin with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. In 2002 he began delving into jazz (within the confines of Hawaiian music) with his own band, Na Hoa, while playing in clubs around Honolulu, but felt there was limited spontaneity and improvisational feeling. His musical focus changed a number of times, but he found the works of artists such as Albert Ka‘ailau with the Kahauanu Lake Trio and realized there was room for both jazz and Hawaiian music.
To many, Ioane may be the most well-known member of the group. He has traveled the world singing and playing stand-up bass with multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Hoku Zuttermeister. Ioane was surrounded with music and entertainment almost from birth – his parents met at BYU Hawaii and both performed at Polynesian Cultural Center, and growing up around Polynesian musicians gave him an appreciation of both cultural music and the hard work that goes into it. As a junior at Kamehameha Schools, he took a beginning guitar class to fulfill a mandatory performing arts credit, and there developed a love for producing his own music. He was also a member of the Concert Glee Club, learning from people like Randie Fong, Les Ceballos and Dale Noble. He performed at countless prestigious events for delegates of the world and was himself a delegate representing Hawaii. He also learned to play upright bass while in high school, and joined the group “Kana’e.” The original group started with four, but eventually became a duo with Ioane…and Hoku Zuttermeister! As the newest member of Ke Kauoha the Jazz Project, Ioane hopes to expand his traditional Hawaiian music roots with an added contemporary twist. (Don’t worry – he still performs with Hoku as well.)
Join host Tony Solis for Pakele Live! this Thursday, August 27, from 6-8 p.m. HST in the Pakele Lounge at the Ala Moana Hotel (410 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu). It’s free, all ages are welcome, and free parking is available next door at Ala Moana Shopping Center. Drinks are available for purchase, although the hotel no longer serves food.
You may also watch live online at: http://www.pakelelive.com/
Those in Japan can watch at: http://www.j-wave.co.jp/
You may email the show at pakele @ lava.net – mention your name and where you’re located - city, state – or country, if outside the U.S.!
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Danny Carvalho & Ke Kauoha Jazz Project - Pakele
Posted - 08/26/2009 : 11:44:28 PM
