Hoo boy! Saw Nathan Aweau last night as part of the Maui Arts and Cultural Center's "Solo Sessions" series. An intimate auditorium and nothing on stage but Nathan and three instruments. A hula dancer danced for a few of the songs.
Apparently the artistic director of the MACC encourages artists for these sessions to do whatever they like and to make the setting as intimate as possible. Nathan did a lot of his original songs, some standards, and a surprise or two. He took audience questions for 10 or 15 minutes and played requests like a real sport. For a couple of the requested songs (including one he had composed years ago but had not played in years) he gamely played as far as he could go and then stopped and admitted that was all he could remember.
He did (very politely) decline to do "Lei Pikake", but was gracious when speaking about Hapa and said he and Barry are still on good terms.
The show was 85% acoustic guitar, mostly with vocals and in standard tuning, with a couple of pieces in Taropatch. The rest was 7-string electric bass and a couple of piano pieces. Nathan reminded us that in addition to his time as half of Hapa, he had spent 16 years as Don Ho's bass player. He even did a spooky-accurate Don Ho impersonation singing--yes--"Tiny Bubbles".
I applaud this gentleman for his willingness to open up to the audience and try pieces he might be experimenting with or might be rusty at. I felt like it brought us a little bit closer into his creative process.
Kudos to the MACC for putting together this series and to Nathan for an A-plus performance.
Nathan Aweau at the MACC
Posted - 04/16/2011 : 12:22:40 PM
