This week’s guests on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis are slack key virtuoso George Kuo and up-and-coming sensations, the Kalama Brothers!
 George Kuo is known as one of Hawaii’s premiere Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar artists playing in the traditional nahenahe (sweet, soothing) style, bridging today’s generation with the older generations. His guitar style dates back a generation or two to the 1940s. "I like to play a nice relaxed, easy style,” George said. “Not too much fancy stuff, keep it within the melody. It's more delivering a message than playing runs."
George learned from legendary slack key figures such as Uncle Raymond Kane, Aunty Alice Namakelua, Tommy Solomon, Sonny Chillingworth, Atta Isaacs, Gabby Pahinui, Uncle Fred Punahoa, and Papa Kauhi. "That was a real rare opportunity, to be with those old masters," he says. In 1979 he won a slack key guitar contest at the Waikiki Shell, which brought him to the attention of a wider audience and launched his performing career. He released his first album, “Nahenahe”, in 1980, and in 1986 Eddie Kamae asked George to join his group The Sons of Hawai’i. He also performed and recorded with Dennis & David Kamakahi & Martin Pahinui as the Hui Aloha group in 2000, played on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” show with Chet Atkins, and has performed at the Hollywood bowl. He currently performs with Aaron Mahi and Martin Pahinui.
 Regular Pakele Live! viewers will remember the Kalama Brothers from their appearance in 2010. Ryan and Kai Kalama come from a family filled with musicians and singers – including their mother Jamie (a choir director); father, the late Ron Kalama, and Uncle Baldwin Nainoa Kalama, Jr. (the original Kalama Brothers); their uncle, the late, great Alfred Apaka, Jr., “the Golden Voice of Hawai’i”; and uncle and singer-actor Al Harrington (perhaps best known for his role as Ben Kokua in the original Hawai’i Five-0). Although raised in California, Ryan and Kai maintained close ties with their Hawaiian heritage and culture while growing up, which included joining a hula halau when they were young and listening to their father and uncle perform at concerts, family functions and lu’au, where they were often asked to join in.
American Idol fans may also remember Kai as a finalist in the 2009 season (and one of only a few Native Hawaiians ever to reach the finals). He was also featured on the show in a video with his mother, who he was taking care of at the time due to an illness (from which she has since recovered).
Self-taught musicians, the brothers took a much keener interest in traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music at the time of their father’s passing, in part as a tribute to him. Their tight vocal harmonies have earned them a whole new set of fans, as lovers of Hawaiian music have embraced them wherever they perform. They’ve also earned the love and respect of a number of well-known Hawaiian musicians, including Cecilio and Kapono, the Makaha Sons, Kaukahi, Nathan Aweau, and Willie K – who is so impressed with them that he’s producing their debut album.
Join host Tony Solis for Pakele Live! on Thursday, May 12 from 6:30-8:30pm HST [NOTE TIME CHANGE!] at the Willows Restaurant (901 Hausten St., Honolulu). Those who are unable to attend can watch the live stream at www.pakelelive.com. (The shows will also be edited for television and shown at a later date on OC16 TV and www.oc16.tv)
Admission is free, no reservations are required and all ages are welcome! Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. (Doors open at 5:30.) Guests may choose from the full nightly buffet ($34.95) or an a la carte menu created especially for Pakele Live! (and available only during the show), with prices ranging from $5 to $16. Drink specials are also available. Validated valet parking is only $3.
Note: If you watch online, don’t forget to email the show at pakele @ lava.net and let us know you’re watching! Mention your name and where you’re located - city, state – or country, if outside the U.S.!
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George Kuo & the Kalama Brothers 5/12 Pakele!
Posted - 05/11/2011 : 10:11:53 PM
