Search - Cindy Combs :: Slack Key Lady

On Slack Key Lady, Cindy Combs blends traditional Hawaiian melodies, 1930s pop songs, pieces by modern island musicians such as Keola Beamer and Cyril Pahinui, and her own compositions into an enchanting personal guitar style that honors the music's roots while still sounding contemporary. Combs is an excellent guitarist, and whether she is playing a lively piece like "Makani 'Ula'ula" or a slow one like "Kalena Kai," she always puts her technique at the service of the music. She is also an accomplished singer; on such tracks as "Sweet Leilani," her sincere vocals and jazzy guitar playing retain a sentimental feel without descending into mawkishness. Her compositions "Ke Welina" and "Kipu" reveal a gift for melody, and her arrangements show she really understands the rhythmic and harmonic subtleties of the slack-key guitar style. Slack Key Lady may be Cindy Combs's first solo release, but from the strength of her performances, you would think she has been making CDs for years. --Michael Simmons