Search - Keola Beamer :: Kolonahe

Pianist George Winston has been unearthing a Hawaiian music that goes deeper than the resort-hotel image of ukulele songs, hula dancers, and Don Ho. In particular, he's enchanted with the sound of the slack-key guitar, a finger-style approach with strings tuned lower, and--literally--slacker, than normal. One of the modern players Winston has released on his Dancing Cat label, Keola Beamer has that laconic, slack-key-guitar sound down cold, but he weds it to more atmospheric songs and arrangements. Kolonahe: From the Gentle Wind is more vocal than Beamer's other recordings, full of vowel-filled melodies, such as "Ku'u Lei Awapuhi," sung with gentle grace. He's surrounded by sparse but evocative arrangements with percussion, nose flute, mandolins, and, on "Kauhale O Kamapua'a," reverberant electric guitars. He's also joined on four tunes by Winston playing piano and guitar. Kolonahe is a magical celebration of the Hawaii behind the travel ads. --John Diliberto