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Aloha Joe's Steel Guitar Hour | Where to Find the Recordings "In the Hawaiian Style"Agnes Kimura w/ Alan Akaka Alan Akaka demonstrates the fine art of steel back-up on seven of the numbers in a beautiful new album "In the Hawaiian Style" by Japanese vocalist and slack key artist, Agnes Kimura. Keith Haugen produced it here in Hawai`i, and Agnes sings several of Keith's songs. While this is not a "steel album", the quality of this unique offering is worthy of review, and of your listening. Agnes is not a household word yet, here in Hawai`i, but it's predictable that she will be. She may be best known here, for having been the first foreign artist to be invited to perform in the Gabby Pahinui Slack Key Guitar Festival, and for being presented a special commendation from Hawai`i's Governor for her contribution in promoting Hawai`i in Japan. I was impressed by the quality of her singing -- her vocal ability and sensitivity in adapting her styling to the mood and theme of each song. This was especially noticeable on Lena Machado's song "Kamalani O Keaukaha", where Agnes' vocal treatment includes the very Hawaiian "cry" of the ancient ole chant. There's also a lovely arrangement of "Jesu me ke Kanaka" with Alan on steel and Nina Keali`iwahamana and 'Iwilani Kahalewai on vocal back-up behind Agnes. And while you've heard it sung many times, you'll hear Agnes' arrangement of "Hi`ilawe ", in a lyrical hula tempo. Refreshing and pleasant change! Both Alan and I agree, as I think you will, that the most haunting and memorable song in the album is the traditional Japanese song "Hole Hole Bushi", a work song composed in the cane fields of Hawai`i by Japanese immigrants. Here, Agnes' voice floats like a reed flute over the cry of this Japanese plantation worker doing hole hole (stripping dead leaves off the cane stalks by hand) because her contract has ended, yet she and her husband cannot go home to Japan, they have children and "even grandchildren" now. Jim Howard's flute playing is also memorable. Order this one from Borders, or write directly to Keith Haugen, "Island Viking", P.O. Box 1976, Honolulu, HI 96805. You can also e-mail Keith at HSGA * HAWAIIAN
STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION Homepage URL: www.hsga.org (hsga@lava.net) Last updated: 07/23/02 by Gerald Ross (gbross@umich.edu) |