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Aloha Joe's Steel Guitar Hour | Where to Find the Recordings "Gestern und Heute - Kahiko a me ka Meahou Hawai`i"Frank "Palani" Baum and his Kelemania Hawaiians 
From Germany, a very fine mostly Hawaiian style CD by Frank "Palani" Baum and his Kelemania Hawaiians. I'm listening again as I write. You'll like this one. Polynesian-born vocalist Tina Elton sounds very much like "Sistah" Robi Kahakelau, and even sings one of Robi's signature pieces "Pi'i Mai Ka Nalu". (Interesting note - Robi, all Hawaiian, was raised in Germany!). My favorite of Tina's, sung in English, is her "Makua", the Hawaiian "country" feeling is all there. Also a great rendition of Bob Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". Then there's a Wes Montgomery sounding arrangement by Frank of his own tune "California Beachcomber". Frank, his sons and band play all over Germany and Europe, and dance music is expected, so many of the tunes are done danceable style. You could go to school on what's done on this album. Frank's own "Around the Horn" is a nice bouncy steel number, with some pure Alan Akaka/Hanalei deWilligen/Bobby Ingano "swinging jazz" stylings. Frank not only produced the recording, but did all the arrangements, the steel solos and some great rhythm 'ukulele and guitar. Don't know where to tell you to buy the CD, except thru Frank: Frank Baum, Erzbergstrasses 8, Theuern, Germany D-92245. Frank and group have gigs and travel going constantly, and a TV show coming up, so you may have to nag him, and wait a while to get your CD, but it's worth it, folks. Lots of variety, and the engineering is excellent. HSGA * HAWAIIAN
STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION Homepage URL: www.hsga.org (hsga@lava.net) Last updated: 07/23/02 by Gerald Ross (gbross@umich.edu) |