Apr 21, 2013 | E Kanikapila Kakou, EKK 2013
Smashing Solo by Bobby Moderow
February 4, 2013
Follow the link below for event pictures.
Bobby….it’s been a long time coming, but now that you finally made it to EKK, don’t be a stranger.
I must have met Bobby over ten years ago and asked him repeatedly to come to EKK, but timing was not in our favor. I am as persistent as the day is long, so this year I caught him at the right time and he graciously finally agreed to present at one of our Monday nights. Now that the EKK bug has bitten him, he asked publicly in front of the entire audience if he could come back again because the format of our program is exactly what he loves.
I have been spoiling EKK audiences with full-on shows that border on “extravaganzas” although we call it an “intimate evening of backyard jam”, so I was a bit apprehensive about bringing in Bobby as a solo gig . . . but not to worry for he not only filled the entire stage with his toe-tapping, foot-stomping body gyrations that are signature to his style of playing slack key, he charmed the audience with his Portugee gift of gab, and definitely had everyone screaming for more with his beautiful falsetto voice.
Bobby kept up a running commentary between the many songs he shared. “It’s not easy with so much going on at once — trying to tune, trying to keep talking, watching the time, thinking what song next — and although it does not show, I was really nervous up there.” As many performers know, a little bit of nervousness really adds to a wonderful performance and that is exactly what Bobby Moderow delivered.
Smashing Solo by Bobby Moderow
Musicians love to share their musical lineage and honor those who came before them. Bobby was fortunate to pursue his passion at an early age when the legendary Raymond Kane broke tradition of keeping slack key secrets and would share his knowledge with anyone who wanted to trade lessons for fresh fish catch or a five pound can of ham.
When Bobby was first showing up at Uncle Raymond Kane’s home to learn slack key, the master asked, “What is this haole boy doing here?” to which Bobby’s Hawaiian friend answered, “No, no…he’s my nephew; he was just born at night,” referring to Bobby’s pigment-challenged skin tone. To honor his mentor, Bobby launched into Uncle Ray’s well-known slack key number with his own added licks.
As he tunes his guitar, he shares stories about the songs. He has a way of telling it like he was there and you are there with him. The name of his group is Maunaluaand so was the song he shared about a gentleman who went from island to island aboard the interisland steamer shipMaunalua who was very giving of his aloha to other women. Shifting from the rough voice to the falsetto, he demonstrated an old style of singing.
Oma and Opa, from Germany, met in New York in the 1930’s and took a honeymoon trip aboard the PanAm Clipper Ship. They stopped in Honolulu for refueling and Grandpa said, “This place ain’t too shabby,” and they never made it back to New York.His German Dad met and married his Portuguese Mom from Hilo. Bobby grew up on O’ahu with a lot of country music.
At the tender age of seven or eight, his teacher sent him home with an application to the newly formed Honolulu Boys Choir with a post-it note that read, “Please look into this application; Bobby’s been singing in class and needs an outlet.” Fortunately, his third generation Portuguese Mother followed up and Bobby sang in the Choir for four years.
What prompted him to continue with falsetto was this voice in his head of Dennis Pavao’s singing, so he kept on singing until his Mother told him to “stop singing falsetto because it sounds like a cat.” But he kept up with the leo kie kie, listening endlessly to theLove Song of Kalua from the movie Bird of Paradise. He sang all the parts from the pulsating low sounds to the high pitched melodic strains and the running commentary describing Debra Paget walking to the edge of the volcano.
Another big influence on his music was the genious guitar player Peter Moon whose “fingers floated over the fret board.” Bobby launched into his own version of Hi’ilawe. He then went into the fast-paced Ka’a Ahi Kahului by Palani Vaughan about the first sugar train in Hawai’i. After this fast-paced number, he soared in the rafters withKale’ohana composed by Moon Kaukahi of the Makaha Sons when Pi’i Kaleohana gifted a guitar to Skippy Kamakawiwo’ole.
Another well-loved song by his uncle Jerry Santos was Ku’u Home O Kahalu’u which Bobby pointed out made a major impact on the world of Hawaiian music at that time. As a young kid he sat in the first row of every concert in which Ledward performed. Not a bit shy, Bobby would go up and ask Ledward how he played something new; he then launched into the instrumental Poi Song.
The ‘ukulele group had a chance to perform the two songs they learned during the first hour.
Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua and Wai O Ke Aniani.They were good!
After his smashing solo performance, numerous audience members came up and told me, “You need to bring him back again!” “Next time it will be with his groupMaunalua,” was my answer. I even got a call from Dennis Marley from Portland, Oregon who had the good fortune of sitting next to Bobby on the plane, Dennis took the time to phone me to share how awesome he felt Bobby’s show was. “We were absolutely stunned by his ability,” was his praise.
Bobby was blown away when I told him after the show, “Wow…a standing O; our audience is a really appreciative audience, but that does not happen all the time…just want you to know.” With his signature song,Sanoe, where his pure clear unamplified falsetto gave everyone chicken skin, Bobby was in his element. The story of Queen Lili’u’okalani and her wisdom to let young love flower as it should was the poignant lead into the song, the beautiful slack key opening of the song followed by his pure high voice, and ending with his dramatic instrumental licks . . . that was magical. The audience stood up as one body and screamed hana hou in unison.
Who’s Coming Up Next at EKK?
Monday, February 11, 2013, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
E Kanikapila Kakou “30 Years of EKK — One Long Hawaiian Kine Pardee”
Mele’uhane – Lindsay Keikilani Lindsey Jr. and Lindsay Leo Lindsey III and Kumu Keoni Atkinson
Keikilani and Leo Lindsey celebrate their love of ohana and music by continuing to ‘holo mua’ move forward in their unique interpretations of classic family compositions and traditional Hawaiian favorites.
In their deep affection for ‘‘?lelo Hawai’i’, Mele’uhane lends a new voice in ‘haku mele’ and initiates the next generation of Hawaiian stortytellers, endeavoring to explore the many untold tales of the heart.
If you have a disability and need assistance call Carol Yotsuda at (808) 245-2733 for Monday events.
(s) Carol Kouchi Yotsuda, www.gardenislandarts.org — “Celebrating 35 years of bringing ARTS to the people and people to the ARTS”
E Kanikapila Kakou 2013 Hawaiian Music Program is funded in part by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, the County of Kaua’i Office of Economic Development, and the Garden Island Arts Council supporters with support from Kaua’i Beach Resort.
Garden Island Arts Council programs are supported in part by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Hawai’i State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Jan 31, 2013 | EKK 2013
January 28, 2013
“The Queen of Chalangalang at Kaua’i Pardee Central”
Last year, I asked Auntie Bev Muraoka if she would present at EKK in March 2012. In a typically Auntie Bev manner, she quips, “So….you finally reached the bottom of the barrell, eh?” My quick come back to her was, “Quite the contrary, I need you to show our audiences what a real Hawaiian-style party is so I am booking you as the ‘Queen of Chalangalang’ “
Even Auntie Bev could not resist that enticing title, so she agreed to come to EKK Monday. However, an act of God forced us to cancel that Monday night (the first time in 29 years) because the storm flooded the entire parking lot at Kaua’i Beach Resort and forced all the hotel guests to relocate to another hotel. Even under those conditions, some pardee-hardee EKK folks told me later they braved the storm and tried to drive through the fish-flopping flooded parking lot to get to EKK.
Today’s rain should not and will not keep all you wonderful audience from Auntie Bev’s re-scheduled gig called “The Queen of Chalangalang at Kaua’i Pardee Central” where Auntie Bev will teach ukulele and hula from 6:00 – 7:00 pm and show us the old Hawaiian style Kanikapila from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Be there or be square!
Friday, January 25, 2013
“The Remarkable Kealii Reichel in Concert”
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.520812467959459.118974.173083409399035&type=1
I had to ask Puna Krauss of Mele.com, who was my connection in coordinating this amazing concert, “So … tell me … what is the magic of Keali’i Reichel that make people respond to this concert like no other concert that I staged? I felt like I was under an avalanche!” He and cousin Cherissa Kane smiled softly, looked at each other, and he shrugged. “I don’t know,” was his honest answer.
Since word first got out via coconut wireless back in November 2012 that Keali’i was doing a concert for EKK, my email and my phones have been over-actively going off with me trying to promise folks that they would be guaranteed a seat at this concert; calls from blizzardy Minnesota, emails from Canada, and all the way to the DAY AFTER the concert, I was trying to make sure that everyone who wanted could get in to experience this concert. My apologies to the nearly 200 people that I had to turn away since all tickets sold out five days before the actual concert date. That is why I felt like I was inundated by an avalanche.
The concert itself was like a giant family gathering in “Oprah’s living room”, as Keali’i described it, because every free seat in the entire hotel was brought into the ballroom and many got up close and personal to the stage by sitting on the floor. In keeping with the style of EKK and Keali’i’s informal approach, Keali’i tossed his lineup of songs to the wind and took questions from the audience and that guided the songs that he sang. Even if he laughingly “la-la-la’d” some of the lyrics to songs that he had not sung for awhile, he graciously obliged the requests for songs. His friend and guitarist Shawn Pimental went along with the spontaneous line-up of songs, and Keali’i’s lovely cousin, Cherissa Kane danced the hula to the songs with the grace and charm of a Merrie Monarch Miss Aloha Hula.
For someone who grew up in Waimea Valley where pidgin is the first language, I found Keali’i’s show presented in very local pidgin informal, fun, fresh, full of surprises, and the audience just loved it. He admitted to being scared sitting alone on the stage in front of a very enormous audience, but one would never know that as he told stories and sang the new and familiar songs that many have come to love.
One of his favorite topic of conversation was the inimitable Puakea Nogelmeier, Hawaiian language expert and composer of some of Keali’i’s songs. His imitation of Puakea’s extraordinarily low voice was hilarious as were the stories about how it was to compose a new song on a napkin on the airplane while flying to class in Honolulu in order to meet the requirements for Puakea’s song composition class. Whenever Puakea comes to Kaua’i to present, Keali’i is one of his favorite person to talk about, so they definitely have a mutual admiration society going on.
Keali’i claims to be a kumu hula first and a singer second, something he fell into when dared to come up with a CD. Talk about smart moves; that set off a chain of events that led to where he is today as one of the most sought-after performer from Hawai’i. He is currently working on a new CD after a ten-year recording hiatus, so hopefully, he will find it in his heart to return to Kaua’i to share his new CD.
For his hana hou number, he took off his singer hat and put on his kumu hula hat. “No program is complete without a Hula Mai,” he explained as he spelled out the details of what one would find in a Hula Mai or song about the genitals and love making. He share that when his halau performed a Hula Mai, shortly after, a number of his dancers became hapai with child. I have seen Hula Mai performed before but never quite as sensuously as when he and Cherissa danced it with descriptive hand motions and suggestive body language, flirtatious smiles and enticing looks. It brought the house down. Undoubtedly, many had to rush home as that hula must have charged up any dormant hormones.
Monday, January 21, 2013
“Let the Celebration Begin” — Keale, LT Smooth, Donald Kaulia
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.518472308193475.118628.173083409399035&type=1
What a way to kick off the 30th anniversary season of E Kanikapila Kakou with a combination of three outstanding artists — Walt Keale, LT Smooth (Leon Toomata) and Donald Kaulia. Each of these musicians stand tall amongst the musical greats of Hawai’i, but put them together and one wishes the program was four hours long instead of two hours long.
Keale with his stories of his ‘ohana — among them the legendary Bruddah Iz Kamakawiwo’ole, the late Uncle Moe Keale and on and on — and his extraordinary voice, carries the message of Pono loud and clear. Passionate about the cause of the Hawaiian people, he moves his audience with the resonance that fills his every song and messages of persuasiveness that is gentle but firm and a great measure of humor. Keale loves Kaua’i and will return to Kaua’i every chance he has, and folks on Kaua’i reciprocate royally whenever he comes for perform.
LT Smooth, an intriguing combination of Maori, Samoan and Irish, has everyone in tears as he shares his story of coming clean of a life of gangs and drugs in the footsteps of his Dad, and today making a new life for himself as one of the extraordinary musicians on the Hawaiian scene. Hailing from the Kona side of Hawai’i Island where he and his band Vakanui keep the music alive and thriving, LT comes from a family of ten boys and one girl. His blond, blue-eyed sister who is fighting for her life against breast cancer told LT in their recent meeting to keep telling his story because there is always someone out there who needs to hear his message. LT can play about 16 different musical instruments from his early desire to become famous while living in New Zealand, but now his message of love and compassion for fellow man is his new priority; his love for the guitar was evident in his “machine-gun licks” as he was called on to play the pa’ani or instrumental interlude. He is truly a master at it.
LT and Donald Kaulia kept switching off guitars during the evening. He met the other two musicians while performing at the many slack key festivals on each island. Their harmony together is truly something special and we were fortunate to be able to hear it. A musician with a truly demanding day job with Grace Construction, we were fortunate that Donald could squeeze it into his busy schedule to return to Kaua’i for this EKK gig. He credits his education and job preparation to his hanae parents who adopted both Donald and his brother. Getting to know his biological siblings later in life revealed a great deal of musical connections. Musically he comes from a family of outstanding musicians including the famous Ledward Kaapana. He shared an instrumental that Led taught him that came down from their tutu-man or grandfather. A new song has to be given away; he shared a song he wrote about Wailau on the back side of Molokai.
The program could have gone on for hours and nobody would have called time, but the clock was ticking so the trio performed a rousing “Hawaii 76” with unmatched harmony of voices. Because the crowd appeared not to be ready to leave, LT led a hana hou number which had everyone dancing in their rows and in the aisle and finally everyone felt ready to call it an evening. What a way to begin this celebration of wonderful Hawaiian music.
Who’s Coming Up Next at EKK?
Monday, February 4, 2013, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
E Kanikapila Kakou “30 Years of EKK — One Long Hawaiian Kine Pardee”
Bobby Moderow, Jr. — Smashing Solo by leader of Maunalua
If you have a disability and need assistance call Carol Yotsuda at (808) 245-2733 for Monday events.
Contact: Garden Island Arts Council, <giac@hawaiilink.net>
(s) Carol Kouchi Yotsuda, www.gardenislandarts.org — “Celebrating 35 years of bringing ARTS to the people and people to the ARTS”
E Kanikapila Kakou 2013 Hawaiian Music Program is funded in part by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, the County of Kaua’i Office of Economic Development, and the Garden Island Arts Council supporters with support from Kaua’i Beach Resort.
Garden Island Arts Council programs are supported in part by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Hawai’i State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Send out January 28, 2013
Dec 14, 2012 | E Kanikapila Kakou, EKK 2013
“30 Years of EKK — One Long Hawaiian Kine Pardee”
Celebrating 30 Years of Bringing the Best of Hawaiian Music to You
Friday, Jan 25 – Keali’i Reichel (concert); show time 7:00 pm
All other EKK events are on Mondays
Jan 21 – Keale, LT Smooth, Donald Kaulia (Let the Celebration Begin!)
Jan 28 – Aunty Bev Muraoka and Her Gang (The Queen of Chalangalang at Kauai Pardee Central)
Feb 4 – Bobby Moderow Jr – leader of Maunalua (Smashing Solo)
Feb 11 – “Mele’uhane” – Lindsay Keikilani Lindsey Jr & Son Lindsay Lindsey III
(Father Son duo from Hawaii Island
Feb 18 — “Hui O Kalama’ola” – Doric Yaris , Maka Herrod, Nathan Kalama, Puna Dawson (The Fabulous Four Kaua’i Kumu)
Feb 25 – “Hi’ikua” – Kamuela Kimokeo, Kalehua Krug, Blake Leoki-Haili (HOT trio) (HYPERLINK “http://hiikua.com/”http://hiikua.com/)
March 4 – Jerry Santos & Friends (Wow! Our Pardee Favorite!)
March 11 – Abrigo Family Trio – Timi, Emily, Quinn & Lanet
(Super Young and Talented!)
March 18 – Leokane Pryor & CJ Helekahi with Kaliko Beamer Trapp
(Don’t miss this great combo!)
March 25 – Ukulele Trio (Surprise! Surprise!)
EVERYTHING WILL BE AT THE KAUAI BEACH RESORT, Nukoli’i between the Airport and the Wailua Golf Course.6:00 – 9:00 pm
