Na Lani 'Eha -- wow!
Susan Jaworowski
I've been a big fan of Leina'ala Kalama and her Na Pua Lei O
Likolehua, and I jumped at the chance to buy a ticket to the halau's
concert at the Hawaii Theatre tonight -- especially when I heard that
some of the featured guests were Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Willie K.,
and Kekuhi Kanahele. The halau always produces an outstanding show,
and this one was superb.
Entertainment before the concert was provided by A 'oi'a (Ryan Tang,
Alika Odom, and Gabby Kaina), who put the crowd in a good mood. The
first set of performers was Robert Cazimero and his halau (whose name
I know I cannot get right so won't attempt to spell). The men danced
beautifully, and after a few in the kahiko style, with Robert on the
ipu heke, Robery stood up, picked up an 'ukulele, stood on the stage,
and went softly and gently strummed a song while an exquisite female
dancer danced (he introduced her later as Tweedles, I believe. <g>)
The men came back with a vigorous mele ma'i, and sailed off to much
applause. <g>
Robert then made a little speech about King Kalakaua, one of the "na
lani 'eha" (the royal four), stating that the King was knwon for his
love of hula, and that though this next hukla was not exactly
traditional, that he hopes that it would have pleased his majesty.
Then the music starts.
It's Prince's "Seven." The men strut onto the stage in white t-shirts
with shirts tied around their waists, mimicking the effect of a t-leaf
skirt, and do a hula to "Seven."
The choreography was an excellent blend of new and old -- traditional
hula gestures used while blocks of dancers danced at angles to each
other, leaving and joining the stage. It was *terrific,* and almost
brought down the house.
Hard act to follow? Not if you're Amy and Willie, who imbued their
set with her stainless steel vocals, his electric guitar playing, and
their combined sassy repartee. I won't spoil things and repeat her
gym story: maybe you'll be lucky enough to hear her tell it live
someday. <g> They did a great set, starting with the loveliest song
on her latest CD, the original "Kaulana Wailua A'o Moloka'i." They
also did "Hale'iwa Hula" and "I Ali'i No 'Oe," as well as "Cry Me a
River." Willie was wild and crazy, doing a scat version of "Henehene
kou 'aka," (surprisingly wonderful) and "Danny Boy/When Irish Eyes are
Smiling" (ya had to have been there <g>).
Who to follow that? Keali'i Reichel and Kekuhi Kanahele, in tandem.
They rose from the pit chanting, and then each did an opening chant.
Unfortunately, their set was way too short: they only had time for "E
O Mai," "Pua Milo," "Nematoda," "Patchwork Quilt," and an apparently
new song by Kekuhi, a beautiful song about the 'iwi bird, which so
stirred someone in the audience that he rose, in the dark, and chanted
over the end of her song. It was a chickenskin moment!
After a brief intermission, the halau wowed us with a couple of songs
-- one was about sheep, and ended, to everyone's amusement, with them
"baa-ing" to the audience. The halau set was sweet and, again, too
short, but it was hard to complain too much about that, because the
awesome All-Star Hawaiian Band was setting up, and even in the
semi-dark it was easy to pick out Palani Vaughn, Teresa Bright, Jerry
Santos, and Dennis Pavao, backed by A 'oi'a. When the lights came up,
a familiar face could also be seen in the back row -- Roland Cazimero
had stopped by the jam.
And jam they did -- the best kind of concert, where everyone pitches
in and almost every song draws a new star on stage. Teresa went
first, with "Nani Kaua'i" and "'Uew, Ami, and Slide," and Jerry
followed her with "Hopoe" and "Ku'u Lei 'Awapuhi," which drew Robert
Cazimero back to the stage to harmonize. When that was over, Robert
said, "Oh, Willie -- this is too much fun!" and so Willie and Amu
joined the band, adding harmonies to Dennis' "My Yellow Ginger Lei,"
and "Kalapana," which was particularly wonderful with Jerry, Dennis,
and Robert on the chorus vocals.
During Palani Vaugn's turn, yet another mike was brought out, and out
stepped Kekuhi and Keali'i, to add their vocals to Palani's "Hi'ilawe"
(with Willie jamming furiously on the solos!) and "Ka'a Ahi o
Kahalui." The crowd went crazy when the MCs and 'Ala came onstage to
dance to that one!
The last number, instead of the lovely but slow "Hawai'i Aloha," was
Dennis' rocking "All Hawai'i Stand Together," at which the audience
literally surged to their feet.
My throat hurt, my hands were sore, and my ears were ringing when it
was over. One of the best concerts of the year!
P.S. -- if a video is ever made available -- watch for "Seven"!
<g>
--Susan
Susan's Hawaiian Music Page appears at:
http://www.nahenahe.net/susanmusic/current.html
Find out about the latest CDs and concerts!
Auntie Maria
Magnificent review of a magnificent concert -- *almost* gave me
the feeling I'd been there with you and da gang! Mahalo nui
loa for staying up late and sending this out to those of us who
did not have the good fortune to be on O`ahu Sunday.
--auntie maria
--
>> HAWAIIAN MUSIC ISLAND http://www.mele.com <<
>> Your Internet source for Hawaiian music <<
swee...@ix.netcom.com
WOW!!!!! I third that emotion.
I just took a break from my work...and what a treat awaited me here!
Susan, what a magnificent report of a magical night. You captured the
magic and sparkle of Saturday evening with your words. Mahalo =E2 nui i=E2
`oe from us who wish we could have been there in person, but because of
your report, are there today with our hearts. Lucky you live Hawai`i!=20
And lucky for us that you do!
Your message is a keeper, and when work gets boggy, I'll hurry back to
it and be uplifted.
Me ke aloha, Lei
Sue Larkin
(Susan Jaworowski) wrote:
[...]
: It's Prince's "Seven." The men strut onto the stage in white t-shirts
: with shirts tied around their waists, mimicking the effect of a t-leaf
: skirt, and do a hula to "Seven."
:
: The choreography was an excellent blend of new and old -- traditional
: hula gestures used while blocks of dancers danced at angles to each
: other, leaving and joining the stage. It was *terrific,* and almost
: brought down the house.
A few years back the Joffrey Ballet was in town to dance to the music of
Prince. The marriage of ballet and Prince's music was incredibly creative
and inspiring, to say the least. Dancewise, I thought I had seen it all
after I left the Concert Hall that night...until last night.
Robert's halau dancing to Prince's "Seven" was, perhaps, for me, *the* most
thrilling execution of an Odd Couple type marriage I can ever hope to
witness.
:[...] as well as "Cry Me a
: River."
Definitely another chickenskin moment. Move over Julie London...it's time
for Amy!
:Willie was wild and crazy, doing a scat version of "Henehene
: kou 'aka," (surprisingly wonderful)[...]
This, for me, was the vocal equivalent of Hula Meets Prince. It needs to be
heard to be believed!!!
: Who to follow that? Keali'i Reichel and Kekuhi Kanahele, in tandem.
: They rose from the pit chanting, and then each did an opening chant.
: Unfortunately, their set was way too short: they only had time for "E
: O Mai," "Pua Milo," "Nematoda," "Patchwork Quilt," and an apparently
: new song by Kekuhi, a beautiful song about the 'iwi bird, which so
: stirred someone in the audience that he rose, in the dark, and chanted
: over the end of her song. It was a chickenskin moment!
Wasn't that awesome? And how 'bout the young lady in the audience who
spontaneously got up on stage and danced to E O Mai? Even more
chickenskin...if that's possible!
[...]
: And jam they did -- the best kind of concert, where everyone pitches
: in and almost every song draws a new star on stage. [...]
*All* that talent on one stage at one time was a sight...and sound...to behold.
[...]
: My throat hurt, my hands were sore, and my ears were ringing when it
: was over. One of the best concerts of the year!
If not a lifetime!!! Mahalo, Susan.
: P.S. -- if a video is ever made available -- watch for "Seven"!
What a wonderful gift a video of this event would make.
--
Dayle K. Turner
A great report, Susan!! I'm envious and wish I
had attended. Mahalo nui for the replay.
--Dayle
Daniel Deronda
In article <nortle-879...@news.lava.net> sus...@lava.net (Susan Jaworowski) writes:
<...>
Awesome telling Susan. I can almost hear some of it in my mind's
(ear?). We count our blessings that the Hawaiian musicians come to
visit, but rarely can we experience the different generations and
styles coming together in one big concert. And I haven't yet seen
Roland Cazimero just drop in to jam. :)
Daniel
ALAN AKAKA & Marjorie Scott, HSGA Q Editor
In article <nortle-880...@news.lava.net>, "Phil Hamilton"
<phi...@flash.net> wrote:
> Only two bad things about Susan's report:
> 1) I wasn't there! Sounds like a dream concert/jam
> 2) Her review was so good that writing a review for AMH now feels like
> trying to follow Keali'i Reichel, Amy and Willie K, or some of the other
> greats on stage!
>
> Mahalo, Susan,
> Phil
Phil, You probably could write such a review had you been at such a show!
That much loving energy "broke da mind" so what Susan wrote came straight
from the heart, I'm sure. We could wish *all* Hawaiian music evenings had
this much "giving" in them. Let's us all be "there" in spirit.
Marjorie