Kalama’s Quartet – Early Hawaiian Classics / Arhoolie CD-7028

Description

CD 7028

Mike Hanapi – tenor and falsetto voice steel guitar; William Kalama – tenor voice ukulele; Bob Nawahine – bass voice harp-guitar; Dave Kaleipua Munson – baritone voice guitar; Bob Matsu – voice and steel guitar.

The Kalama Quartet performed some of the most beautiful Hawaiian music ever recorded. They were one of the few groups to ever use two acoustic steel guitars. Their four-part singing was beautiful and deeply moving. The twenty six selections on this album represent some of the finest Hawaiian vocal and steel guitar music recorded between 1927 and 1932.

1. Medley Of Hulas
2. Inikiniki Malie (Gentle Pinches Of Wind)
3. Tu-Tu-E Tu-Tu-Hoi
4. He Manao Healoha (Thoughts Of Love)
5. Mama E (A Medley Of Hulas)
6. Wahine Ui (Beautiful Young Woman)
7. Na Moku Eha (The Four Islands)
8. Ua Like No A Like (Love Is Nutual)
9. Wai O Minnehaha (Waters Of Minnehaha)
10. Palolo
11. On The Beach Of Waikiki
12. Maile Lau Li’ili’i (Little Maile Leaves)
13. Hilo March
14. Hapa Haole Hula Girl
15. Kalamaula
16. Nu Ioka Hula (New York Hula)
17. Hoo-Hihi Oe Ke Ike Mai (Beautiful To Beh
18. He Olu La No’u (That’s Just Fine For Me)
19. Lei Ana Ika Mokihana (Wears Mokihana Le)
20. Heeia
21. Kawika
22. Kaleponi (California)
23. Lei E Hula
24. Hilo Hula
25. Hanohano Hanalei (The Glory Of Hanalei)
26. Kuu Lei (My Wreath Of Flowers)

REVIEW

“If you’ve been transfixed by the modern development of Afro-pop you might be interested in an even earlier parallel. The Hawaiian music of the 1920s starkly displays the collision of Western pop with indigenous styles; it’s probably among the earliest recorded examples of such a hybrid. Combining Hawaiian lyrics melodies and vocal manners with American conventions (barbershop-type harmonizing polyphonic blues- and jazz-derived guitar playing) Kalama’s Quartet made music on the cusp of two worlds. Some of the oldest selections are the most traditional-flavored with a percussive style and more chanting than crooning. As rich as these `authentic’ pieces are it’s still fascinating to hear the group progress toward a novel more encompassing sound that the liner notes (by guitarist Bob Brozman) refer to as `hapa haole’ or ‘part white’ a term more commonly used in the islands to describe mixed-race Hawaiians. In fact music doesn’t get much catchier than `Hapa Haole Hula Girl’ (lovingly covered some 50 years later by R. Crumb’s Cheap Suit Serenaders and recently reissued too). Also available from Arhoolie is the vibrant collection Hawaiian Steel Guitar Classics which offers a fascinating look at the hillbilly swing blues and pop influences on Hawaiian guitar playing as well as some vintage virtuoso chops.”

(Dusty Miller — Option)