Holoholo Slack Key is the third duet album released by Ray Kane and and his favorite disciple Yuki 'Alani' Yamauchi. As on their previous album, 'Maika'i no Blues', once again the earthy voice of Ray Kane is brought to the fore, although he also plays guitar on several tracks. According to Ray Kane, Yuki plays the slack key in a style closest to his own, perhaps explaining the totally natural feel and spirit of their recordings together. In addition, Yuki plays steel guitar and ukulele.

Most of the songs are classic traditional songs of Hawaiian music, many adapted to the slack key guitar. Ray sometimes sings in a quite humorous style, sometimes with a feeling evoking the blues, but all songs have his own character indelibly stamped upon them.

Some of the highlights include such songs as "Wai Ulu", also recorded by the "Sons of Hawaii" and their original version of the Lena Machado song "None Hula". Many songs will be known to lovers of traditional Hawaiian music such as "Latitu. Others are Ray's personal favorites such as 'I Ka Po Me Ke Ao" and "Wai O Ke Aniani".

Beautifully recorded, this album will appeal to lovers of slack key guitar music, Hawaiian traditional songs or guitar music fans. Perhaps it's the timeless appeal and character of Uncle Ray's voice that has the widest appeal. During times when contemporary Hawaiian music is losing some it's own Hawaiian character, Ray Kane and Yuki Yamauchi have served up a concoction brimming with the spirit and feeling of Hawaii.

 

Liner Notes

IN THEIR OWN WORDS-interview with Paul Fisher

RAY KANE

"I was born in Kawahi, and moved to Nanakuli when I was about 8 years old. My father played guitar and my mother sang, My aunties and uncles played ukulele, steel guitar, bass all kinds of music. I learnt by just watching. I especially watched Andy Cummings, my mother's brother. I would listen and play with him, and my mother's sister sung as well. In about 1935, I learnt slack key from a fisherman, but my family didn't know about it. His name was Albert Kavelo and I admired him, so I followed him all over the damned place. I met him at my house, he came to have a booze, to play with my uncle, and they started playing and I thought 'this sounds good' and that's how it started. He exchanged lessons for me catching him fish, one on one. He taught me for about 10 years, until he got married, as his wife didn't want him to teach me any more as I was taking his time away from her. I was about 9 years old when I started learning, and then I started playing with the rest of the boys at hotels and places like that. They wanted me to join them, because I was a terrific musician. We played old Hawaiian songs, there were 3 of us, we played at bars and parties, it was pretty informal. When I was 14, I saved a man's life. I was a boy scout, and a park keeper came over and said that a plane had crashed and he wanted some brave boys who could swim strong. I was small, but I was a good swimmer. I got in the water, everybody said 'you see that little guy there swimming out, don't depend on that guy'. But I went out there and I got the pilot and pulled him out the plane, and swam with him, all the way to shore. The waves were big, but the waves helped me. I met him many times after that. He was very appreciative. That was all in the papers. I worked for the navy as a welder, from about 20, until I retired about 30 years ago. But I always played slack key. I developed my own style. I learnt songs from the old man, but I also composed my own songs. I played with a lot of musicians, too many. I played with all the top players, Gabby Pahinui, many times in Honolulu, also Sonny Chillingworth, all of them. I played in Waikiki, or on the beach. The first time I recorded was with Margaret Williams for Tradewinds, My best known song was 'Pulaheli', my first composition. It's on my first album for Dancing Cat. Some people said it's beautiful, so I recorded it. Nobody plays the way I do, it's unique, it's what I learnt and what I put in myself. Hawaiian is the only music I like. Yuki's slack key is beautiful, he's one of the best there is. Yuki is the 'top of the line'. I taught him how to play soft, that's all. I like to play soft, because the music is soft, and when you play soft, that's music."

Ray Kane & Yuki Yamauchi- Maika'i no Blues

 

Ray Kane and Yuki 'Alani' Yamauchi release their second duet CD, following on from their 1997 release, "Slack Key Guitar Jam". On this occasion, Ray leaves the slack key playing to Yuki, with Ray's vocal style to the fore, evoking the 'real' deep blues of Hawaii. Yuki Yamauchi, probably the best slack key player outside of Hawaii, is a disciple of Ray Kane, under whom he studied for one year in 1976. In addition, Yuki plays every other additional instrument, such as ukulele, steel guitar and bass, and furthermore arranged each song.

The sound of 'Maika'i no Blues', takes you back to the days of the legendary 60s group 'Sons of Hawaii'. According to Yuki, if Ray Kane had been in the band that featured Gabby Pahuinui, this CD is what it would have sounded like. The music is warm, and Ray's voice has an earthy, soulful blues quality. Ray sings straight from the heart, with true emotion. You can almost hear both his playful and very human character.

This is the first album Ray has recorded, where his voice is accompanied by instruments in addition to slack key guitar. Martin Pahuinui, the son of the late Gabby is guest vocalist on 3 songs, and he also plays acoustic guitar. The exquisite voice of Elodia Kane (Ray's wife) is also featured on several songs. Tracks include the title song, 'Maika'i no Blues', an original Yuki Yamauchi composition, that honours Ray Kane. At the begining, Yuki asks Ray 'pehea'oe' (how are you?) and Ray replies 'Maika'i no' (very well). Ray contributes an original song, an unusual 10 bar blues piece, 'Nanakuli Blues'. Nanakuli is the town that Ray lives in, and this is the kind of tune he grew up with in and around Nanakuli.

The elder statesman of Hawaiian music, Ray Kane began playing music at the age of 9. Now 74, on this album Ray fulfils the promise of his middle name, Kaleoalohapoinaoleohelemanu, 'The voice of love that comes and goes like a bird, and will never be forgotten.'

FROM- THE JAPAN TIMES

Most Japanese probably think of Hawaii as a either a honeymoon destination or a small island that produces gigantic sumo wrestlers. Yuki Alani Yamauchi aims to present another side of Hawaiin music, one of the island's most endearing traditions, ki ho'alu or slack key guitar. Yamauichi is perhaps the finest player outside of Hawaii of the slack key tradition.

The roots of slack key guitar go back to Hawaiian ranches in the 1830s when Hawaiian cowboys (pianolo) picked up the acoustic guitars brought by the vaqueros, the Mexican and Spanish cowboys. The Hawaiians literally slackened the strings, creating ingenious tunings to suit thieir music. Tuning the guitar became something of an art form. Some tunings were kept closely guarded secrets, and today's players draw from family techniques and tunings handed down through the generations. Slack key is a finger picking style with the thumb providing a constant bass, while the other fingers play the melody or improvise on the upper strings. The sound like the tuning is completely unique; folk, jazz, blues, ragtime and country all rolled into one.

The musicians say their music comes from the heart, and no two players are really alike. Yuki Yamauchi is a disciple of one of the greatest Hawaiian slack key players Ray Kane, under whom he studied for one year in 1976. He also played with other greats Sonny Chillingworth and Gabby Pahinui, who was best known before he died in 1980, for some wonderful collaborations with Ry Cooder.

Yamauchi has also found himself in demand as a session player for artists such as Sandii and the Okinawan group Nenes. He has now recorded three solo albums, the latest of which, ŒThat's My Story' has just been released. ŒThat's My Story' was recorded at Audio Resource in Honolulu, the former legendary Sounds of Hawaii studio where many of the masterpieces of slack key were recorded including by the great Gabby Pahinui. Unfortunately the studios are now closed and Yamauchi wanted to record here at least one time. The CD has an amazingly natural feel to it, as if Yamauichi is playing in your living room.