Hawaiian Slack Key Kings

Rhythm & Roots Records is excited to announce its latest release The CD is a compilation of 15 Artists who have dedicated a good part of their lives learning, performing, preserving and perpetuating the Hawaiian indigenous art form of “Ki-ho’alu” or Slack Key Guitar. These artists include Dennis Kamakahi, Makana, David Kahiapo, Dwight Kanae, Florent Atem, Paul Togioka, Michael Kaawa, Glen Smith, Kevin & Ikaika Brown (of Maui), Albert Kaai, Bobby Moderow, Ledward Kaapana, Danny Carvalho, North Shore’s Jack Johnson, and the producer of the project Milton Lau. 12 of the tracks are original compositions while 3 tracks (Maori Brown Eyes, Sanoe, Nani Wale Lihue/Ke Honi) are classic songs from past written by others. The CD offers fans of Ki-ho’alu a variety of songs in the genre from sweet nahenahe ballads to foot stomping and Rhythmic compositions such as “Maunalua Jam”. For those wanting a bit of Celtic Makana offers “Na Po’o Ka La” while Michael Kaawa offers some Spanish flair with “Sepania Slack”. David Kahiapo’s “Pukalani” is a jazz oriented piece while Ledward Kaapana, Paul Togioka and Albert Kaai’s selections are more traditional in style. “Song for Allie”, “Song for Erin” and “Lokelani’s Lullabye are personal pieces. “Song for Allie” was a composition written by Danny Carvalho for his pet cat that went to “Cat Heaven” after a long earthly life while “Song for Erin” was written by Milton Lau for his 14 year old daughter Erin to celebrate her birthday and admission to Kamehameha Schools for the 9th grade while “Lokelani’s Lullabye” was a piece composed by Dwight Kanae for his young daughter Lokelani who lives in Kaneohe. Finally, friend and slack key fan Jack Johnson offers his composition entitled “Better Together” that was re-recorded in the studio by recording engineer and co-producer of the project Chris Lau. “Better Together” sums up the project quite nicely as the project reflects the general feeling of all of the participants who contributed to the project “Together” to make a “Better” product. We hope everyone will enjoy this project which was truly a labor of love from everyone involved in the project. “Hawaiian Slack Key Kings” is the third release this year from Rhythm & Roots Records. Previous releases include Ledward Kaapana’s “Grandmaster” Slack Key Guitar and Paul Togioka’s “Here, There, And Everywhere”, Slack Key Guitar. Other recording projects are scheduled to be released before the end of 2006. From all of us here at Rhythm & Roots Records…….. Me Ke Aloha Pumehana. Milton & Chris Lau Producers