Sun, 28 October 2007
This week’s program begins by continuing our look at traditional Hawaiian music today that I began last week after my return from Hawai`i. Having spent seventeen days on O`ahu in September, I am eager to share with you the beautiful Hawaiian music I heard - and I heard plenty! I open this week’s program by sharing my typical Wednesday and Thursday evening in Honolulu with you. Wednesdays begin at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel with Chris Kamaka and Baba Alimoot (known together as Hema Pa`a), then down Ala Moana Boulevard to Aloha Tower Marketplace where The Brothers Cazimero perform in the relaxed but elegant atmosphere of Chai’s Island Bistro, then back to Waikiki for a late evening with Weldon Kekauoha at Tiki’s Grill and Bar at the ResortQuest Waikiki Hotel. The remainder of the program focuses on someone who was arguably the islands’ greatest female composer of all time: Hawai`i's Songbird, Lena Machado. I don’t know what else to say about Auntie Lena except the she had a “way with words? - unlike any other. This program takes a look at the two facets of her career as vocalist and composer. This set opens with several numbers from out-of-print Columbia 78 rpms with Andy Cummings featuring Auntie Lena‘s beautiful voice, and then we spend an hour with the greats of Hawaiian music interpreting Auntie Lena’s many compositions. As part of our Lena Machado birthday celebration, I challenge you with another “Three-Of-A-Kind? contest. I have tried to adjust for the difficulty level of this week’s contest in two ways: I have added a fourth song to this set to give you an additional clue, and I have created a set that has not one, but two correct answers. If you think you know what these four Lena Machado recordings have in common, send me an e-mail at bill@50thstateradio.com. I encourage you to learn more about the life and music of Lena Machado. I have filled this program with lots of Auntie Lena’s music and, in so doing, I left little time to talk about the songs or the amazing woman who gave them life. But Auntie Lena’s hanai daughter, Pi`olani Motta, with the help of Kihei Silva, has written the definitive book about Lena Machado’s life and compositions. Check out Songbird of Hawai`i. We look forward to hearing your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and requests. Send me an e-mail at the e-mail address above. Enjoy the show!
All selections out-of-print unless indicated. (Click on the link to a title to locate a possible distribution source.) *Remastered and rereleased on CD **Recent release available on CD |
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Sun, 30 September 2007
Category:Radio
-- posted at: 11:47pm EDT
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