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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1573 Posts |
 Posted - 01/04/2009 : 6:17:30 PM
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I scored a few LPs and one of them is a Sonny Chillingworth item, Poki Records SP7-9025, entitled "Sonny" and featuring David Kelii, Peter Medeiros, Rocky Tolentino, Matt Nakamura, and "Oz" Kotani.
I've enjoyed the whole LP, and the great cover shot of Sonny looking soulfully tough, cradling his D28. The tune I'm working on these days is "Honolulu Harbor." This recording features four slack key pa`ani in different styles and on different sounding instruments. I'm guessing the first one is Sonny on a 12 string, but I'm clueless about the rest.
So, Peter, any memories of those sessions you'd care to share?
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key Guitar in California - www.kaleponi.com
Slack Key on YouTube
Homebrewed Music Blog |
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sm80808
Lokahi
347 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2009 : 8:11:45 PM
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| Sounds like an awesome albume, i wish I could hear it... hopefully that stuff will get reissued or something some day so more people can access it. |
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Russell Letson
`Olu`olu
USA
504 Posts |
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Peter Medeiros
`Olu`olu
546 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 3:26:40 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Fran Guidry
.... any memories of those sessions you'd care to share?
I was going to reply earlier, but my computer gave me the beep death code and I have been sort of out of the loop on cyber connections.
"Sonny" was recorded 32 years ago at the old Sounds of Hawaii Studio down on Young Street. outside of what Russell referenced from the archives I don't think I can add too much to this other than I remember the music was kind of an eclectic assortment songs. I contributed two songs to the album; Tomi Tomi and Ka Mana‘o No Ia.
Tomi Tomi was an old style song from the turn of the twentieth century. I had first heard Al Kealoha Perry do this and just loved the joy he took when performing this. The arrangement was uptempo as the subject matter of the song was very risque. It was a song you could not sing in a formal setting. I remember teaching Sonny the lyrics and he would be telling me " God... this one's hard... I don't know if I can get the tempo..." Anyway we did get it to the point where the delivery was fluid.
My father's family -- on his mother's side -- is from Moloka‘i. When I was in college I was lucky enough to spend time on this island with my Auntie Kulia, my grand aunt. She lived in Kalamaula not far from the Helm's place. I have always associated Ka Mana‘o No Ia with this time in my life. It is a poignant song in a very slow waltz time. Ka Mana‘o No Ia was written by Ida Hanakahi who was a singer and hula dancer from Moloka‘i. She used to perform with Johnny Noble in the 1930's about the same time my Dad was in the band. I learned the song from Alice Weisbarth. I was in a trio with her daughter Likelike and Frank Fernandez we played on weekends at Pat's at Punalu'u.
When Sonny first asked me to play on this album I noticed that there were no Moloka‘i songs and although Sonny was from Moloka‘i he didn‘t know Ka Mana‘o No Ia. Because Sonny was short of songs for the album, I suggested Ka Mana‘o No Ia and then I taught this song to Sonny. He called Auntie Ida to make sure she wrote the song and that the words were good. Everything checked out and we were good to go.
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Edited by - Peter Medeiros on 01/23/2009 3:28:21 PM |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 9:43:01 PM
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Oh Peter,
Thank you for the history, I had been waiting for a response from you. I feel better now.
Aloha, Julie |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1573 Posts |
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2009 : 08:43:23 AM
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| Boy, as why hahd. I get one recording called Sonny too but it is different. None of the songs you Fran, mentionedx are on my recording. Now I would like to hear that one. That is the one you got. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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Peter Medeiros
`Olu`olu
546 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2009 : 08:45:37 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Fran Guidry
Hey, Peter, so glad you're back on line.
So, no memories of "Honolulu Harbor" and who took which solo?? It's very inspiring to hear each musician play through such a simple song and find such a different path.
Fran
Pam and I are about to go walking on Kailua beach this morning where we last saw you and Lynn. I'll give it some thought as to what we did. Before they started studying with Sonny, both Matt Nakamura and Oz were students of mine at UH, so they were already advanced students and understood linear and chord movement in an improv situation. I've got to go now, Laters. |
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