The Rough Guide to the Music of Hawaii [Audio CD] Rough Guide

For a chain of islands with such a small landmass, Hawaii has a remarkably diverse musical culture. And while the folks who compiled this set have decided to focus on the slack key and steel guitar parts of the tradition, they also offer a nice selection of the vocal styles as well. The singers include Alfred Apaka and Lena Machado, who sing in a smooth pop-influenced style, as well as earthier performers such as Elodia Kane and Genoa Keawe, who perform using the traditional falsetto technique. But most of the 20 tracks are devoted to the guitar. The steel guitarists include pioneering players such as Sol Hoopii, Tau Moe, and Benny Nawahi, who developed a startling blend of hot jazz and Hawaiian music in the 1920s, as well as modern players such as Bob Brozman, who are reviving the earlier styles. The music of the slack key guitarists, including Gabby Pahinui, Leonard Kwan, and Ray Kane, features some of the world's most gorgeously melodic tunes. --Michael Simmons