I arrived on Thursday at noon. I was greeted by Maurice Junod, who made me feel so very welcome. Not only that but he checked on me the entire weekend to see how I was doing. So did fellow forumite John Tipka. I have never felt more a part of a "family" ever.
For those of you who do not know, I posted a question earlier this year about the Hawaiian Guitar show in Joliet. I wanted to know whether the sound level was lower than has become the norm at all the others. I received emails from the two gentleman metioned above along with one from the PA man (Mr Doug Smith). They all said the same thing, "the sound level at the Hawaiian show is considerably lower than at regular steel shows".
And they did NOT lie!! What a blessing. How wonderful it was to sit there for three days without having my ear drums burst!
I cannot tell you folks how much I enjoyed this show which culminated last night with a fantastic Luau and Hawaiian show. The incredibly good Hawaiian guitar player Alan Akaka dazzled us with his touch and tone, second ONLY to Jerry Bryd, IMHO! What a show!
From the moment I went into the hall when I arrived, I kept thinking, "any moment the sound is going to get louder". NEVER happened folks. And much of the credit for this goes to the PA man, Mr Doug Smith. And what a talented musician he is also. Never did see a steel player use and ironig board for stand and use an electric iron for the bar. He said "no problem" slanting the bar!!
He also split our sides with his Larriet talents as the all Hawaiian band played "cowboy music" !!
And such a blessing not to see a drummer framming the daylights out of a snare. In fact NO drums at all. And the bass was "felt and NOT heard". Which is the way I was taught it should be played. I could not agree more, epecially since most of the bass was "upright" and even when it was an electric bass, it was barely audible but "felt" soooo good to hear it played.
Every steel player was good, including many ladies playing the steel. 3 MultiKords were played with much taste. As were single double and 3 neck Fenders. Also, the very much sought after bakelite Ricks with their spine tingling "moan" took me back to the days of JB. as were a few regular pedal steels played in a Hawaiian style. Dang! I loved it.
But no one impressed me like Alan Akaka, Herbert Hanawahine and Duke "Kaleolani" Ching on their Fender standup double and triple neck steels. Last night brought tears to my eyes from long ago as a child of 9, when I heard the old "Hawaii Calls" live radio broadcast from Waikiki.
With 3 steel guitars, ukes, soft played regular guitars, bass and hula dancers, I became very choked up as the inimitable voice of Bob Waters emceed and sang (with that gorgeous "falsetto"), while the above 3 steel guitarists played authentic Hawaiian music in the background.
And Bob's lovely wife (whose name eludes me) harmonized in that sweet Hawaiian way, just excactly as they did when the original radio broadcasts were transmitted.
And I would like to mention two other forumites who just knocked me out. One, the incredible talents of Gerald Ross on the regular guitar. I could listen to him play all night long. Close my eyes and I could swear it was ole Merle Travis himself. Such an awesome player.
And Bill leff. What an intelligent young man and his talents spill over into his soft touch on guitar and steel. A pleasure to sit back and see these two wonderful players dazzle us with "fret work"
A tip of Carl's hat to the "both of ya's" Thanks for the memories fellow forumites.
And there were two ladies who impressed me as much as any musician in a very long time. Barbara Kuhns who played ukelele (and one tune on a fiddle). What a musician! Not only amazingly talented, but just a joy to watch her stage demeanor.
And second but not last, was Lorene Ruymar. Talent such as hers is NOT suppose to exist in my book. Yet she flawlessly exhibited it on the ukelele, guitar and Rick frypan. And she did this all 3 days inculding the Luau show.
Words cannot describe what a "beautiful" and gracious lady she was and is. I shall forever cherish her autograph on the book she published on the history of the "Hawaiian Guitar". This is one book I won't be able to put down I am sure.
All the others were great. Needless to say I am on a natural high after returning home relishing the beautiful steel guitar music I heard for 3 straight days.
And the most wonderful thing of all is, my ears are NOT ringing!
May our Precious Lord and Savior bless the HSGA always.
I will make the show in Hawaii next May and shall make the Joliet show a regular annual event.
Folks, if you love Hawaiian steel guitar music and/or you can't stand sound levels that are 3 times past the level of pain, do plan to go to one of these shows. You will be amazed at how nice it is to be able to listen and enjoy music at a level that displays true dynamic range at its very best.
My deepest and sincerest thanks to Alan Akaka (retiring president of the HSGA) and Don Weber (newly elected president) for putting on a show I shall never forget. I am in complete and utter awe at what you have done. And that goes for your staffs and all the rest who contributed to this beautiful show.
God bless you,
carl<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by C Dixon on 08 October 2000 at 05:34 PM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by C Dixon on 08 October 2000 at 05:49 PM.]</p></FONT>
.
