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Topic: Vanishing steel on Oahu |
Steve Feldman
From:
Central MA USA
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Posted 26 Dec 2001 8:30 am |
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I was in Oahu recently on business where I found myself listening to a lot of music in hotels, clubs, and a lot of street corners. Uke, guitar, and bass was a typical combo, usually with some really great singing.
The steel is vanishing in Waikiki with the exception of a very few places - the Hotel Halekulani being one notable exception (verynice place, btw, and thanks to some Forumites for a great tip). I had a VERY pleasant evening sitting on the patio drinking 'lemonade' with a beautiful ocean backdrop and the tradewinds blowing calmly...). There was this one woman doing traditional hula (and other) dances in a very 'non-touristy' way, and I swear, I never saw a better pair of legs even though they were covered up with a full-length dress!
I was really impressed with the uke, however, and I wound up buying a pretty decent concert uke during my trip. I've been having a ball with this thing ever since. You can get all kinds of extended chords and all kinds of cool rhythms with this thing and it's got a really sweet tone. It's great for travel, too.
So, I'm looking for any recomendations for recordings that feature steel AND uke. Or just uke? I've been listening to Brudda Iz recently until the CDs are ready to melt.
Only downside to this thing is that when they ask you in the airport what kind of 'guitar' you play, everyone kind of looks at you funny when you tell them it's a uke. You think the steel faces a tough stigma? Let me tell you...just be glad nobody ever made a name for themselves playing 'Tiptoe Through the Tulips' on steel![This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 26 December 2001 at 08:31 AM.] |
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Charles Beshears
From:
Leesburg, AL, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2001 11:25 am
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I think we have complicated the steel out
of understanding of the common music lover.
most around here don't know what one is.
its a shame! that's just my opinion
Charles Beshears
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 30 Dec 2001 4:57 pm
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| Check out Ohta San and his son Herb Ohta. Herb has a duet CD with Lyle Ritz that looks real good. |
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Steve Feldman
From:
Central MA USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2001 5:30 pm
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| Thanks, Andy. I have Lyle Ritz's jazz book which is WAY COOL, as they say. I also have a method/chord book by Ohta San. The CD you recommend sound right up my alley. |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2001 6:24 pm
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The uke is very alive in Honolulu/Waikiki. I was there with my family last April and saw and heard numerous people playing it, some quite amazingly.
I also had a chance to to take a tour of the Kamaka Ukulele factory in Honolulu. They have a full staff of builders turning out some beautiful instruments. They are having no trouble moving their inventory.
Young people on Oahu are playing the uke too. I remember being on the beach at Waikiki and seeing a group of Hawaiian teenagers. These kids had the latest clothes, the latest skateboards and bikes, the most up to date body piercings etc. They also had ukes! They would sit on the beach and sing songs and pass the uke around.
Check out the Elderly instruments website and catalog. Their uke section is three pages long. Ukes from $30 to $1000.
The ukulele is not a toy. It is a legitimate and beautiful instrument.
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Gerald Ross
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 30 December 2001 at 06:29 PM.] |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 31 Dec 2001 4:13 am
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....The ukulele is not a toy. It is a legitimate and beautiful instrument.....
Gerald, anyone who thinks otherwise has never heard: "How About Uke" by Lyle Ritz (Verve Records MG VS-6007) Lyle Ritz plays jazz ukelele, with Don Shelton (flute), Gene Estes (drums), and Red Mitchell (bass). www.genejones.com |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2001 7:30 am
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If you want to find out where the steel guitar is being played in Hawaii you should join one of the Hawaiian steel guitar groups.
They list where the steel is being played including THE man for "touch and tone" Jerry Byrd.
Erv |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 1 Jan 2002 11:07 am
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The worst experience for me in regards to the lack of steel guitar in Waikiki was pre-Byrd year 1970. I found only 4 active players even though I knew there were many steel players over there who were just not being asked to play. Steel was at an all time low ebb in Hawaii and elsewhere. Since Byrd arrived around 1972, things picked up dramatically. Nowadays, (pre 9-11), you could find MANY steel players on the scene...so I cannot agree it is dying out...it isn't. 9-11 was a disaster for Hawaii's entertainers as elsewhere where tourism is the key product. A good article appeared in the International Hawaiian Steel Guitar Club newsletter recently regarding the situation in Hawai'i and the effect of 9-11 on entertainers.
The Kamaka Ukulele Factory, long the standard for the very BEST in ukuleles is now facing some mighty stiff competion from other manufacturers of fine ukuleles in Hawai'i Nei. Absolutely gorgeous ukes are now available for those who have the big $$$$$ to spend. I have 2 Kamaka's. They are still tops with me. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 1 Jan 2002 4:53 pm
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| [url=http://www.tropicaldisc.com/cart/shopcore/?db_name=tropdisc&page=shop/flypage&product_id=7615&category_id=aa0a34535940286a15f8fc28cde18cb2&PHPSESSID=071ce7ae4b9ea66f6a4441d9d f 7e2ae]Here's a link to the Lyle Ritz/Ohta San CD. [/url] [This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 02 January 2002 at 09:43 AM.] |
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Steve Feldman
From:
Central MA USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2002 8:31 am
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| I bought a concert uke from a relatively small builder based out of Maui. The Kamakas were nice, but this thing really 'had it' for me. Not too fancy, but good intonation and very sweet tone. |
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