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now playing: Waikiki Swingsters w/Ralph Kolsiana
Posted: 12 Sep 2006 9:48 am
by Mike Neer
This is a number called "Who" (Bluebird 7111A) featuring the steel guitar of Ralph Kolsiana. Ralph was a swinging player and his life has been documented in a video by Andy Volk, which, incidentally, is very enjoyable and like a visit with an old uncle.
Click here to listen
Posted: 12 Sep 2006 10:24 am
by Stephan Miller
You can tell Ralph loved his "work"! Had me tappin'and grinnin'...
Posted: 12 Sep 2006 10:25 am
by Gerald Ross
This is my idea of PARTY MUSIC!
Swingy, cartoony, loose, with more emphasis on feel than getting all the notes 150% mathematically correct.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 12 September 2006 at 11:26 AM.]</p></FONT>
Posted: 12 Sep 2006 10:52 am
by Andy Volk
Ralph was a kind and generous person and an unsung steel pioneer. Who did these guys have to listen to in 1936? Mostly just Sol Ho'o'pi'i, Django and Stephene and it shows - especially in Johnny Kolsiana's lead work. If their intonation and feel momentarily flags, hey - these were young guys in their 20, with a lot of energy having a ball playing hot music. Johnny got a chance to sit in with Django during WWII and it was the thrill of his life. Ralph's style got smoother and more sophisticated later on after he'd spent time on 52nd Street listening to Bird and Diz.
Posted: 12 Sep 2006 6:34 pm
by Billy Wilson
Hot!!!
Posted: 12 Sep 2006 8:42 pm
by Don Kona Woods
Thanks Mike,
Great stuff by Ralphy!!!
Aloha
Don
Posted: 13 Sep 2006 6:36 am
by Bernard Beck
Great music, thanks for sharing it.
Bernard
Posted: 14 Sep 2006 12:30 pm
by George Rout
Is anybody else having trouble opening the "download" link? Or have any suggestions???? Geo
Posted: 14 Sep 2006 12:35 pm
by Dan Eason
I can't download it either - great tune, though!!! Thanks for sharing, Mike!
Posted: 24 Sep 2006 1:01 pm
by Edward Meisse
Ralph used a C13 on his first neck with the 3rd on top. Wasn't his second tuning an 8 string variation of C#minor? I know it was in the book. But I always seem to have it loaned out these days. Maybe I should buy another.
Posted: 24 Sep 2006 1:05 pm
by Todd Clinesmith
I think it was an E13... I could very well be wrong.
Todd
Posted: 24 Sep 2006 4:14 pm
by Andy Volk
Back in the Swingsters days, Ralph used E7th.