TV review
Pianist making his slack-key debut
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
Since it was his Dancing Cat label that first began to garner recognition for ki ho'alu (slack-key) masters outside of Hawai'i, recording a series of artists beginning in 1985, it's only natural that George Winston finally gets the spotlight on Hawai'i Public Television's "Na Mele: Traditions in Hawaiian Song" series.
Featuring George Winston on slack-key guitar 7:30 p.m. today, 10:30 p.m. Sunday Hawai'i Public Television (Oceanic 10, Verizon 11) In his performance, George Winston gives credit where it is due.
In tonight's installment, Winston demonstrates his quiet eloquence on slack key, his private passion for more than 25 years. Better known for his evocative piano renderings, painting seasonal landscapes of his beloved Montana, Winston has handily made the transition to performing Hawaiian music in the island style, having been influenced and often personally taught by some of the local luminaries.
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"Na Mele: Traditions in Hawaiian Song"
Only recently has Winston come out of the closet to give concerts that embrace this side of his talent (there was one last month at the Academy of Arts). On his "Na Mele" debut, he rightfully pays homage to all the people and music that triggered his desire and galvanized his abilities so that he could become a ki ho'alu wizard himself.
Going against the show's tradition of almost no talk and only playing or singing, Winston takes time — appropriate for a respectful student mindful of his mentors, in the Hawaiian tradition — to credit, through song introductions and annotations, those who have nudged him or instructed him. He performs selections that are well known, thought not always in the ki ho'alu genre, so the show is a wonderful tapestry of discoveries, of new hues to old favorites, of rediscoveries of perhaps forgotten melodies.
Performing a half-dozen selections, Winston gets to the essence of slack key, showing off a precise strumming style that brings fresh insights to "Sase," a song introduced to him by Leonard Kwan; "Sweet Lei Mamo," which Keola Beamer brought to his attention; and "Ku'uipo 'Ono 'Ono," taught to him by Ledward Kaapana and Cyril Pahinui.
The essence of his standing here perhaps is exemplified in "Nahe-nahe," ("soft, sweet, melodious" in Hawaiian), a Leonard Kwan classic that says it all: His manner is sweet, gentle, melodious. Nahenahe.
Reach Advertiser entertainment editor Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8067.
