 One
of Hawaiian music's most gifted vocalists, Martin Pahinui has
performed with a host of top artists, including his father's legendary
Gabby Pahinui Hawaiian Band, The Peter Moon Band, The
Pahinui Brothers and slack key super group Hui Aloha. On
HO'OLOHE – (LISTEN), his long awaited first solo release
for the Dancing Cat label, Martin shares his aloha for the traditional
sound with thirteen classic tracks full of slack key, steel guitar and
a passionate voice that expresses the essence of Hawaiian soul.
HO'OLOHE features Martin's vocals and guitar supported
by longtime friends George Kuo on slack key guitar and Aaron
Mahi on bass and backing vocals. Steel guitar master Bobby
Ingano joins them on seven tracks. Together, they create a warm
and lively sound that harkens back to the glory days of slack key
greats like Gabby, Atta Isaacs and Sonny
Chillingworth. As George points out, "Gabby, Atta and Sonny always
had fun when they played. We want to perpetuate that. We're happy
playing the old songs. We don't need to be cutting edge, it's the
delivery that gives a song its pizzazz. We enjoy adding our own runs
and improvisations without losing the melody or the Hawaiian flavor."
On HO'OLOHE, unlike most previous Dancing Cat releases,
the main focus shifts away from slack key instrumentals to Hawaiian
vocal styles. Martin sings lead on all thirteen tracks, ranging from
the tender leo ki'eki'e (falsetto) of "Pua Lilia" to the
rollicking powerful yodels of "Hanohano Hawai`i". Most of the
tracks include backing vocals by Aaron, whose aloha for old-time
Hawaiian glee club singing is most obvious on the group's swinging
version of "Moloka`i Nui Ahina" and the romantic ballad
"Beautiful 'Ilima".
Still, as with all Dancing Cat albums, HO'OLOHE has lots
of virtuoso pa`ani (instrumental solos). George and Bobby take
most of them, but even Martin gets into the act. "I love playing with
these guys because they're all such great musicians," says Martin.
"You play with people who are better than you and they'll lift you
up!"
Martin's trio, often joined by Bobby, performs Sunday nights at
the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort. They also provide backing for
veteran singers Nina Keali`iwahamana and Bill Ka`iwa.
They have even started accepting a few jobs outside of Hawai`i, busy
schedules permitting. "If this band ever gets a name, it should be the
'Olu'olu Gang," says George. 'Olu'olu can be translated
into English as "amiable and nice". "My wife Ruthie suggested
Ho'olohe," says Martin. "That means to listen. I hope that people
enjoy listening to the music we share on this album. These are songs
we listened to when we were young and it's such a blessing to be able
to play them today."
The youngest child of Gabby and Emily Pahinui, Martin grew up
surrounded by music: not only the amazing ki ho'alu (slack key)
in his family home but also the many other styles floating on the wind
in Waimanalo, where he grew up and still lives. Born July 21, 1951, he
quickly jumped into music, picking up Hawai`i's favorite starter
instrument, the 'ukulele, around age three. "None of us ever got any
lessons but the music was always there," Martin says, "so if you
listened closely enough you could catch on."
By intermediate school, Martin picked up guitar, joining his brothers
Bla and Cyril in a rock band called The Characters.
"We did 'Johnny B. Goode' and all that," Martin says. About that time,
he also picked up his nickname, "Gramps". "I used to wear overalls,
like the old folks" he says, "and somehow the name stuck."
As the Hawaiian Renaissance began to build in the mid-1960s, young
people throughout Hawai`i began to explore their roots, and
traditional music enjoyed a revival. "Cyril and Bla went
into it ahead of me," Martin says. "They gave up electric instruments,
but I held on to mine!" Martin's favorite rock group was and still is
The Beatles. "Their songs are so extraordinary," he says. He
counts as two of his career highlights meeting Ringo Starr in
Los Angeles and chatting with George Harrison on the phone when
the shy, spiritual Beatle was living on Maui. "He had a high respect
for Hawaiian music," Martin says, "He said he had all of my daddy's
records and a lot of other local artists. We invited him to our
sessions but he said he didn't want to interfere. I wish we could have
gotten to play with him, but I can appreciate his feelings."
In the early 1970s, Martin joined his father, brothers, Sonny
Chillingworth, Atta Isaacs and others in the legendary
Gabby Pahinui Hawaiian Band. The group's easy-going style and high
level of artistry enjoyed great popularity and inspired many young
musicians. "All of us young guys wanted to latch on to what the older
ones were sharing," Martin says. While many young people still enjoy
learning from na kupuna (elders), today's radio stations and
clubs target specific age groups, which limits the mixing of the
generations. "We played with musicians of all ages to audiences of all
ages," he says. Young bands today don't get many opportunities to do
that. It's much harder for them to learn – not just the songs but also
older ways of playing them.
After the Gabby Band, Martin returned to his rock roots,
playing in various bands on Maui and the mainland. In the mid 1980s,
he joined brother Cyril in the popular Peter Moon Band, taking
the lead vocals on such local hits as the pop ballad "Flying" and the
hard-rocking "Cane Fire". Other projects soon followed, including the
long-awaited album of The Pahinui Brothers, which reunited
Bla, Cyril and Martin with guitarist Ry Cooder
and other mainland friends.
The 1990s brought a renewed interest in traditional Hawaiian music
fronting a band with steel guitar and slack key. 1999's album with the
slack key super group Hui Aloha marked Martin's debut on Dancing Cat,
which had already recorded brothers Bla and Cyril as
soloists. "George WInston asked me about doing something for
Dancing Cat way back when I was with Peter Moon," Martin says.
"Many years later, when we were making the Hui Aloha album, I told him
"Wow, you sure are patient!"
Martin is featured on our compilation CD:
Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar -Live from Maui
which was honored
with the 49th Annual
GRAMMY Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album.
Martin is again featured on our newest compilation CD:
Treasures of Hawaiian Slack Key
Guitar (Daniel Ho Records) which just won
the 50th Annual
GRAMMY Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album.
After nearly a half century making music, Martin illustrates that good
music well played exists in a special place outside the confines of
passing fads. He also reflects a firm commitment to both honoring and
extending the Pahinui slack key legacy. "My daddy is a very big
influence on all of us," Martin says. "But he always did things his
own way and he taught us to trust our own instincts too. He always
said the key was to respect the culture and then do your music in the
way that brings you the most enjoyment."
For more information on Martin, visit
www.dancingcat.com
Martin last performed in The Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key
Guitar Concert Series at the Napili Kai Beach Resort, Maui on
April 16, 2008.
(Previously, Martin performed in this series at the Napili Kai Beach resort on December 19 and September 12, 2007 and before that at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on
March 28 and January 31, 2007 and before that on October 25, July 26, May 03 and February 15, 2006 and before that on December 7, October 12, August 30, June 14,
May 10 and March 1, 2005 and October 5, and July 6, of 2004.)
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