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COURTESY ADDISON STREET RECORDS
The “California-born Hawaiian” Patrick Landeza puts out a new album and book that are a welcome addition to any collection of Hawaiian music, and he shares some reflections along the way.
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“Ho‘omana‘o”
Patrick Landeza
(Addison Street Records, ASR062316A)
Patrick Landeza made history in 2013 when he became the first non-Hawaii resident to win the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for slack key album. It was an “upset” reminiscent of 1997, when Japanese falsetto singer Kichizo Matsutani prevailed over all the Hawaii residents to win the Aloha Festivals’ Frank B. Shaner Hawaiian Falsetto Contest. Back in 1997 the qualifications and integrity of the contest judges defused speculation that there was something “political” about Matsutani’s win. Landeza’s slack key linage — he’s California-born and raised but has studied with slack key masters Ray Kane, George Kuo, Dennis Kamakahi and Cyril Pahinui — likewise speaks for itself.
With this album — Landeza translates the title as “to remember” — he is expressing his gratitude to his teachers “for allowing me to be part of your legacy.” Last week the musician and author (see below) appeared in the islands to perform at Blue Note Hawaii and to read from his new book at Pa‘i Arts Gallery.
Landeza plays 12 island standards in the traditional nahenahe (sweet, melodious) style of old-time slack key. His work deserves careful listening — both to pick out the melodies he is playing and also to appreciate the slack key techniques he uses in interpreting them.
Composers’ credits acknowledging the people who wrote these melodies, and a little information about the songs, would complete the package. Malihini (newcomers) might not know, for example, that “KHBC” was written in 1936 to commemorate the founding of the Big Island’s first radio station.
“From the Island of Berkeley”
Patrick Landeza
(Addison Street Books, $14.95)
Liner notes are one way recording artists can share information with their fans; books are another. Patrick Landeza’s newly published collection of “memoirs from a California-born Hawaiian” fills in almost everything a fan needs to know. Landeza starts with his childhood in California and continues with the story of how he connected with his island heritage, discovered slack key and found his teachers. In other chapters he reveals that he almost joined a lay Catholic religious order, describes his experiences playing haunted venues, tells how he met his wife and shares some of his favorite times on tour with Cyril Pahinui and Dennis Kamakahi.
This is a welcome addition to any collection of books on Hawaiian music and the musicians who play it.
Visit patricklandeza.com.
