Peterson’s slack-key stylings take us on relaxing journey

‘Slack Key Travels’

Jeff Peterson
(Peterson Productions)

In the 13 years since he released his first album with shakuhachi (bamboo) flutist Riley Lee, soft-spoken slack-key guitarist Jeff Peterson has made significant contributions to Hawaiian music as a musician, composer, producer, recording artist and record label executive. Peterson went big as a musician and producer in 2010 with the Amy Hanaiali‘i and Slack Key Masters of Hawai‘i project — the sextet’s album was a Grammy Award finalist in 2011.

He goes back to basics — just a man and his guitar — with this collection of 12 new original melodies and four classics by other Hawaiian composers. Peterson’s solo slack-key playing is always relaxing and nahenahe (sweet, melodious). His work here is no exception.

Songs about special places are a cherished tradition in Hawaiian music. The titles of some suggest specific locations. The inspiration for others is left to the listener’s imagination.

www.JeffPetersonGuitar.com

"Makawao Chimes"

‘Tiki Tonic’

Tiki Taboo
(no label)

Marti Kerton aka "The Marti" owns a place in local music history for her work as a member of Hat Makes the Man in the ’80s. She’s heard here singing a retro-pop remake of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin’" as a guest of "mondo reverb" band Tiki Taboo.

Give Kerton and the band — James Geneko ("Kinky Reverb"), Bert Kono ("Vertigo-go"), Byron Lai ("Deep Twang") and Sonia Patel ("Phat Bottom") — credit for neither attempting to clone the Nancy Sinatra hit nor mocking it.

Take note that Tiki Taboo is not another Martin Denny tribute band. Their thing is the instrumental guitar rock popular from the late ’50s through the ’60s. Imagine a blend of Duane Eddy, surf rock, ’60s Euro-pop and the stuff that American International used as soundtrack filler in its motorcycle gang films. Ganeko leads the group through fresh arrangements of vintage tunes; three of the best are "Tequila," "Sleepwalk" played without steel guitar, and a medley that blends the theme songs from "Peter Gunn," "For a Fistful of Dollars," "The Pink Panther" and James Bond.

Composer credits are not provided, so it’s anyone’s guess whether the unfamiliar tunes are originals or simply unfamiliar tunes, but Lee Hazelwood’s heirs will appreciate the royalties they’ll get for "Boots."

www.facebook.com/pages/Tikitaboosurfband/128978917153340

"Cleopatra"