Solo session with Richard Thompson

March 26, 2015

In recent years, legendary British musician Richard Thompson has challenged himself by presenting a few all-request shows. Fans could request his popular songs or just about anything from this acclaimed artist who has previously delivered a "1000 Years of Popular Music" concerts, where he performed covers ranging from 13th-century celebrations of summer to Britney Spears' "Oops . . . I Did It Again.""I've been doing all-request shows for a while now," Thompson explains, back in Hawaii after touring New Zealand and Australia. "It's basically anything goes, my stuff or anyone else's."So it ...

One cool Katz

March 19, 2015

Primarily known in the islands for its unique, mesmerizing sound in Hawaiian music, the steel guitar is rarely heard in jazz. Loving both Hawaiian and jazz, Maui musician Joel Katz has been bridging these two genres with the albums "Hawaiian to Jazz" and "Adventures in Hawaiian Steel Guitar," his latest impressive work.The new CD just made the 2015 Na Hoku Awards preliminary ballot for Best Jazz Album of the Year. The final nominations will be announced Wednesday."I was drawn to the steel guitar by its versatility in articulation, pitch and tonal color, second only to the human voice," ...

Standing up for Soil

March 12, 2015

Filmmaker Deborah Koons Garcia wants to make the world more soil conscious. Her latest documentary, "Symphony of the Soil," was recently screened at the United Nations in New York to mark the launch of the 2015 International Year of Soils, which seeks to promote global awareness about the profound importance of healthy soil for human life."The film is an official part of the year," says Koons Garcia, who is the widow of legendary Grateful Dead guitarist/singer Jerry Garcia. "It's been shown all over the world."Partially filmed in Hawaii, this remarkable, must-see documentary will be ...

COUNTRY CROONERS: Lee Brice & Chris Young saddle up to the MACC

March 5, 2015

Two of country music's hottest young performers, Lee Brice and Chris Young, have teamed up for a string of co-headlining concert dates, which closes in Hawaii and includes a Castle Theater show in Kahului on Saturday. Young will also play a solo show on Friday.Promoting his latest album, "I Don't Dance," Brice's current single, "Drinking Class," is currently climbing the charts, while Young's latest single is "Lonely Eyes," from his fourth studio album, "A.M.""Chris and I have been talking about touring together for a long time," Brice told Rolling Stone Country. "He's a blast to be on ...

George Benson to play MACC’s Castle Theater Tuesday

February 26, 2015

It's kind of mind-blowing to learn that George Benson almost didn't record "This Masquerade," his biggest hit, which catapulted him to international stardom. When the jazz legend began compiling material for his landmark "Breezin' " album in 1976, it was suggested he cover the song composed by Leon Russell."I'd never heard of the song or Leon Russell," Benson explains. "I wondered why the producer had sent it to me. He said, 'What do you think about 'This Masquerade,' and I hadn't even played it. I couldn't find it, so he sent it again. One of the guys in my band came to my house with ...

Maui Pops presents

February 19, 2015

Legendary Hawaiian musician Keola Beamer and his wife, kumu hula Moanalani Beamer, will unite with Maui Pops Orchestra for a special concert on Sunday afternoon at the Castle Theater in Kahului.One of our island state's most distinguished guitarists, singers and composers, Keola established himself early in his career as a leader of contemporary Hawaiian music, and is looking forward to performing with the orchestra."It's my first time playing with the Maui Pops," Keola says. "We have some beautiful arrangements by Matt Cantingub, and there are some wonderful, polished musicians, so I'm ...