Maui Beat

Spirit & Song

Australian musician Xavier Rudd didn't plan on becoming a one-man band. Performing music that ranges from mellow acoustic with a Jack Johnson-style vibe to rousing tribal trance, his love for playing different instruments evolved over the years.A soulful singer-songwriter, surfer and environmental champion, Rudd typically plays around 15 instruments, sitting onstage surrounded by a complicated arrangement, including three didgeridoos, lap steel guitar, acoustic guitars, assorted percussion, a stomp box, bass, harmonica and trumpet."I use a lot of instruments, and over time I would blend ...

Blues fuels Calasa filming

New Orleans great on Maui

During an interview on Elvis Costello's TV show, "Spectacle," Elton John was asked about some of his influences, including legendary New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint."When I meet someone like Allen Toussaint, that, for me, is like meeting someone of the equivalent of the Dalai Lama," John said. "Because he influenced the way I played the piano. He's a historical part of rock 'n' roll."Though he might not be widely known, this veteran musician has been responsible for many hits, and his music has been covered by an array of artists, from the Rolling Stones and Robert Plant to Bonnie ...

Fueled by the Blues

Keb' Mo' is much more than a blues musician. On his recent album, "The Reflection," this three-time Grammy winner crafted an exuberant collection of original funky soul tunes accompanied by artists like India.Arie, Vince Gill and guitar legend David T. Walker.With material more reminiscent of Stevie Wonder, Boz Scaggs and even Steely Dan than John Lee Hooker, Mo' knew that some fans might be a little skeptical of this stylistic evolution."It was a record that raised a lot of eyebrows," says Mo'. "It was kind of like, 'What's this?' Some embraced it, and some were like, 'I don't know, I ...

8th Annual Maui Ukulele Festival ‘Take Ukulele ever further’

It's been a memorable year for Brittni Paiva. The young Big Island musician won two Na Hoku Hanohano awards in July for her latest album, "Tell U What," and had the honor of performing onstage with Carlos Santana at the Blaisdell Arena in February.Scheduled to return to our island Sunday to play at the 8th annual Maui Ukulele Festival at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Paiva reports she was pleasantly surprised to win Na Hokus for Ukulele Album of the Year and Instrumental Composition of the Year for the album's funky title track."It was crazy; I didn't expect to win two awards," ...

Sean Na‘auao

Loved in the islands for his popular reggae-flavored hits, in recent years Sean Na'auao has won acclaim for his exceptional traditional Hawaiian music.Performing tonight at the Maui Fair, this multi Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning artist's latest recording finds him exploring his Hawaiian roots with an impressive collection of traditional, hapa-haole and new works, highlighted by his exemplary musicianship.Blessed with a beautiful falsetto voice, he serenades us with classics such as John Kameaaloha Almeida's "Panini Pua Kea" and Mary Kawena Pukui's "Kipu Kai," and collaborates with ...