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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 really looking forward to it. I’ll play a couple of solo pieces, but the majority will be with the orchestra.”
While it’s been a couple of years since he graced us with a new CD, Keola reports he has no immediate plans to record. “The challenge is to find a project that I really love that I can put my heart into,” he says. “I’ve got to be sure I love it from the very beginning. And we’ve been doing a lot of traveling the past couple of years.”
Since 2013, the Beamers have been working with the American Voices non-profit organization that fosters cross-cultural understanding by sending musicians representing a spectrum of American culture around the world.
Two years ago, Keola, Moanalani and Jeff Peterson traveled to Brazil to introduce Hawaii’s unique slack key guitar music and hula to audiences in 10 cities.
This year, the duo will head to Cambodia and the East African nation of Zimbabwe.
“We’re going to Cambodia the day after the Maui Pops concert with Tom Vendetti to introduce the film ‘The Quietest Place on Earth’ at a Cambodian film festival,” he explains. “And we’re going to Zimbabwe in April. Last year, we were in Venezuela, Brazil and New Zealand.”
Also last year, the couple ran a unique music retreat at Four Seasons Resort Lanai’s Lodge at Koele, collaborating with Qigong master Hong Liu and Tibetan meditation teacher Tenzin Dhonden.
They will host a similar event with the same teachers in October at the Ka’anapali Beach Resort. “We have the elements of mana, creativity and music,” he notes. “People have written such beautiful songs after the last retreat. Meditation really helps musicians discover their own voice, the authentic human being that they are.”
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Country crooner Sara Evans
When the creators of the TV show “Nashville” were formulating the project about life in the country music capital, they invited one of the genre’s female stars, Sara Evans, to advise them and eventually appear in an episode, singing her latest single.
“They all flew in from L.A. and met with me and artist managers, booking agents and bus drivers,” Sara explains. “They definitely wanted to do their research and make sure that what they were writing was as accurate as it could be. I had such a blast as a guest star on the show too. I was so honored to be able to sing ‘Put My Heart Down’ on the show with Will Chase who plays Luke Wheeler.”
Loved for top hits like “Suds in the Bucket,” “A Real Fine Place to Start,” “No Place That Far” and “A Little Bit Stronger,” Evans is so popular, her last four albums sold either gold, platinum or multi-platinum.
Her most recent album, “Slow Me Down,” was named by Billboard as one of the 10 best country albums of 2014. Packed with catchy, memorable songs, many with quite a pop flavor, its appeal was broad.
” ‘Slow Me Down’ is something that is rare in 2014: an unapologetic, big-scale adult pop album, constructed with grace and care,” praised Allmusic. Nashville Music News noted: “The stunning songstress has enjoyed hits with the traditional and the contemporary, and she always seems to come up with something fresh and new. She sounds better than she ever did.”
“I grew up listening to country music from a very young age, but as I grew older I started listening to pop and rock,” Evans says. “My musical tastes have always been pretty varied. I definitely did skew a little more pop overall with ‘Slow Me Down,’ which was a conscious decision to stretch and try something a little different. But then I put a song like ‘Better Off,’ featuring Vince Gill on the album, that’s in-your-face, stone-cold country. I like to have variety and show the versatility in my voice.”
Growing up in Missouri, Evans reports that her music idols included female country stars like Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton, along with Whitney Houston, and rockers the Doobie Brothers, who she joined on their latest country-infused album “Southbound,” singing with Michael McDonald.
“I was thrilled when I got the call to sing with Michael on ‘What a Fool Believes,’ ” she says. “I grew up listening to the Doobie Brothers and have always been a huge fan. I had actually worked with Michael before. He sang with me on a song called ‘Caged,’ that was a bonus track on my ‘Born to Fly’ album. Every time I hear his vocals I’m just blown away.”
With male stars like Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley and Toby Keith featured on “Southbound,” the album easily fits country radio formats, at a time when many female country artists struggle for air play.
“Country music right now prizes male youth and aggression over female experience and assertiveness,” noted an NPR review of Evans’ “Slow Me Down” album.
“Country radio is in a very interesting phase right now as they aren’t playing hardly any female artists,” Evans reports. “When I first started in the business it was fairly balanced, if not slightly leaning heavy on female airplay. I’m very thankful that I did hit the scene when I did. I was one of a handful of females that country radio did play last year, and am so blessed and grateful for that. I hope that we soon get back to more balance, though.”
Acclaimed as an artist who sings with power, grace and dignity, Evans says she hopes her music “touches people and makes them feel something. Whether it’s joy or sadness, as long as it moves someone I’m happy. I’m a big fan of great lyrics, and always try to record songs that I think will stand the test of time either now, or 20 years from now.”
* Evans performs tonight at 7:30 in the Castle Theater at the MACC. Tickets are $35, $55, $75 and $125.
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Compiling the material for a planned new album, ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro has been thinking about his roots and the music that influenced him.
“Growing up, I listened to people like Ka’au Crater Boys, Ohta-San, Peter Moon and Sunday Manoa,” says Jake.
“I feel this album is almost like a tribute to all my teachers and heroes. So I’m covering ‘Kawika,’ one of my favorite Sunday Manoa tunes.”
So far the project includes four covers and 15 original songs. “It’s going to be quite a full record, we’re maxing out on CD space,” he says. “It’s fun and challenging and I’m really enjoying this project.”
Milan Bertosa, who has worked with the likes of Bruddah Iz, John Cruz, the Barefoot Natives and Amy Hanaiali’i, is helping produce the album, along with (bassist) Dean Taba. “Milan is so knowledgeable about how to capture the sound of the ukulele,” he notes.
“One of my favorite ukulele recordings is ‘Over the Rainbow’ by Iz, and Milan produced it. Dean has been one of my heroes for a long time. He’s such a brilliant arranger.”
With drummer Noel Okimoto and keyboardist Michael Grande also on board, Jake explains, “Noel, Michael, Dean and Milan are all my true musical influences.
“When people ask me about my musical influences, they want to hear names like Jimi Hendrix or Van Halen, but it’s these guys I grew up playing with.”
A musical wizard who can draw from Hawaiian music to jazz, rock to classical, Jake hopes to release his new album in August.
“The last time I recorded was three years ago, so it feels so good to be creative again and be in the studio and playing with people who are so special to me,” he enthuses. “And I’m hoping to play some new tunes from the record at the Maui show. I love playing the MACC.”
* Shimabukuro plays at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Castle Theater. Tickets are $12, $35, $45 and $55. Call 242-7469, visit the box office or go online to www.mauiarts.org.