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As 2015 comes to a close, it’s time to recall some of the most memorable music events of the year, including exceptional shows by Diana Ross, John Fogerty, Neil Young, George Benson, Chaka Khan, Yo Yo Ma, Trombone Shorty, Billy Currington, Charlie Musselwhite, Lee Brice and Chris Young, the Stylistics and Booker T. Jones.
January kicked off in high gear with Willie K drawing a great lineup of talent to his third annual BBQ Blues Fest, with highlights including Steven Tyler and Mick Fleetwood joining Willie’s Warehouse Blues Band for mighty versions of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” and “Rattlesnake Shake.”
Classical music fans were treated to the inimitable talent of cellist Yo Yo Ma in the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. And delighting fans at a MACC show, folk legend Judy Collins reported she still relishes touring and performing at 75. “I feel so blessed to be able to make a living as an artist these days because it’s a rare thing,” she said.
Three of Hawaii’s most esteemed musicians, Henry Kapono, Brother Noland and John Cruz, debuted as the Rough Riders to wide applause at the MACC. “I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a while,” said Kapono. “It’s so natural,” said Noland about their historic collaboration.
February saw the king of jazz guitar, George Benson, deliver an extraordinary night of soulful jazz and R&B. He recalled the impact of his landmark “Breezin” album. “All of sudden I had money in my pocket and I’m buying a Mercedes Benz and I moved to Maui. It was an incredible transition.”
Among country stars packing the MACC this year, Lee Brice and Chris Young sold out in March. In other country news, Kenny Chesney released a new music video shot on Maui for his ballad “Wild Child,” which starred Gretchen Rhodes.
Cult British musician Richard Thompson played the McCoy Studio Theater and recalled his surprise at hearing Bob Dylan had played one of his songs in concert. “It was an unbelievable honor,” Thompson marveled. “I was in disbelief.”
April saw New Orleans musician Trombone Shorty almost blow the roof off the Castle with an incendiary show. Shorty’s fans include Jeff Beck, U2, Eric Clapton and Prince.
Both multi-Hoku Award winners, Amy Hanaiali’i re-teamed with Willie K for an amazing “Amy & Willie K – Hana Hou” show, even pulling off a brilliant Motown medley that included Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” and “A Natural Woman.”
April also saw our revered kumu hula/musician Keali’i Reichel show why he’s Hawaii’s most popular entertainer, winning in eight categories at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for his superlative “Kawaiokalena” album.
Bobby Ingano was among the acclaimed musicians playing the seventh annual Maui Steel Guitar Festival at the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel.
With the Brothers Cazimero on a temporary hiatus, Roland Cazimero alone headed the Cazimero Ohana Lei Day Concert at the beginning of May at the MACC. He said performing without his brother felt “awkward and kind of scary, almost terribly incomplete.”
“We’re very excited,” enthused Micah Nelson in May about the new album “The Monsanto Years” that the Nelson brothers and Promise of the Real recorded with legendary rocker Neil Young. “I hope it will spark public conversations about what’s going on. Neil has been our hero forever.”
And then Young and his new, youthful backing band showed up at Charley’s Restaurant & Saloon in Paia for an extraordinary night, including a ferocious version of Young’s classic “Down by the River,” and favorites like “The Loner” and “Walk On.”
It was no surprise that the fabulous Diana Ross was phenomenal at the MACC in June. She thrilled all with hit after hit, from “Baby Love” and “Love Child” to the anthemic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and the rousing “I Will Survive.”
The great Chaka Khan also entranced a Castle Theater audience with classic funk hits like “Ain’t Nobody,” “I Feel For You” and “Tell Me Something Good.”
June also saw veteran rocker John Fogerty pack the MACC’s A&B Amphitheater. Having composed an astonishing stream of hits with Creedence Clearwater Revival and then a successful solo career, Fogerty closed his epic show with “Proud Mary,” after performing classics like “Bad Moon Rising,” “Green River” and the magnificent “Who’ll Stop the Rain.”
British rocker Dave Mason divided his concert in June between his Traffic days and solo work. And successfully mixing Americana roots music with eclectic variations on blues and rock, Hot Tuna returned for an acoustic show.
In July, HAPA’s Barry Flanagan was excited about collaborating with new member Kapono Na’ili’ili for an extended engagement at the Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu.
Soulful reggae star Tarrus Riley headlined the MayJah RayJah Festival.
“We need to keep the music interesting,” he reported. “When it’s not interesting it becomes boring.”
August saw Willie K and the Warehouse Blues Band begin a weekly residence at the King Kamehameha Golf Club’s Waikapu Ballroom. “The location is great, it’s an upgrade, it’s central, it’s awesome,” Willie enthused.
Keeping Hawaiian music alive on the west side, George Kahumoku Jr.’s Masters of Hawaiian Music Slack Key Show at the Napili Kai Beach Resort featured many greats over the year. Herb Ohta Jr. spoke about his love for the sweet “nahenahe” style on the ukulele, and avoiding using effects and peddles. “My father said, ‘If you want your ukulele to sound like something else, play something else,'” he reported.
Byrds’ co-founder Roger McGuinn graced the Historic Iao Theater over two nights. Famous for his distinctive, jangly guitar sound, McGuinn recalled: “I borrowed some tricks from George (Harrison). He was a fan of the Byrds, and I was a fan of the Beatles.”
Back on Maui after touring Europe with Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood celebrated the third anniversary of his Fleetwood’s on Front St. restaurant in Lahaina playing with the House Shakers, with rock star Rod Stewart in the packed rooftop audience.
The fifth annual Maui Jazz and Blues Festival was a big hit at Kaanapali’s Royal Lahaina Resort in September, with a spectrum of music ranging from the inspired guitar virtuosity of Strunz & Farah, Kenny Neal igniting the crowd with some searing blues and guitarist Russell Malone teaming with sax legend Donald Harrison for some hot, bebop jazz.
Hawaiian music legend Keola Beamer, kumu hula Moanalani Beamer kumu hula/musician Uluwehi Guerrero, along with the Makaha Sons all performed at a wonderful evening of music and film to benefit Mental Health Kokua.
Country star Billy Currington packed the A&B Amphitheater in October. He once spent a year living on Maui reporting, “I had already had some good success and No. 1s on the radio, but the power of Maui was so strong for me that I made a decision to stay and live there.”
The acclaimed Polynesian band Te Vaka returned to our island to play Lahaina’s Maui Theatre, and the band’s leader revealed he was composing music for the new Disney animated feature “Moana.” “I was surprised and thrilled,” he said. “I feel very lucky to have this opportunity.”
Acclaimed as one of soul music’s founders, Booker T. Jones made his Maui debut in Castle Theater in November. This legend on the B3 organ delivered one of the shows of the year with his funky hits like “Green Onions,” and exceptional covers of tunes like Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Leon Russell’s “Song for You” (on grand piano).
Blues harmonica great Charlie Musselwhite cooked up a storm with some smoking, Chicago-style electric blues. “A lot of people hear the term blues and think it’s something sad, but it’s really to get rid of that feeling,” he explained. “It’s a good time, a celebration of living.”
In early December, one of soul music’s most consistent hit makers, the Stylistics returned to the MACC, delighting fans with their classy choreography and vocals on an array of hits from “Betcha By Golly Wow” and “You Are Everything,” to “I’m Stone in Love with You.”
The inaugural BMI Maui Songwriters Festival presented music events at the Grand Wailea, Charley’s and the MACC. An array of performers included Grammy-winning country star Kacey Musgraves.
December also saw virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro return to the Castle Theatre with a set that included tunes from his terrific latest album, “Travels.” And Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real returned to Charley’s for three hot, rocking nights, which included Willie Nelson sitting in, plus Maui’s rising star Lily Meloa, who just released a marvelous debut album.