To Honor A Queen (E Ho'ohiwahiwa I Ka Mo'i Wahine): The Music Of Lili'uokalani

Ozzie Kotani | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 17, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dancing Cat
• ASIN: B00005UK0R
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,659 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #26 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Pacific Islands

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great concept for an album..., March 25, 2004

By 

Into "voidness" (everywhereandnowhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Honor A Queen (E Ho'ohiwahiwa I Ka Mo'i Wahine): The Music Of Lili'uokalani (Audio CD)

...I wish I liked it more. Yes, these pieces are lovingly portrayed by Ozzie Kotani--perhaps even a little too lovingly, as there is very little variation in tempo from one piece to another. Don't get me wrong, I love the dreamy quality of slack key guitar, but this set was a little too sleepy for me. Ozzie Kotani's tempo scheme is even more puzzling considering that he starts with a sprightly rendition on the track one, then after that, the pacing starts to make the rest of the album sound a little "samey," some pieces sounding more like classical guitar than slack key (and I like classical guitar, it's just not what I expect to be reminded of when I buy a slack key album).

Giving just a few more of the pieces a little more up-tempo interpretation would have made the disc something I'd want to return to a little more frequently. The collection is capped by a reading of the famous "Aloha Oe" that was so slow I didn't even recognize the main melody the first time around. One can understand the performer wanting to give this ubiquitous tune a little more unconventional interpretation, but he caresses it so much, it comes across a little too languorous, imo. If you have other volumes in Dancing Cat/Windham Hill's slack key series, including the first slack key masters sampler, this doesn't really add much to your collection, esp. considering that some of the more well-known pieces have been recorded by other performers elsewhere in the series. A nice set, for a lullaby CD, but I hope somebody else records these pieces again at some point, and uses a little more varied approach.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dream music from a dream composer in a dream Island., October 16, 2002

By 

FRANCOIS P BOLLE (South Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Honor A Queen (E Ho'ohiwahiwa I Ka Mo'i Wahine): The Music Of Lili'uokalani (Audio CD)

My first encounter with Hawaiian slack guitar, it took me only one tune to have me hooked. The tunes are simple yet flow like a limpid stream from this Hawaiian virtuoso. This is pure, gentle and colourful music. You will enjoy it!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Evocative, Captivating, Sweet, Powerful, October 8, 2002

By 

C. Griffin (Wilton, NH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Honor A Queen (E Ho'ohiwahiwa I Ka Mo'i Wahine): The Music Of Lili'uokalani (Audio CD)

This is my new favorite album of KihoAlu, Hawaaian Slack Key Guitar. It is simply amazing to listen to. The songs are wonderful, and the arrangements are superbly put together. Ozzie Kotani is a true master. Each time I listen to this album it transports me to a completely different space.