Customer Reviews

Kolonahe (From The Gentle Wind)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Keola Beamer and Dennis Kamakahi are the best of Hawaiian slack-key guitarists and vocalists. This CD earns the five stars I gave it. If you have never been involved with Hawaiian slack-key guitar, here is a great place to start.

This is my favorite CD of Keola's. I saw him in concert in Lihue in March, 2001 and was blown away by his gracious and loving performance. But it was cut #8 from this collection, He Wahine Hololio, that completely captivated me with its evocative tuning and lyrics. The last song also lures you with his romantic and resonant vocals....though George Winston's piano accompaniment is a bit too ponderous for my taste....but I guess you can't turn down the producer when he wants to play !! And who can't fall in love with Honolulu City Lights tune.....listening to this CD is the next best thing to being there! You won't regret this purchase.

This is a beautiful album. It is slow, it is soothing and it is refreshing. I have had the chance to live in Hawaii among its people and its nature. This cd reflects the Hawaii I know, before it got crowded and strained.....this is what I remember, this is what I want to remember. The cd suggests kindness and aloha. It is quietly stirring. I love it.

Fantastic artist who with time has matured and developed his music to create his own style, yet staying true to his Hawaiian heritage and to the musical heritage of the Beamers.

As always a joy to listen to. Play it when you want to have a mellow, relaxed evening and dream away of life on the islands.

Keola Beamer describes himself as very involved with nature and a long family history of involvment in Slack Key development. He brings a lot of the "Romance Era" music to his albums. (prior to 1900) There is NO question the Queens and princesses of that era wrote beautiful music. I find the Keola Beamer brings an "etherical" feeling to his music. After listening to this music I would try to enroll in a Kamehameha school if I were a native. I bought additional Cd's by Keola beamer after listening to this album.I would love to see Keola Beamer in concert. I had never heard of a bamboo nose flute. I have trouble visualizing his playing the lava stone castanets (ili'ili) and the guitar both at the same time with one hand.

I love this recording! Every song is wonderful. I saw Keola in concert December 2006, and January 2004 and many of the songs on this album he did live. He is the ultimate master of Ki Ho Alu and you will not go wrong with this album! Kenike

Bleahh. One of Hawaiian guitar virtuoso Keola Beamer's drippier, more New Age-y efforts, closer in feeling to other Windham Hill artists such as guitarist William Ackerman and label founder George Winston. Too goopy for me, and too simplistic musically, compared to Beamer's best slack key work.