Mike Muldoon: Purchase
Ala Nui - CD
Island folk music. Exotic. Eclectic.
Aloha.
Thank you for your interest in my CD, Ala Nui.
I recorded this in Hawaii with musicians I have worked with over the years. I wanted to create something that captured an island feel that was simple and still musically interesting. Some of the tunes feature a large band, and others are just guitar and percussion. What follows is a brief description of the music and the stories behind it.
Track 1: Con-que'
I learned this tune in Cuba in 1992 while studying music at the National
School of Art in Havana. It's a very old folk tune with just percussion and vocals. The rhythm is played on four congas and a woodblock. The vocals are African and Spanish. The name of this rhythm is called Yuka, and was brought by the congolese slaves to Cuba.
Track 2: Hi'ilawe
This song is from the Big Island of Hawaii. The story is set in the beautiful Waipio Valley. Hi'ilawe is about two waterfalls that merge together symbolizing two lovers. This song features the Hawaiian slack key guitar and Bata drums from Nigeria, as well as jungle and rain forest sounds, played with bird calls and other colors.
Slack Key(Ki Ho Alu) is a Hawaiian style of guitar playing. The Spaniards came to Hawaii to teach the Hawaiians how to work cattle, and brought the guitar with them. The Hawaiians tuned the guitar to their liking and there you have "Slack Key."
Track 3: Green Rose Hula
This song is a simple Hawaiian melody with a rhythm called Tumba--
Francessa. The rhythm is of Haitian origin. The song is a love song. It is played on guitar and three congas, woodblock, and shekere (an African
rattle.)
Track 4: Kalena
This song speaks of the highest mountain in the Waianae range of western O'ahu. It features Hawaiian guitar, bass, vocals, and percussion. The rhythm is called Bolero.
Track 5: Na Ka Pueo
We used to do this tune in Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's band. It's fun.
The rhythm being played on percussion is from Cuba called Makuta. It features three drum parts, shakers, bells, and woodblock, as well as slack key guitar
and vocals.
Track 6: Reincarnation
This is a funny poem spoken in "pigeon english(the way most local Hawaiians speak among themselves.)" Can you figure it out?
Track 7: Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian
Israel and the band were filming a T.V. show in Miloli'i, a remote fishing village on the Big Island. After the shoot, a few of us stayed and played music around the fire until the wee hours of the morning. I first heard this song played that night. There are no bad words, it's a funny tune.
You can see the Miloli'i gig on Israel's DVD, IZ: The Man and His Music.
Track 8: Another Saturday Night
This is my version of Sam Cooke's tune. Island all the way, with Steel guitars and all.
Track 9: Feeling Alright
This is the only rock tune on the CD. It's funky. I love the grit in the music.
Track 10: Well, What Did You Expect ?
This is pure percussion. Lot's of drums, bells, shakers, stuff. I recorded this piece at the end of the session with just a few minutes of tape left. As we finished the fade the tape was spinning off the reel. We just made it!
Aloha.
Thank you for your interest in my CD, Ala Nui.
I recorded this in Hawaii with musicians I have worked with over the years. I wanted to create something that captured an island feel that was simple and still musically interesting. Some of the tunes feature a large band, and others are just guitar and percussion. What follows is a brief description of the music and the stories behind it.
Track 1: Con-que'
I learned this tune in Cuba in 1992 while studying music at the National
School of Art in Havana. It's a very old folk tune with just percussion and vocals. The rhythm is played on four congas and a woodblock. The vocals are African and Spanish. The name of this rhythm is called Yuka, and was brought by the congolese slaves to Cuba.
Track 2: Hi'ilawe
This song is from the Big Island of Hawaii. The story is set in the beautiful Waipio Valley. Hi'ilawe is about two waterfalls that merge together symbolizing two lovers. This song features the Hawaiian slack key guitar and Bata drums from Nigeria, as well as jungle and rain forest sounds, played with bird calls and other colors.
Slack Key(Ki Ho Alu) is a Hawaiian style of guitar playing. The Spaniards came to Hawaii to teach the Hawaiians how to work cattle, and brought the guitar with them. The Hawaiians tuned the guitar to their liking and there you have "Slack Key."
Track 3: Green Rose Hula
This song is a simple Hawaiian melody with a rhythm called Tumba--
Francessa. The rhythm is of Haitian origin. The song is a love song. It is played on guitar and three congas, woodblock, and shekere (an African
rattle.)
Track 4: Kalena
This song speaks of the highest mountain in the Waianae range of western O'ahu. It features Hawaiian guitar, bass, vocals, and percussion. The rhythm is called Bolero.
Track 5: Na Ka Pueo
We used to do this tune in Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's band. It's fun.
The rhythm being played on percussion is from Cuba called Makuta. It features three drum parts, shakers, bells, and woodblock, as well as slack key guitar
and vocals.
Track 6: Reincarnation
This is a funny poem spoken in "pigeon english(the way most local Hawaiians speak among themselves.)" Can you figure it out?
Track 7: Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian
Israel and the band were filming a T.V. show in Miloli'i, a remote fishing village on the Big Island. After the shoot, a few of us stayed and played music around the fire until the wee hours of the morning. I first heard this song played that night. There are no bad words, it's a funny tune.
You can see the Miloli'i gig on Israel's DVD, IZ: The Man and His Music.
Track 8: Another Saturday Night
This is my version of Sam Cooke's tune. Island all the way, with Steel guitars and all.
Track 9: Feeling Alright
This is the only rock tune on the CD. It's funky. I love the grit in the music.
Track 10: Well, What Did You Expect ?
This is pure percussion. Lot's of drums, bells, shakers, stuff. I recorded this piece at the end of the session with just a few minutes of tape left. As we finished the fade the tape was spinning off the reel. We just made it!