The Weekend Planet

Aloha! Summer Rain is Cindy Combs’ beautiful new, all-instrumental, solo set of ‘ki ho’ alu’ - the uniquely Hawaiian school of fingerstyle guitar. The rest of the world calls it ‘slack key’ guitar. Widely known in Hawaii as ‘the slack-key lady’, Cindy Combs is a superb acoustic guitarist. Her music - whether self-penned, or an intricate arrangement of a favourite Hawaiian song - is subtle, warm, very lyrical.

Discover more about Cindy, here:
www.dancingcat.com/artists/Cindy_Combs.php

You would like to know more about ki ho’ alu?
Click the ‘slack key info book’ prompt at the top of Cindy’s Dancing Cat page

Playlist

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Details of each track are presented in the following order:
BROADCAST TIME
TRACK NUMBER AND TITLE
COMPOSER
PUBLISHING AND COPYRIGHT DETAILS
RECORDING COMPANY AND CD NUMBER
( distributor/ source details, in brackets like this, in lower-case)
ARTIST AND CD TITLE
Duration of track
Description of track, in lower-case.
Where relevant, further info links to information, gigs/events/related programs

’THE WEEKEND PLANET’ SAT 22.3 08

2205
THEME:
(details below, as per the original CD.. This cut is also on these compilations Ketama - ’Nuevos Medios Coleccion’ - Nuevos Medios NM 15 820
{ in Australia via MGM www.thegroovemerchants.com
worldwide, via: www.flamenco-world.com/noticias/nuevos.htm }
and ’Jarabi - the best of Toumani Diabate’ (Hannibal 334352 )

CD CUT 1, ’JARABI’
TRAD, ARR TOUMANI DIABATE
HAMILCAR MUSIC LTD
HANNIBAL HNCD 1323
( in Australia, some releases through Stomp Enquiries to: ben@stomp.com.au
worldwide: www.rykodisc.com )
KETAMA, TOUMANI DIABATE, DANNY THOMPSON - ’SONGHAI’
THIRTY SECONDS (EXCERPT)
(retains a stately-Manding air, whilst also embracing flamenco elements. Toumani Diabate’s kora, Danny Thompson’s beautiful double bass and Ketama’s flamenco guitars )

2208
CD CUT 1, ’SUNNY RAIN’
ALAN GAYLOR
PUB NOT SPEC
DANCING CAT/ WINDHAM HILL 8 8697 09883-2
( Available, worldwide, via the label’s excellent website:
www.dancingcat.com )
CINDY COMBS - ’SUNNY RAIN’
5: 30
(Hawaiian: fingerstyle steel-string ac guitar solo in the uniquely Hawaiian style known as ’ki ho’ alu’ or ’slack-key guitar’. This piece refers to the ’liquid sunshine’ that is oft-experienced where Cindy lives, on Kaua’i ; the oldest and greenest of the major Hawaiian islands, it includes what just may be the wettest place on this planet.

LIKE TO SEE/KNOW MORE ABOUT THE ISLAND OF KAUA’I ?

These two sites will give you some idea of how lovely it is:

www.hardyshappyhulahut.com/about_kauai.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauai )

SEGUE

2214
CD CUT 3, ’WAHINE HOLOLIO’ (THE HORSEWOMAN)
TRAD HAWAIIAN CHANT, ARR GEOFFREY KEEZER AND KEOLA BEAMER
PUB NOT SPEC
MAXJAZZ MXJ 207
( in Australia, through Rockian Trading www.rockian.biz
worldwide: www.maxjazz.com
Geoffrey’s site: www.geoffreykeezer.com )
GEOFFREY KEEZER - ’FALLING UP
4: 38
(definite sense of ’epic’ and ’reverence/mystery’: an impressionistic reworking of a trad Hawaiian chant, which honours the still much-loved 19th century Queen Emma, who particularly loved horse-riding. Richly voiced, w the leader’s piano and elec piano, a bass clarinet, Keola Beamer’s ac guitar & bamboo nose-flute, Claire Martin’s wordless vocals, assorted gongs. Back in 1971 Keola Beamer gave Cindy Combs her first serious lessons in ki ho’alu/ slack-key guitar.

LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE HAWAIIAN QUEEN IN QUESTION?

Queen Emma (1836 -1885) is still remembered very fondly. Go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Emma_of_Hawaii

YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT KI HO’ALU/ SLACK-KEY?

To access an excellent guide, click the ’slack key info book’ prompt on the top of this page: www.dancingcat.com/artists/Cindy_Combs.php )

2221
CD CUT 8, ’WAI O KE ANIANI’
TRAD, VIA GABBY PAHINUI
PUB NOT SPEC. CD IS P & C DANCING CAT RECORDS
DANCING CAT RECORDS 08022-38002-2
( Available, worldwide, via the label’s excellent website:
www.dancingcat.com )
RAY KANE- ’WA’AHILA’
5: 58
(Hawaiian: male voice in Hawaiian w beautiful fingerstyle {slack-key/ ki ho’alu} ac guitar only - relaxed, lyrical. A hugely significant Hawaiian musician, Ray Kane died, aged 82, on February 27th this year.

LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT RAY KANE ( 1925 - 2008 ) ?

A good obituary/biography is here:
http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/ray_kane_dies_at_82_hawaiian_guitarist

To read a Hawaiian newspaper’s account (which rather more captures the nature of the man) go to:
http://starbulletin.com/2008/02/29/news/story02.html

SEGUE

2227
CD CUT 9, ’PU’OLO POINT’
CINDY COMBS
PUB NOT SPEC
DANCING CAT/ WINDHAM HILL 8 8697 09883-2
( Available, worldwide, via the label’s excellent website:
www.dancingcat.com )
CINDY COMBS - ’SUNNY RAIN’
3: 39
( a mobile, limber Hawaiian: fingerstyle steel-string ac guitar solo in the Hawaiian style known as ’ki ho’ alu’ or ’slack-key guitar’. Played in Cindy’s own ’Pu’olo Point C’ tuning, it evokes Cindy’s front yard, in effect - where ’the beautiful blue Pacific meets this sacred land’, on Kaua’I, the oldest and greenest of the major Hawaiian islands )

SEGUE

2231
CD CUT 8, ’MAUNA LOA’
HELEN PARKER
PUB NOT SPEC
DANCING CAT/ WINDHAM HILL 8 8697 09883-2
( Available, worldwide, via the label’s excellent website:
www.dancingcat.com )
CINDY COMBS - ’SUNNY RAIN’
3: 51
( same guitarist, playing an erotic hula of unrequited love - very romantic/wistful, lyrical and beautifully played. Various major figures in slack-key/ ki ho’alu have recorded versions of this - including Ray Kane )

2237
CD CUT 4, ’I WILL NOT BE SAD IN THIS WORLD’
TRAD ARR DJIVAN GASPARYAN
UPALA HAMSTEIN (BMI)
OPAL 9 25885-2
( unsure of current availability )
DJIVAN GASPARYAN - ’I WILL NOT BE SAD IN THIS WORLD’
6: 14
(Armenian, haunting/unearthly, very beautiful. Imagine a cross between a flute, an oboe and a pipe organ: one duduk playing atop a drone { ’dam’ } provided by another. This album was a remastered 1989 worldwide release of a compilation originally issued in the then-USSR in 1983. Tomorrow night’s show includes a beautiful, brand-new recording of this piece - on which Djivan is in duet with his grandson.

ABC RADIO NATIONAL DJIVAN GASPARYAN ALERT

We explore his new double-CD, tomorrow night, March 23rd.
More details here: www.abc.net.au/rn/weekendplanet/comingup )

2244
CD CUT 2, ’YA TA KAAYA’ ( I WANT TO STAY FRESH)
JULDEH CAMARA AND JUSTIN ADAMS
JULCAMARA MUSIC/ WAYWARD MUSIC
WAYWARD 704
( In Australia, through The Planet Company/ MGM
email: info@theplanetcompany.com
website: www.theplanetcompany.com
Worldwide: www.irl.org.uk/shop_justinadams.htm )
JUSTIN ADAMS, JULDEH CAMARA - ’SOUL SCIENCE’
3: 46
( this really rocks, as does the whole CD. Juldeh Camara from the Gambia is the obviously-African singer and player of the ritti - a one string fiddle which also really ’sings’. The co-leader - here, playing electric guitars - is the ’you would never guess he’s English’, Justin Adams. They’re their own percussionists, with Billy Fuller on elec. bass. The song greets and salutes some particular women - and the world’s women, more generally.

ABC RADIO NATIONAL ’SOUL SCIENCE’ ALERT

This crackerjack album is central-most to next Saturday’s show, March 29th
More details here: www.abc.net.au/rn/weekendplanet/comingup )

SEGUE

2248
CD CUT 5, ’WALK RIGHT IN’
GUS CANNON, ARR BY OTIS TAYLOR AND DON VAPPIE
(RESP) PUBLIC DOMAIN/ SHOELACE MUSIC (BMI)/ VAPPIELLE PUBLISHING (ASCAP)
TELARC CD-83667
( in Australia through Fuse Music Group: www.fusemusic.com.au
Worldwide: wwww.telarc.com )
OTIS TAYLOR - ’RECAPTURING THE BANJO’
4: 01
( genial version of song allegedly drawn from actual, down-home generosity shown - early last century - to the song’s banjo-toting African-American composer. Central to this version { with this CD Otis Taylor seeks to ’reclaim’ the banjo for what it in fact is - an instrument of African origin, developed by black Americans } are the singing/banjo-toting Corey Harris and the singing/harmonica-playing Guy Davis. Otis Taylor’s daughter Cassie Taylor is the elec bassist and hers the female voice )

2253
CD CUT 5, ’MEDITATION RAG’
NICK CHARLES
(PRESUMABLY) APRA
BLACK MARKET MUSIC BMM 328.2
( www.blackmarketmusic.com.au )
NICK CHARLES - ’CLOSER TO HOME’
4: 46 ( complete )
(AUSTRAL COMP AND PERF: ragtime piece - composed by its finger-style acoustic guitarist, who is solo.

NICK CHARLES CD LAUNCH CONCERT ALERT (Melbourne)

Friday May 9th, 8pm ( bar/doors open 7pm )
Melba Hall, University of Melbourne
Bookings open now on 0405 211 499
or email pac50@bigpond.net.au

Nick will perform solo, and with ’The Blue Strings’
Nick’s site: www.charlesguitar.com )

----
11 PM NEWS
----

2305
CD CUT 4, ’TAMZARA’
TRAD TURKISH, ARR KIM SANDERS AND PETER KENNARD
COMPOSITION IS PUBLIC DOMAIN. ARR IS {PRESUMABLY} APRA
SELF-ISSUED CD. NO CATALOG NUMBER
(available via Kim’s website: http://kimsanders.customer.netspace.net.au
and via www.indie-cds.com )
KIM SANDERS {with Peter Kennard} - ’TRANCE’N DANCIN’
3: 05
(AUSTRAL PERF AND ARR: traditional Turkish dance in a 9-beat cycle. An unrushed version. Kim blows {kaval, I think - a rim-blown flute} and Peter percusses on frame-drum and darabukka.

KIM SANDERS GIG ALERT (Sydney)

Lunchtime - 1 pm - Sunday March 30
The Harp Hotel, 900 Princes Highway, Tempe
Tickets on the door
Kids are welcome, and meals are available
Info 9559 6300 or www.theharp.com.au

The gig celebrates Kim’s return from Turkey.
Kim Sanders: ney (Sufi flute), kaval (wooden flute), gaida and aardvark (bagpipes), mey (Turkish double reed), tenor sax
Llew Kiek: baglama, bouzouki
Steve Elphick: bass
Bobby Singh: tabla

For updates and more on all-things-Kim, go to: http://kimsanders.customer.netspace.net.au )

2311
CD CUT 6, ’UA NOHO AU A KUPA/ WAI’ ALAE’
(RESP) EDWARD NAINOA/ MEKIA KEALAKALI
PUBS NOT SPEC, PROBABLY PUBLIC DOMAIN
DANCING CAT/ WINDHAM HILL 8 8697 09883-2
( Available, worldwide, via the label’s excellent website:
www.dancingcat.com )
CINDY COMBS - ’SUNNY RAIN’
4: 18
(Hawaiian: fingerstyle steel-string ac guitar solo in the Hawaiian style known as ’ki ho’ alu’ or ’slack-key guitar’. A pair of venerable staples of the repertoire, beautifully played - the first translates as ’I’ve become accustomed to your face’. The second is a waltz )

SEGUE

2315
CD CUT 6 `STEEL GUITAR RAG’
MCCAULIFFE/ TRAVIS/ STONE
P BOURNE CO ASCAP
C DANCING CAT RECORDS
DANCING CAT RECORDS 08022 38016-2
( Available, worldwide, via the label’s excellent website:
www.dancingcat.com )
LED KAAPANA AND FRIENDS - `WALTZ OF THE WIND’
2: 34
(Jaunty treatment of a western swing classic, made famous by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Here, a vehicle for the ukulele of the Hawaiian leader {who is more famous as an ace guitarist} ,and Jerry Douglas’s slide weissenborn guitar - plus ac rhythm guitar, ac bass and percussion. Led is a particular hero of Cindy Combs)

SEGUE

2317
CD CUT 11, ’LULLABYE’ (GOODBYE KEIKI)
ROBERT BEAUMONT/ CLIFFORD HOPPS, ARR CINDY COMBS
PUB NOT SPEC
DANCING CAT/ WINDHAM HILL 8 8697 09883-2
( Available, worldwide, via the label’s excellent website:
www.dancingcat.com )
CINDY COMBS - ’SUNNY RAIN’
5: 38
( Hawaiian, very poignant. Finger-style steel-string ac guitar solo in the style known as ’ki ho’ alu’ or ’slack-key guitar’. Very tender and very much an elegy for its co-author, Robert Beaumont - a longtime friend of Cindy’s )

SEGUE

2323
CD CUT 2, ’THE BITTER BOY’
KATE RUSBY
MCPS/PRS
PURE RECORDS PRCD23
(In Australia, through The Planet Company/ MGM
email: info@theplanetcompany.com
website: www.theplanetcompany.com
Worldwide: www.purerecords.net )
KATE RUSBY - ’ÁWKWARD ANNIE’
4: 49
( very haunting/melancholy, but with a crucial whiff of hope/defiance/healing. An uncommonly potent ’he broke my heart’ number delivered by its author’s extraordinary female Yorkshire voice, with ac guitar, tenor ac guitar, harmonium and ac bass )

2330
CD CUT 5, ’PAKALA’
CINDY COMBS
PUB NOT SPEC
DANCING CAT/ WINDHAM HILL 8 8697 09883-2
( Available, worldwide, via the label’s excellent website:
www.dancingcat.com )
CINDY COMBS - ’SUNNY RAIN’
5: 15
(combines blues-grooving and Hawaiian slack key {ki ho ’alu } elements. It also salutes/evokes Led Kaapana. Cindy, solo, on acoustic guitar )

SEGUE

2335
CD CUT 2, ’STAR’S FELL ON AL’S BANANA’
LUCKY OCEANS
(PRESUMABLY) APRA
GAFF MUSIC GAFF 6791772
( no Australian distributor.
Worldwide: www.gaffmusic.com )
VARIOUS - ’SECULAR STEEL’’
4: 49
(AUSTRAL COMP AND PERF: Lucky Oceans on this cut, improvising spontaneously and doing non-standard things with pedal steel guitar, solo )

SEGUE

2340
CD CUT 3, ’SPECIAL RIDER’
NEHEMIAH ’SKIP’ JAMES
PUB NOT SPEC
TEN CENT RECORDS CAT.10CD03
( available worldwide via www.slwise.com.au/html/recordings.html )
TEN CENT SHOOTERS - ’WILD ABOUT IT’
4: 20
(AUSTRAL PERF: Robust rocking-hypnotic treatment of a Skip James blues. Scott Wise sings and plays the mandolin, Sean Diggins thumps the double bass, Peter Woodward’s ac guitar and foot-as-drum.

LUCKY OCEANS/TEN CENT SHOOTERS / MORE: GIG ALERT (PERTH )

Tuesday March 25th from 8.30 pm
Charles Hotel 509 Charles St, North Perth
Ph 9444 1051
www.perthbluesclub.com

Full details via website.

Simon Cox and Wayne Freer perform 8.30pm
Ten Cent Shooter 9.15pm
Zydecats (inc Lucky) 11pm )

2346
CD CUT 2, ’LAID BACK SLACK’
CINDY COMBS
PUB NOT SPEC
DANCING CAT/ WINDHAM HILL 8 8697 09883-2
( Available, worldwide, via the label’s excellent website:
www.dancingcat.com )
CINDY COMBS - ’SUNNY RAIN’
6: 14
( An open, impressionistic, relaxed epic of a Hawaiian: fingerstyle steel-string ac guitar solo - in the style known as ’ki ho’ alu’ or ’slack-key guitar’. It depicts its maker’s state of mind upon awakening, thinking of the day ahead.. and of the dream just enjoyed )

2353
CD CUT 10, ’GRACE’ (EXTENDED VERSION)
SAM KEEVERS
CONTROL
JAZZHEAD HEAD052
(in Australia, through MGM
www.jazzhead.com )
JAMIE OEHLERS - SAM KEEVERS - ’GRACE
5: 30 ( excerpt )
(AUSTRAL COMP AND PERF: Beautiful, spare melody played in the high register of Jamie’s tenor sax in duo with Sam’s piano)

JAMIE OEHLERS QUARTET NATIONAL TOUR ALERT

19th March - Byron Bay.
Blue Birdy @ Buddha Bar, Skinners Shoot Road, Byron Bay

27th March, 8pm - Adelaide
The Promethean, 116 Grote St, Adelaide Ph: 8212 0266

29th March - Albany
Dome Café.

31st March, 8pm - Perth Jazz Society
Charles Hotel, Perth 509 Charles St, North Perth

5th April, 8.30 pm - Sydney.
SIMA @ Seymour Sound Lounge, Sydney (special guest - James Muller)
Seymour Theatre Centre, Cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale

6th April - Melbourne Jazz Co-op
Bennett’s Lane, Melbourne

11th April - Cairns
Tanks Arts Centre, Collins Avenue, Cairns. Ticketlink (07) 4031 9555

For updates/additions/future Jamie Oehlers dates go to:
www.jamieoehlers.com/performing.php

Presenter

Doug Spencer

Producer

Doug Spencer