The Center for the Arts presents
Wednesday, January 16, 7:00PM
Doors open at 6:00PM
$25 members, $28 non-member
“The quintessential Hawaiian slack-key guitar master” – The New York Times
One is a musical legend who has stretched the boundaries of the slack key guitar, while remaining true to the soul of its Hawaiian roots. The other is a rising star of the next generation of slack key players, who uses the style’s open tunings to explore new genres. Together, Keola Beamer and Jeff Peterson (respectively) will present an evening of superb guitar that draws inspiration from the beauty and complexity of their shared Hawaiian heritage.
They are joined by lovely dancer Moanalani Beamer, who brings hula and Hawaiian chants to the stage, and adds musical texture with ancient Hawaiian instruments.
Keola Beamer is one of Hawai’i's premier singer/songwriters, arrangers, composers and Master Of The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar. His well of talent springs from five generations of Hawai’s most illustrious and beloved musical families. The Beamers trace their roots to the 14th century; among their ancestors are the Princess Manono, killed in 1819 at KuamoÊ»o, the last battle fought in HawaiÊ»i, waged for the principle of retaining the old ways of Hawaiian religion and culture.
Keola established himself early as a leader of the wave of contemporary Hawaiian music when he wrote the classic Honolulu City Lights – which is still one of the absolute all-time best selling recordings in the history of Hawaiian Music.
Born on the Island of Maui, guitarist Jeff Peterson grew up on the slopes of Haleakala (volcano) where he was introduced to the rich heritage of Hawaiian music by his father, a paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboy, on the Haleakala Ranch. The music that he heard from his father and other paniolos as well as the slack key on classic recordings by the Gabby Pahinui Band, Leonard Kwan, and Sonny Chillingworth made a deep and lasting impression on him that he continues to draw inspiration from today.
