This weekend, I’ll be under the banyan tree in Old Town Lahaina for another art fair sponsored by the Lahaina Art Society. Here’s a shot from a recent fair. Everyone looks happy, eh? Hope to see you.
Date: August 8 Time: Concert from 6:30-8 p.m. Location: Lower Courtyard
The Shops at Wailea continues its signature “Wailea on Wednesdays” (WOW) arts and entertainment series, featuring a free performance from Michael Kollwitz and Mika. Join us for island music played on the ukulele and unique Chapman Stick under the stars 6:30-8pm.
The night is further highlighted by art gallery receptions, artist appearances and one-night-only shop and restaurant specials from 6 p.m. to close.
It’s not every day you see a Chapman Stick in a parade!
On Saturday June 16, 2012 I was invited once again to perform on The Chapman Stick in our annual King Kamehameha Day parade here in Lahaina, Maui. My neighbor, Gary Cia and I decorated his tricked-out golf cart with palm fronds and flowers to help make us fit in with the rest of the floats and festivities.I played the Hawaii Five-Oh theme song and Eddie Money’s ‘Two Tickets To Paradise’ all the way down Front Street. It was a real kick!
If you want to see it for yourself check out the short video on YouTube:
Sorry the image is a little blurry but it’s the only one available that memorializes my impromptu performance last month with Henry Kaleialoha Allen at the Iao Theatre in Wailuku. I was the opening act for the Kalama Intermediate School’s Ukulele Explosion event on May 9th. Try to imagine over 50 kids in matching aloha uniforms- all of them playing ukulele in unison. Wow. It was pretty amazing.
I had just finished tuning up and Henry Allen was on the stage behind me, also tuning up. Then suddenly the promoter told me to start right away. Sitting behind me was Henry- the Living Legend. I couldn’t bring myself to ask him to leave the stage. I just leaned over and whispered “Henry, do you want to play a few songs together?” He didn’t even look up when he answered in a monotone voice “Blue Hawaii in C”.
I knew the song in G so I didn’t want to try to transpose it on the fly. I said “Try this…” and I started playing my originals “Front Street Stroll” and a few others. The audience hushed to total silence waiting to see what happened next and we played 4-5 songs together for the crowd. What a great feeling that was. It’s not often that you get to share the stage with a bonafide living legend. Many mahalos to Henry Allen for such a wonderful experience!
I’m working on a new release that will feature The Stick with lots of drums and percussion to spice things up. It’s about halfway finished so I imagine it will be ready sometime this summer. Last May, when I met Carlos Santana under the banyan tree here in Lahaina, I rushed home and tried to recapture what I was playing when he walked up to compliment me. My percussionist friend, Ron Feather from Montreal, added a nice latin touch and before I knew it, it was complete. It’s different than most of my music as this tune has a real Santana edge to it. I’ve posted it here so you can give it a listen. The track is titled “Meeting Carlos”. Let me know if you enjoy it.
