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"Two Slack Key Guitars" - Jim "Kimo" West and Maui's Jeff Peterson team up for an unforgettable night of slack key magic! 8 PM, July 17 at Trilogy Guitars, Playa Del Rey, CA. Call early to reserve-this will sell out fast! 310-305-7577 Kimo's Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas was nominated in the "Best Christmas CD" category at the 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. He attended the gala event in Honolulu in June and got to "kani kapila"( jam) with some of Hawaii's finest musicians! Kimo recently scored "Al's Brain", a brilliant short 3D film by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It will premier July 10 at the OC Fair. He also will be playing several "slack key" shows at the OC fair in July and August as well as "Al Fest". See Kimo's MySpace page for listings! Natural Arts Media had just released their 2nd relaxation DVD, "Seashores" with slack key music by Kimo, including some unreleased tracks. Chill out to beautiful hi def images of Hawaiian seashores and mellow "ki ho'alu". www.naturalartsmedia.com Hawaii Music Awards! "Kimo's Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas" was the winner in the "Seasonal" category of this year's Hawaii Music Awards. Big Mahalos to all of you who voted! The awards ceremony takes place on April 4th in Honolulu. To find out all the other winners, go to: www.hawaiimusicawards.com Kimo performed for the first time with slack key legend, Makana for two nights of sold out shows at LA's trendy Typhoon restaurant/club. Also, playing cajon was Mitch Chang who happens to be the promoter of the So Cal Slack Key Festivals. In addition to the seeing a really great show, guests sampled eclectic Asian food delicacies such as scorpions on toast , fried crickets and sea worms-yummy! www.makanalive.com Al's Band has released a new single entitled "We've Never Played in Hawaii", featuring Kimo on slack key, steel guitar and ukulele. It's a fun track about Al's Band playing all over the world but as yet, never in the 50th State. www.cdbaby.com/alsband2 Kimo on YouTube! My Hawaiian Heart Akaka Falls (Live at Kulak's Woodshed) Kohala No Ulupalakua Sunset Slack Key Duo-Kimo and Pu'uiki (LIve in Hana, Maui) Kimo was a featured performer at the 2009 Southern California Slack Key Festival in Redondo Beach, California on January 18th, 2009. This all day event started off with a dynamic opening set - Kimo, Barry Flanagan of Hapa and Jeff Peterson played for the first time together and also did some terrific solo and duo numbers. Other performers included the Cyril Pahinui Family Band, John Keawe, Maunalua, and the legendary Makana. To see photos of the festival (and the previous night's artist's reception), go to www.oceanfrontphotography.com (For info on upcoming festivals, visit www.socalslackkeyfest.com Natural Arts media has released "Waterfalls" the first in their series of relaxation DVD's, featuring the music of Jim "Kimo" West, including many unreleased new tracks. Filmed entirely in Hawaii, the gorgeous hi-def imagery is accompanied by your choice of audio tracks-natural sound, slack key guitar, bamboo flutes or new age music. For ordering info: www.naturalartsmedia.com Kimo was the featured in a great interview in the November/December 2008 edition of Hawaii Magazine. Back issues available at HawaiiMagazine.com
Slack Key Instructional DVD!
 "Hawaii - The Greatest Songs Ever"
Kimo's original composition, "My Hawaiian Heart" was selected as the closing track for the new Petrol Records/EMI release, Hawaii-The Greatest Songs Ever, along with tracks from Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Cyril Pahinui, Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau, Ho'opi' Brothers and Dennis Pavau.
The CD has worldwide distribution via EMI and there are currently major promotions in Borders and Barnes & Nobles retailers. Available at Amazon.com and iTunes.
 "Hotel Honolulu-The Hawaiian Tribute to the Eagles"
Kimo’s second CD for LA’s CMH Records is a warm and trade-windy tribute to the venerable LA band, The Eagles. Done in the old traditional Hawaiian style, “Hotel Honolulu” takes the great and memorable songs of the Eagles and infuses them with the warm tropical sounds of “slack key” guitar, ukulele, steel guitar and Hawaiian percussion, (all played by Kimo) to create something completely new. Read a review of "Hotel Honolulu"
Available at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Wal Mart, Best Buy, iTunes and at www.cmhrecords.com "Wood and Steel", Taylor Guitars' quarterly magazine featured this news article about Kimo in their fall '06 edition. It's about a third of the way down, in the "Soundings" column. www.taylorguitars.com
Interview and live performance podcast! 8/14/06 Jim "Kimo" West is the most recent recipient of the LA Treasures Award, recognized by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the California Traditional Music Society for his artistic contributions to the community and helping to bring ki ho 'alu to a wider audience. CTMSFolkMusic.org Check out HawaiianConcertGuide.com for a new podcast by Piko featuring Kimo.
"Kimo" has produced the first CD for Kapo Ku, a Los Angeles-based contemporary Hawaiian music artist."Eia Mai Ka La - Here Comes the Sun" has been released on Hawaii's top label, The Mountain Apple Company. (See CD review from the Honolulu Star Bulletin) Besides being a talented composer and performer, Kapo is a long-time student of ‘Olelo Hawai’i or Hawaiian language, a chanter, hula dancer and all-around Hawaiian culture enthusiast. There’s plenty of tasty slack key work on these tracks too, so check it out!! Jim has also produced a CD for talented Hawaiian artist Norm Compton, who's also an actor in Hollywood and is stunt double for "The Rock"! The CD is entitled: "The Koolanesian Heart" and there's plenty of tasty slack key and ukulele in this collection of bluesy, jazzy island music. For samples of the music or to buy copies, go to: www.koolanesian.com or CD Baby. Mar 23, 2009 |
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