Thursday, October 22, 2009

Force of Nature indeed

"Ledward Kaapana & Mike Kaawa Live at the Triple Door, Seattle, FORCE of NATURE"

This excellent live recording from 2008 features the slack key legend, Kaapana, and the known but not really famous Kaawa in fine form in front of an energetic and enthusiastic crowd. As with most Live Hawaiian Music albums this is not a full concert it is twelve songs picked from a single concert. So the sound is not continuous each track fades in at the beginning and out at the end.

Never the less both Kaapana and Kaawa's talents are on fine display. This is Kaapana's best live album and it easily surpasses "Led Live - Solo." There are lots of seemingly improvised guitar solos and the finger picking is simply spectacular. The on stage banter between the pair is also showcased and you can hear Led reacting to a solo that Kaawa performed and vice versa. The stand outs here are "Opihi Moemoe," "He Wehi No Ke Kai" and "Twelfth Street Rag/Sweet Georgia Brown." This is recommended to fans of the two artists and listeners who have enjoyed Led live and have been searching for an album that captures the experience this is for you. Winner of the Na Hoku (Hawaii's Grammy awards) for Favorite Entertainer of the Year.

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