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Jim "Kimo" West: Guitar Stories: Slack Key & Beyond
BySo it's appropriate that the album opens with "Na Koa Moku O Keawe," a baritone guitar solo piece dedicated to the koa tree, a tone wood often used to build guitars. The compositions also embrace many styles beyond Hawaiian music. "El Álcåzar" (which refers to a regal building in southern Spain) is Middle Eastern, aided by percussionist Jamie Papish and violinist Ben Powell; "Daydream At Jumbo Rocks" has a distinct C&W flavor, courtesy of Marty Rifkin's lap steel guitar; and "'Iolani Palace Waltz" (a stately waltz that takes its name from a royal Hawaiian residence) sounds like chamber music, with West's acoustic guitar accompanied by a string trio and a flute.
There's lots to like here for fingerstyle guitar fans and World Music fans alike. This is warm music, pretty without being cloying. Westwho also composes and produces for film and televisionis equally adept at composition and guitar playing. It almost seems superfluous to mention his day job: he has been guitarist for musical satirist "Weird Al" Yankovic since the beginning of Yankovic's career.
Track Listing
Na Koa Moku O Keawe; Mauna Kea Meditation; El Álcåzar; Daydream At Jumbo Rocks; Morning Music; ‘Iolani Palace Waltz; Floyd The Spider; Mele Menehune; Song For Fess.
Personnel
Kimo West
guitar, acousticJim “Kimo” West: acoustic baritone guitar, acoustic guitar, Moog guitar, percussion, electric guitar, electric bass, drum programming, acoustic steel guitar, Gorky bottle, 12 string acoustic guitar, steel guitar, orchestral programming; Simone Vitucci: cello; Erik Rynearson: viola; Jamie Papish: dumbek, riq, shakers; Dan Lutz: upright bass; Ben Powell: violin; Marty Rifkin: lap steel guitar; Brad Dutz: percussion; Dan Lutz:fretless bass; Glen Berger: flute; Craig Eastman: fiddle, octave violin.
Album information
Title: Guitar Stories: Slack Key & Beyond | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced
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About Kimo West
Instrument: Guitar, acoustic
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