C & K Spells Magic in Hawaiian Music

December 8th, 2009

Many musical groups are lucky to last 3-6 years but Hawaiian music legends Cecilio and Kapono are celebrating their 36th anniversary with a show called "A Lifetime Party".  It is an apt title for a collaboration that began with an impromptu North Shore jam session and took them to some of the largest stages in the world. C & K still hold the record for largest attendance at the Waikiki shell — 10,000 inside and another 4,000 fans outside.  Over the next three decades, they performed with Santana, Loggins & Messina, Boz Scaggs, Frank Zappa, Peter Frampton, Cheech & Chong and others.

Their distinctive style is familiar to three generations of islanders but this was my first experience.  C & K are described on the program as "Hawaiian Acoustic Rock" which probably comes close.  I would say their vocal harmony feels island grown — relaxed rather than rigid in its execution.  One "what if" tour through different styles demonstrated their complete mastery of any musical genre.  (The country style was a little jarring but the blues riff actually received audience approval.)  When they returned to the classic C & K style, it was finding the groove in the very best sense:  right genre, right sound, right attitude –  and great venue.  The intimate setting of the Royal Hawaiian Monarch Room was a perfect setting for their vocal harmonies.  It also allowed them to joke with one another and the audience between songs. 

In this engagement, C & K have been performing two shows each Thursday night in November and December.  It is a special treat to experience these local musicians back home and at the top of their game.  If you are not able to get to a live performance, pick up a recorded version for an experience of island music without steel drums and ukuleles — acoustic rock and vocal harmony with aloha.

Entry Filed under: Customs, Practices and Pastimes, Hawaii Vacation Links, In General, Oahu, Uncategorized