Kani Ki Ho' Alu

Amazon.com
Solo, using a nylon-string guitar that distinguishes his sound from other slack-key guitarists, Kotani sets up mesmerizing bass drones over which he plays improvisations and bright melodies that seem to echo themselves; his chord progressions are often unique to slack key, and because he never sings, he often phrases the guitar like he would vocal lines. His four-finger picking method has led some to conclude he's classically trained, which he isn't. He can also sound too precious, or New Agey, for some, but his peers consider him to be in a class by himself. --John Morthland

Tracks:

Ku'u Kika Kahiko (My Old Guitar)
Aloha Kaua'i
Medley: 'Opae 'E/Kaho'olawe
Kani Kipaipai
Ku'u Lei Poina'ole (My Unforgettable Lei)
Birdie's Slack Shake Key
Ione's Theme (Joan's Mele)
Kani Ki Ho'alu
Kamalani O Keaukaha
Ki Ho'alu
Maika'i Ka Makani O Kohala
Medley: 'Ahulili/I Ka Po Me Ke Ao/Mauna Loa
Kokoni Sachi Ari (Here Is Happiness)
Mahinahina (The Pale Moonlight)

Amazon.com

Solo, using a nylon-string guitar that distinguishes his sound from other slack-key guitarists, Kotani sets up mesmerizing bass drones over which he plays improvisations and bright melodies that seem to echo themselves; his chord progressions are often unique to slack key, and because he never sings, he often phrases the guitar like he would vocal lines. His four-finger picking method has led some to conclude he's classically trained, which he isn't. He can also sound too precious, or New Agey, for some, but his peers consider him to be in a class by himself. --John Morthland

Customer Reviews:

much aloha.......2003-08-31

a beautiful, beatiful CD -- i listen to it both at home and in my car and have put Aloha Kaua'i (track 2) on repeat in my car for days at a time --

Ozzie Kotani is the successor to Leonard Kwan --

Great Hawaiian music.......2001-06-01

This is a great cd. I love slack key and this is a wonderful intrumental.