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Topic: Questions For Jeff Au Huy/Others |
Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 1 Jun 2005 11:20 pm |
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Back in the 70's a very good friend of mine
allowed me to tape two LP's in his collection of Hawaiian Steel.
One selection has always been a particular favourite and the musicians and sound are outstanding.
My question for Jeff and/or others:
What metre is this solo written in?
Is it unique to Hawaii?
Who is the Steel Guitarist?
Sounds like C6th?
All the musicians here are fantastic and I wonder if this take was a lucky one or are/were they really this good. 
To me it's a show stopper! Timing and delivery etc.
Have a listen and I would appreciate some
commentary. http://members.cox.net/loveridehd/HAWAIIANSTEEL.mp3
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 1 Jun 2005 11:42 pm
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Hi Roy,
The steel player on this recording is Jules Ah See who passed away in 1960. This recording (sounds like regular 4/4 time to me) was released on one of the Hawai'i Calls LPs as "Hawaiian Shores" but is actually a medley of traditional hula numbers: 1) "Alika", 2) "Kaulana Na Pua", 3) "Anapau", 4) "Hula O Makee", and 5) "Alika" again.
It sounds to me like the solo is entirely on the C6 (C13) neck. These guys recorded "on the fly"; the solos weren't written out. I wouldn't go so far as to say the rhythm is uniquely Hawaiian (it almost has a latin feel to it) but it's similar to a traditional pahu drum beat.
This is territorial Hawai'i so definitely no multi-track/overdub.
The words to all of these songs are at www.huapala.org
I hear a second steel way back in the mix, but it sounds like it's from an entirely different recording that bled into the dub. [This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 02 June 2005 at 12:50 AM.] |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 2 Jun 2005 1:52 am
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Thanks Jeff!
That answers a lot. Jules had a beautiful touch.
The beat still mysifys me. Sounds more like a (moderate) 2/4 measure to me with the accent on the second beat? Drum and bass playing a triplet on top. The syncopation drives me crazy but I love it.
I'd still like to know a little more about what's goin' on there. [This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 02 June 2005 at 03:00 AM.] |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 2 Jun 2005 3:06 am
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The basic song is un 4/4,
but there MAY be some measures a bit legato
or following the leaders melody rather than meter.
Also the track bleeding through Is also likely messing with the sense of meter. |
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wt golden
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2005 7:44 am
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The song is in 4 - but the rhythm that bass is playing gives it that syncopated feel
ONE and two AND three and FOUR and
ONE and two AND three and FOUR and
the bass only plays the
ONE AND FOUR
ONE AND FOUR
and then the guitar/ukes rhythm straight 8th/16th notes
I think having no drums (or very little that I can hear) helps this sound so much - the drums/percussion are played by the guitar/ukes strums. While I am hardly an expert - this is something that really draws me to the music -the rhythm is tight and constant, but the lack of a snare back beat pounding the whole time makes is so free and fun |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 2 Jun 2005 4:59 pm
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Thanks Jeff, David and Wt for your input and help. Someday I will work on that "beat".
It's tops in my book.
Roy |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 2 Jun 2005 8:15 pm
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| I've heard that rhythm referred to as being "Puamoto Rhythm" but I have no idea what Puamoto means .... ? |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 5 Jun 2005 4:02 pm
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Aunty Genoa´s band used it a lot of the time whilst Pat and I were there, come to think of it, so did most of the bands..
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| Steel players do it without fretting |
 
http://www.waikiki-islanders.com
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 7 Jun 2005 8:27 am
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I've never heard of the term "Puamoto". The Hawaiian word "pua" in English is "flower" or "blossom". I guess moto puts that into motion.
The term "'olapa" refers to anything with drum or ipu (gourd) accompaniment, but we usually use it to describe the straight, non-swinging, u-te u-te-te rhythm. Aunty Genoa applies this rhythm and refers to it as the "gallop strum".
The recording Roy posted sounds pretty straight to me, the syncopated feel coming entirely from the bass player (who I think is Jimmy Kaopuiki, bassist with the Hawaiian Village Serenaders, i.e., a jazzer--who I'm sure couldn't help but toy with the rhythm a bit). |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 7 Jun 2005 11:22 am
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Roy, lo and behold I found the recording on one of the Hawai'i Calls reissue CD's. Apparently the 'ukulele are syncopating as well (kind of a hip-hoppy ).
Whatever they did in remastering, it sucks. But this will give you a cleaner example of what was going on. Amazing how low-fi sound can mask pick noise and even intonation problems.
"Hawaiian Shores" (I guess that was a lot more marketable than the medley of song titles I listed above.) |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 7 Jun 2005 11:36 am
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Well, according to George Rout who is an undisputed authority on mysterious words...
PUAMOTO means: "Youa puamoto in you car ana you goa long way".
I guess I stand corrected.
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 7 Jun 2005 11:47 am
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| Sure. All I know is if you puamoto, it may be time for an endoscopy. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 7 Jun 2005 12:48 pm
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| Glad you got to the "bottom" of it Jeff !! |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2005 3:01 pm
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I have a wonderful recording of Jules playing Hula O Makee on an album called "Guitare Hawaiiene Authentique" with a group listed as "Hawaiian Trio and Taki". For some reason, the producer decided to superimpose a vibes player over the session (good vibes player though) and that gets old fast.
The album cover is to die for...(my wife doesn't think so though) |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2005 4:20 pm
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| Keep your eyes on the hands! |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 7 Jun 2005 6:25 pm
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Thanks Jeff for posting the "Hawaiian Shores"
MP3. Much better! I downloaded it quite quickly.
I have the utmost respect for the muscians on that cut. It is facinating and tantalizing listening.
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