A Dream To Reality: The First Kona Jazz Festival—Brittni Paiva and Cyril Pahinui Talk Story
By Colin John
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if…” is an oft-heard phrase when people are dreaming or thinking about possibilities. One such dream that has become a reality is the First Annual Kona Jazz Festival, set to take place at the Mauna Kea Resort on Saturday, April 10, 2010. The festival is the brainchild of Norman and Jill Fogelsong, Mauna Kea residents whose love for Hawai‘i and music prompted them to inspire several other like-minded individuals to join in the effort to bring it all together in the idyllic setting on the Kohala coast.
The festival will feature several genres of music, from jazz and blues to Hawaiian, with an emphasis on musicians with roots lovingly planted and nurtured in Hawai’i.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Cyril Pahinui and Brittni Paiva, two Hawai’i natives scheduled to perform at the Kona Jazz Festival. Both are masterful artists, enthusiastic ambassadors for Hawai’i and its culture, highly regarded and at the zenith of their chosen fields.
Brittni represents the new generation of Hawaiian musicians, who experiment and push the stylistic envelope through cross-breeding musical genres, and Cyril Pahinui is a world-class slack-key guitarist and vocalist who comes from a lineage of remarkable musical pedigree.
CJ: Brittni, I first became aware of you back in 2004 when we played together at Kilauea Military Camap (KMC) in Volcano and at the Aloha Theater. I was immediately taken by your interest in the blues and how well you played it on an instrument not known for that style of music. Your style seems to incorporate elements of Hawaiian, rock, jazz, Latin and the blues. Have you always taken an interest in playing other styles of music on the ‘ukulele?
BP: Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. I love to listen to and play many styles of music because of the challenge that it gives me.
CJ: Who were some of your earliest influences and who inspired you to pursue the ‘ukulele?
P: When I was 11 years old, my grandfather put an ‘ukulele in my hands and said, “Here Brittni, try and play around with this.” I instantly fell in love with the instrument. My musical influences include John Mayer, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Ne-Yo, Herb Ohta, Jr., Marty Friedman, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and many others.
CJ: When did you realize that becoming a musician was your life’s calling?
BP: A few years after I started playing the ‘ukulele, many of my peers in the industry started suggesting that I go into the studio and record an album. After that, things just started falling into place. I got lots of calls for performances, tours, and even being a guest musician on albums being recorded by my musician friends! How everything just started happening confirms for me that this gift I’ve been blessed with is one that I need to share with others, not for self-gratification, but to help and bless others.
CJ: Through your musical proclivities, you have become somewhat of an official ambassador for the State of Hawai‘i. Can you tell the readers a bit about this experience?
BP: Performing for the Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau has been so much fun! Having the opportunity to travel worldwide and show others about the Big Island is such a blessing.
CJ: I understand that you are starting a music school. Can you elaborate?
BP: It’s always been my dream to help get others started in the music business. There are so many talented young people today and I hate to see their talent hidden behind closed doors. With the start of Brittni Paiva’s School of Music, I hope to help open doors and give them opportunities to share their music.
CJ: Do you see a renewed interest in playing the ‘ukulele from kids today, especially because they see hip, younger artists like you and Jake Shimabukuro who show off the ‘ukulele as a cool instrument?
BP: Yes, I do. Now that the world is being shown the diversity of the ‘ukulele, many are picking it up knowing that there’s more to play than just Hawaiian music.
CJ: What can your fans and the audience at the Mauna Kea expect from you at your performance on April 10th?
BP: I’ll definitely play songs from all four of my albums, and maybe a few that I haven’t released yet. You never know! But people will be amazed what kinds of music can be played on an ‘ukulele.
CJ: Cyril, you and the Pahinui ‘ohana have very deep roots in the Hawaiian community, particularly in respect to music and ki ho’alu (slack key guitar).
CP: My dad, the late Gabby “Pops” Pahinui, was one of the great 20th century masters of Hawaiian vocal, slack key and steel guitar music. He worked for the City and County of Honolulu street crew—a true working class hero. A brilliant, self-taught musician. Gabby’s musical influences were the big band and jazz music brought to Hawai‘i to entertain the tourists at the Waikiki hotels and it spilled over into the surrounding neighborhoods where he grew up. His ability to master any stringed instrument, coupled with his intense falsetto that became raspy with age, and his guttural deep tones made him a unique fixture on the Hawaiian music scene. Gabby’s talent, charisma, kindness and good humor endeared him to millions. More than any other, he ushered in the Hawaiian Renaissance, a renewed interest in traditional forms of music and a whole new era of popular culture.
CJ: What does it mean to you to be recognized and acknowledged as of one the elder statesmen and world ambassadors of the slack key guitar style?
CP: In the old days these things were not shared outside the family and we were not really taught; we just had to play along and kanikapila with whoever was playing. When you were asked to “take one” (pa‘ani) you got your chance to create and if you were not ready then your chance did not come around for a long time. So, we were always practicing solos and waiting to show our stuff when the chance came. Young people today don’t get the chance to play with the masters and most families don’t spend their free time playing music in the garage. I guess I miss that and so I began to teach.
One time when I was about 10, I came around the fence in the back yard and my Dad, Uncle Sonny and Uncle Atta were playing the most beautiful music. I stayed very still and just listened so they wouldn’t send me off to play, and I started to cry because the music was so beautiful. I can still hear it in my mind and at that moment I knew that I would be a guitar player like my dad. I always try to play that nahenahe kind of sound that I heard that day and it has become my style. I just spent all of my free time playing my guitar and I still do. I sing to my wife or myself when no one else is around and I love to get together with other musicians and just kanikapila.
CJ: I understand that you are involved with teaching the slack key style in workshops throughout Hawai’i. Can you tell the readers of your ongoing courses in the Hilo area?
P: In Hilo I teach six weeks of workshops at UH-Hilo every semester. If anyone is interested they can just call the university to register. I also teach one Sunday a month at my dad’s place in Waimanalo and at the Bishop Museum once a month. We have some annual workshops at Waipio Valley and Kohala too. These are very special places, since this is where ki ho‘alu began and where the chief Hi’ilawe lived and his namesake waterfall is located.
CJ: Have you noticed an increased interest in slack key guitar and do you see the youngsters today taking an interest in keeping the tradition alive and evolving?
CP: There is more interest because of the Grammy Awards. We are trying to get the kids interested. We let anyone under 21 in most of the workshops free and we go into the schools and talk story, play and teach. Last year I did 18 schools on Hawai‘i Island and 14 the year before. We are planning to do about 15 this year as well as some on the other islands.
CJ: What can fans expect from your performance at the Mauna Kea on April 10th?
CP: For the past few years I have been doing solo performances and I have now formed a new band, the Pahinui Hawaiian Band. Two of the members are my nephew Kunia Galdeira and Sonny Lim, who live in Waimea. We have a few surprise numbers but it will mostly be classic Pahinui. ❖
You can experience both Brittni and Cyril, as well as Maggie Herron, Alan Akaka & the Islanders, Colin John Band and Hiroshima live on Saturday April 10, from 2-10 p.m. at The Kona Jazz Festival on the luau grounds of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. In addition to all the great music, there will be great food from several Big Island restaurants. For information and details, please visit www.konajazz.com. All artists will be available to sign CDs and say “aloha” as well!
