Event

Live Performance by Jim Kimo West (Weird Al Yankovic's guitarist)

Fireside Room, Sorrento Hotel

Hawaiian "Slack Key" guitar master, Jim "Kimo" West performs his first show in Seattle! Kimo is also well known as long-time guitarist for the world's most successful musical satirist, "Weird Al" Yankovic. He is a winner of the Hawaii Music Award, a two-time Han Hoku Hanohano ( the Hawaiian "Grammy") nominee and a two-time winner of the LA Treasures Award.

Hawaiian slack key guitar (ki ho'alu) is one of the great acoustic guitar traditions of the world, dating back to the 1840's when guitars were first brought to Hawaii and relatively unknown outside the islands until recently. "Slack Key" means that some of the strings are slacked from standard tuning, with the bass, melody, and improvisation played at the same time, and is often played to accompany traditional dance or song. Many players use their own special tunings that often remain proprietary secrets.

Jim "Kimo" West first visited Hana, Maui in 1985, after a long summer on the road with, "Weird Al". As the sounds of Gabby Pahinui, the Sons of Hawai'i, Sonny Chillingworth, The Sunday Manoa, and others, played on the turntable, he jammed along for fun and relaxation. Already a devotee of open tunings, he was immediately drawn to the gentle rhythms of ki ho 'alu (slack key guitar) and soon began writing his own songs. The rich physical and cultural landscape of the Hana Coast has provided the inspiration for many of his compositions.

Kimo will perform music from his 5 CD's as well as traditional slack key songs and will be accompanied by some enchanting hula.

A full menu will be available.
Sales tax will be added, in addition to the ticket price.