One Cool Katz

MAUIbeat rimarily known in the islands for its sax, and Henry Arroyo and Fred Boyd on unique, mesmerizing sound in Hawai- trombone. Gail Swanson pops up on flute Pian music, the steel guitar is rarely on the track “Flossie,” joined by Sue Sey- heard in jazz. Loving both Hawaiian and mour Westcott on fiddle. jazz, Maui musician Joel Katz has been One cool Katz On the original “About Last Night,” bridging these two genres with the albums which highlights Katz’s dobro playing, you “Hawaiian to Jazz” and “Adventures in Maui musician brings steel guitar to jazz can hear echoes of George Harrison’s guitar Hawaiian Steel Guitar,” his latest impres- style. “That song just has dobro and bass sive work. and a little bit of a Wurlitzer piano,” he The new CD just made the 2015 Na says. Hoku Awards preliminary ballot for Best Another cool track, “Spooked Uke,” fea- Jazz Album of the Year. The final nomina- tures him on bass, ukulele and steel. “You tions will be announced Wednesday. put this groove to it and play the instruments “I was drawn to the steel guitar by its ver- a little differently, and it goes into a whole satility in articulation, pitch and tonal color, new zone,” he explains. second only to the human voice,” Katz en- Among the covers, the Beatles’ ballad thuses. “Fool on the Hill” from “Magical Mystery Around 25 years ago, he studied briefly Tour” perfectly fits a steel guitar arrange- with Hawaiian steel guitar legend Henry ment. It’s his favorite song on the CD. And Allen. steel’s a natural on the Texas swing classic “Then I pretty much dropped it for 20 “Blues for Dixie.” years,” Katz also decided to include Willie Nel- he son’s hit “Crazy,” though he found it a little JON WOODHOUSE says. “I challenging to play. MAUIbeat wasn’t “It’s not a simple song,” he notes. “Willie music column very Nelson is really an amazing songwriter and [email protected] good, jazz player. It was tricky and challenging.” but I Aside from releasing albums and playing have a studio and would sometimes break it live, Katz pursues his passion for Hawaiian out on somebody’s recording.” steel guitar teaching at University of Hawaii Known as the keyboardist for two Maui College. His courses include guitar, decades with Jimmy Mac and the Kool ukulele, recording and audio technology. Kats, Katz would occasionally be asked to “It’s a tradition that’s dying, and in my play weddings. One day, there was a request effort to perpetuate the almost lost art of for the classic steel guitar song “Sleep steel guitar, I offer a course at our music de- Walk” by Santo & Johnny. partment,” he says. “I have a great respect “After that, I decided I wanted to start for Hawaiian steel guitar players. It’s really working on steel guitar,” he continues. “I a difficult instrument.” wanted to do some solo work and I was en- joying playing the steel guitar. People really *** liked it and I started to see the potential. Super exciting that Chaka Khan will Playing the steel guitar is like meditating, it play Castle Theater at Maui Arts & Cultural takes a concentration and focus that’s really Center on May 8. Famous for hits like “I Photo Feel for You,” “I’m Every Woman,” “Ain’t different from playing guitar or keyboards. I courtesy kept doing it and it caught on.” the artist Nobody,” and “What Cha’ Gonna Do for Two years ago, he released his debut CD, Me,” in recent years, this Queen of Funk “Hawaiian to Jazz,” which was nominated >> Joel Katz opens for Willie K at Mulligans On the Blue in Wailea on Wednes- has collaborated with a range of artists in- for a Na Hoku for Instrumental Album of day evenings. He also plays steel guitar at the Old Lahaina Lu‘au on Sunday cluding Prince, Eric Clapton, Herbie Han- the Year. On the album, he covered a range evenings, and at Wailuku’s First Friday celebration. And he will perform at the cock and Chick Corea. of music from traditional Hawaiian classics seventh annual Maui Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival presented April 24 to 26 at Khan has been working on a series of like “Akaka Falls” to pop tunes (including the Ka‘anapali Beach Hotel. new albums, titled “The iKhan Project,” “Sleep Walk” and the Beatle’s “In My which will include music in eight genres Life”) and Charles Mingus’ “Goodbye adding regular electric guitar, bass and instrument is capable of so much, it’s almost from R&B, jazz, pop and rock, to gospel, Porkpie Hat.” drums. In all, he distinguishes himself on at like a horn section the way it sustains notes. country, classical and dance music, along Besides his impressive steel guitar play- least seven instruments, including dobro, I really wanted an acoustic bass on it, so with a tribute work to Joni Mitchell. ing on his follow-up “Adventures in Hawai- ukulele and trumpet. Danny M plays on a few songs, and there ian Steel Guitar,” Katz makes the album re- “I played pretty much everything,” he are horn parts, too.” ■ Tickets, which range from $35 to markable by serving as a virtual one-man notes. “The CD is a little different in terms The funky, bluesy original “Canopus,” $125 (plus applicable fees) go on sale band. Take the debut track, where he inter- of the music and style that people tend to as- which you could easily imagine Steely to the general public Saturday and are prets Roberta Flack’s hit “Feel Like Makin’ sociate with the instrument. I’ve put this Dan’s Donald Fagen singing lyrics to, fea- Love” with an infectious jazz groove, Hawaiian style in a smooth jazz setting. The tures Patrick Dieter and Tom Allsage on See CHAKA KHAN on the next page MAUIscene | Thursday, March 19, 2015 | Page 3.

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