This CD is a treat for anyone with open ears. Slack Key Guitar is a collection of some of the best guitar music of Hawaii. It features solo guitar pieces played by seven well-known slack key guitarist. It is a beautiful introduction to the music.

Hawaiian slack key guitar is one of the great styles of acoustic guitar music. “Slack Key” playing is known as ki ho’alu in Hawaiian, and is their term for the native fingerpicked style. The music often features alternate tunings, where some strings are loosened “slacked”, to create more attractive intervals between strings. This can also create sympathetic reverberations, where strings vibrate in harmony with other notes are played.

Sonny Lim, Bryan Kessler, Randy Lorenzo, John Keawe, Charles Michael Brotman, Keven Teves, and Ken Emerson are the guitarists featured on this 1998 release. All of the guitarist bring an effortless virtuosity to the music. The music is relaxing and beatiful, and may bring to mind images of tropical beaches.

Slack Key Guitar is a collection of exceptional beauty. It captures simple melodies played with exceptional grace, and is a relaxing introduction to this traditional Hawaiian musical art.