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| Makana's Different Game To Be Released April 22 Makana's fourth album, Different Game to be released April 22 on his own Makana Music imprint. This guitar virtuoso blends traditional slack key with rock, folk, blues and world-all within poignant, original message songs. Makana Music is distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance, a Warner Music Group company. Makana has been winning fans all over the globe with his jaw dropping instrumental virtuosity, formidable songwriting and soaring, soulful singing. By blending Hawai'i's slack key guitar style(a technique that sounds like three guitars in one) with rock, blues, folk, and international musics like Portuguese fado and flamenco, Makana has reinvented slack key, introducing it to a worldwide audience. His live performances- both solo and with his Slack Rock Band- are known for their high energy and unpredictability. Different Game, Makana's fourth album, out April 22nd on his own Makana Music imprint, is the young master's strongest effort to date- 15 tracks that showcase his acoustic and electric guitar prowess. It's a collection of original songs that explode off the disc with an impressive pop/rock energy. Slack key is still the root of Makana's music, but on Different Game, as the title implies, the music transcends easy labels with an expanded vocabulary full of unexpected twists and turns. Different Game was recorded in Austin, Texas with producer Dwight A. Baker(Brandy Carlisle, Bascom Hill) and displays a wide emotional and musical range. Makana calls it "a soundtrack for letting go, " with a vibe that's both relaxing and energetic. Away is a love song that starts with chiming acoustic guitar and Makana's whispered vocal and builds to an exciting full band climax. Mars Declares, the wrenching tale of a soldier in Iraq, rides a driving folk/rock beat to deliver a vocal full of anguish and dread. Necksnap Blues takes a tongue in cheek look at the music business; Makana's mischievous vocal is complimented by his stellar acoustic picking full of bent notes, ripping runs and fat chord clusters. The music alternates between intimate singer/songwriter fare, like Shooting Star and Home and funky rockers like New Love Song and Goodnight Friend. The unifying thread is Makana's incredible fretwork, songwriting skill and a voice that's achingly pure while possessing substantial strength and passion. Makana, whose Hawaiian name means a gift given freely, began singing when he was seven years old, took up ukulele at nine and began learning the art of slack key at 11, studying with legendary slack key master, Sonny Chillingworth. Makana has a devoted fan base by virtue of his awe-inspiring live performances and first three albums: Makana (1999), Koi Au (2002) and Ki Ho'alu: Journey of Hawaiian Slack Key (2003). Makana and his band have opened shows for Sting, Santana, Elvis Costello, No Doubt, Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz and have done countless benefits for worthy causes. Different Game is distributed by ADA, a Warner Music Group company. Makana will be touring this spring in support of Different Game. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |