Makana LIVE SOhO 5/10 – Legacies of Hawai’i

“A dynamic force within the style [of slack key]…dazzling” – New York Times  

“Slack key guitar music, indigenous to Hawai’i’, has been around longer than the blues, and Makana is considered the greatest living player.” —Esquire Magazine 

“I’ve been deep into classical music and Hawaiian slack-key guitar. I’ve gotten way into Andres Segovia, and this Hawaiian guitar player called Makana” –Kirk Hammett, Lead guitarist for Metallica 

“He’s lean, young, expressive, with impressive stage presence and jewel box precision… He is a master, blessed with sizzling showmanship.” — Honolulu Advertiser  

With his intricate guitar playing featured on three Grammy-nominated albums, including the soundtrack of the Academy-Award winning film “The Descendants”, internationally renowned guitarist, composer, vocalist, philosopher, activist, and one of Hawaii’s cultural ambassadors to the world, Makana has earned recognition as a master of Hawaiian slack key guitar. Hailed for his electrifying performance style, the New York Times calls him “dazzling”, Makana has shared the stage with top music stars such as Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson, and opened for legends including Sting, Carlos Santana and Elvis Costello. He performs at leading venues worldwide, including the White House.

Makana invites audiences on an uplifting tribute to slack key stylings, in which guitar strings are strategically loosened to produce a wholly unique sound. His anticipated show will dive into the rich history, amusing stories and breathtaking melodies of Hawaii’s distinct slack key guitar traditions. Celebrating the famous masters who shaped this style, including his legendary mentor Sonny Chillingworth, Makana will share songs, stories and insights spanning ancient to contemporary that illuminate this groundbreaking artists’ musicality and humor.

Video about Makanaʻs Slack Key Guitar