I just heard Jules Ah See

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 6 Jul 2014 11:44 am

I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that I just today came across Jules Ah See and his version of Hula Blues today. Slightly by accident.

I'm pretty blown away by how awesome and swingy it is. In the past I've had some trouble listening to Hawaiian music but this seems a little more hip and cool - I don't know.

Maybe I'm just getting to be a stereotypical steel guitar old man. (I'm also really getting Jerry Byrd's Hawaiian music recently.)

I'll be looking for more Jules online. Not much on Spotify...

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 6 Jul 2014 12:09 pm

Shoot, and the more I listen to this, the more I hear Joaquin Murphy phrasing. Right?

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 6 Jul 2014 12:10 pm

i had similar reservations years ago about hawaiian music....until i heard the Tapa Room tapes. i'm not kidding when i say i haven't listened to western swing steel since. it just doesn't interest me as much now. i'll even go so far to say after hearing Jules, Murph doesn't seem all that unique - (and of course, i'm a big fan of Murph)

get a hold of those tapes (there was a link to them somewhere for a while) if Hula Blues is all you have heard. yes, you have to get past the lushy 50's tourist chic entertainment, but those guys swing as hard as any western swing band.

hawaiian music has this strange draw that sucks you in - its so beautiful and peaceful - the songs are about beautiful places, girls and lovers. none of that bar room juke joint trash about drinking and raising hell. i listen to it often while falling asleep its so relaxing. and hell, i can't even tell what they are singing about, but it sure sounds sweet ...plus the LP covers are way cooler!

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 6 Jul 2014 3:02 pm

Nate,do a Forum search of Tapa Room Tapes,on the first page about 4 from the bottom I talk about a full day of yard work, click on that one and you will find a link from Jean Sebastian to the TR Tapes.I listen to it every day

Joe Burke · Post by **Joe Burke** » 6 Jul 2014 6:11 pm

Can you post a link to this version of Hula Blues? You've made me curious!

Norman Markowitz · Post by **Norman Markowitz** » 6 Jul 2014 8:04 pm

Here is a part of the Tapa Room Tapes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOoGEk3dT4A

Jules Ah See sides

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-C9J2tL5wM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoHSFNZ6rTo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPiJ1a-poBQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv3B5dIdTuM

Paul DiMaggio · Post by **Paul DiMaggio** » 6 Jul 2014 8:52 pm

Welcome to the club Nate. Jules took it to a whole different level, as did Murph. They both swing like crazy!

Jouni Karvonen · Post by **Jouni Karvonen** » 6 Jul 2014 10:29 pm

This one has some in reply by "basilh" halfway down the page:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 431a6b81bb

Steve Green · Post by **Steve Green** » 7 Jul 2014 2:26 am

One of my favorite Jules Ah See recordings

How'd Ya Do CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO

Wally Pfeifer · Post by **Wally Pfeifer** » 7 Jul 2014 6:49 am

You guys are just discovering Jules now.?? Us old guys discovered and have been listening to him for the last 65+ years. In between,- we listened to the old Western Swing bands with lots of steel. "Take it Away, Leon"

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 10 Jul 2014 4:29 am

Awesome. Thanks all. This is a helpful step forward.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 10 Jul 2014 5:27 am

I predict this may becoming a life-changing event.

There is much else to discover. I am proud that my first steel guitar heroes were Hawaiians. It was a good place to start and has definitely had an indelible effect on me.

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 11 Jul 2014 3:37 pm

Nate,you might as well check out Feets Rogers while yer at it. He doesn't swing like Jules but he sure can play

Anthony Locke · Post by **Anthony Locke** » 12 Jul 2014 4:07 pm

The early Western Swing steel players were directly influenced by the Hawaiian steel guitar players, this includes everyone from Joaquin Murphey and Bob Dunn, to Herb Remington who told me this information in person. It becomes very obvious when you listen to Joaquin playing in the C# min tuning then you go and listen to Sol Ho'o''pi'i, playing in that same tuning, or Dick McIntire's F#9 playing, both from years before Joaquin made recordings like Oklahoma Stomp, etc.

I think that the more you discover and listen to Hawaiian steel guitar, the more you will find that it swings just as hard as Western Swing steel guitar. In fact, here is a recording with Hawaiian steel guitar player (and Stratocaster designer,) Freddy Tavares laying down some extremely swinging steel guitar with Wade Ray and T.Texas Tyler. Enjoy!

https://soundcloud.com/anthony-locke/me ... -ray-and-t

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 12 Jul 2014 4:24 pm

good stuff Tony!!!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 12 Jul 2014 5:33 pm

Tony is 100% right. The Hawaiians had the shoulders everyone else stood on. IMO, nobody touches the greatest Hawaiian players for swing, feel and inventiveness. I just wish I was there to witness it in person.

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · Post by **Jean-Sebastien Gauthier** » 12 Jul 2014 7:13 pm

I listen lot of different music everyday but I have to listen to Louis Armstrong, Bill Monroe and the Tapa Rooms tape everyday, for some reason these music make me feel good. Every time I listen to Jules Ah See I cant believe how hard he swing. I really dig is picking attack variation just like a horn player and the cool licks he play, his solo on Pagan Love Song is my favourite, he play big band swing licks in a different context and I like that.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/38xy2mqjdqdu1 ... 0Tapes.zip

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 13 Jul 2014 5:09 am

Are there any Hawaiian "Crooners" out there? Besides Gary Aiko

Norman Markowitz · Post by **Norman Markowitz** » 13 Jul 2014 7:23 am

As a huge fan of Hawaiian music, both past and present, I'll try to come up with some names for you.

From the past, the true "crooners" that really stood out were:

George Kainapau
Alfred Apaka
Pua Almeda

These were the guys that helped to define the Hawai'i Calls era, although George Kaianpau really specialized in Hawaiian falsetto to a larger degree.

Then in the 70's and 80's you saw the start of the Hawaiin music and cultural Renaissance. With names like:

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Bruddah Iz) of "Over The Rainbow fame.

Dennis Pavao
Brothers Cazimero
Keali'i Reichel a bit later on

None of these guys probably fit your description of a Hawaiian crooner, based on the example you gave as ....Gary Aiko. They all possess award winning voices, but now the shift is occurring in Hawaiian music away from The Hapa-Haole music to songs (mele) sung in the Hawaiian language.

Today we have guys like:

Kuana Torres Kahele https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4tL7qigcww
Mark Yamamanka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdLFtLB6034
Nathan Aweau https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vETVYdOh9aw

One guy that does kind of bridge the gap from the present to the past is Mike Keale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brWi6xd3KJM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w43T1D24v0U
There are many more but this will get you started.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Jul 2014 7:26 am

Norman, how about Ray Kinney?

Norman Markowitz · Post by **Norman Markowitz** » 13 Jul 2014 7:45 am

Mike Neer wrote:Norman, how about Ray Kinney?

Oh, Mike!! Absolutely!! How could I have forgotten him.

That's the trouble with trying to categorize Hawaiian music in any way. The genre is so rich and has so many different meanings for people. It's hard to grasp it all.

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 24 Jul 2014 4:43 am

So, after listening to the Tapa Room Tapes I'm definately into it. I love the fun vibe and the daft that's it's a live radio recording. Reminds me of the Tex Williams live radio recordings from LA.

Since I don't know much about Hawaiian music, I'm wondering if the reason it swings so hard is a Hawaiian thing or a mid century American pop music influence.

Are there a lot of Hawaiian recordings that swing this much?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 24 Jul 2014 4:52 am

Here is some more Jules from my collection:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYp_5_8BOK0

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 24 Jul 2014 7:11 am

i think those broadcasts swing so hard because that was the musical style of the times. people still danced and went out to dinner clubs to be entertained. remember this was also broadcast to the mainland vs just a tourist production.

haole hawaiian style has a heavy swing feel even going back to the 20's.

a lot of music genres you wouldn't think of as having a heavy swing feel does from this era. even Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys cuts from this era have a wonderful swing feel. musicians were certainly aware of and influenced by popular musical trends of the day.

ive had a lot of fun discovering Hawaiian music - reminds me of the first time i was exposed to Django.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 24 Jul 2014 1:33 pm

Nate Hofer wrote:Are there a lot of Hawaiian recordings that swing this much?

Not a lot, or at least not enuf, but every one is worth finding. Lot's of people dismiss Hawaiian music and the steel/tunings, absurdly thinking it can't be sophisticated or even any good but they're greatly missing out on some of the best music ever made and the Tapa tapes are prime evidence, anything you find will be fun.