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January 6, 2017
The title track from the CD, "Slackers In Paradise" featuring Ken Emerson on acoustic lap steel and Jim Kimo West on baritone slack key guitar. Video by Bill Montei of MEG Filmworks. Available on CD and vinyl as well as mp3 and on all major streaming sites. |
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CONGRATULATIONS Jim "Kimo" West as part of "Weird Al" Yankovic Band on the album "Mandatory Fun" on RCA/Sony Records debuted #1 on Billboard, July 18th and just WON the 2015 GRAMMY in the Comedy Category. Jim "Kimo" played all the guitars and most of the keyboard and synths.
They are embarking on a 100 city world tour in May, 2015.
Having never even seen Waikiki, Jim “Kimo” West came right to Hana, Maui in 1985 and spent much of his time there for many years. It was in Hana where he first heard the music of Gabby Pahinui, Sons Of Hawaii, Sonny Chillingworth and Atta Isaacs. Already familiar with alternate tunings, the sound of ki ho’alu became his favorite “soundtrack”.
Best known as long-time guitarist for the worldʻs most successful musical comedy artist, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Kimo is regarded as one of the world’s foremost “ki ho’alu” or Hawaiian “slack key” guitar artists. This warm and engaging acoustic guitar style has it’s roots in 1840’s Hawaii, when Mexican vaqueros first brought guitars to the Big Island of Hawaii. If you saw the Oscar-winning film, “The Decendants” you have experienced this great
acoustic guitar tradition.
Kimo is a 2008 winner of the Hawaii Music Awards and two-time Na Hoku Hanohano (the Hawaiian ‘Grammy’) nominee. He is also a two-time winner of the LA Treasures Award for his efforts in keeping this important acoustic guitar tradition alive. He is a veteran of Hawaii’s famed slack key festivals as well as
the So Cal Slack Key Festival every year from 2008 through 2013. He has shared the stage with almost all the world’s top slack key players at one time or another.
Kimo has also worked as a composer for film and TV for many years and maintains a sophisticated private studio in Los Angeles. He has composed music for four features, network TV shows and specials and cable shows. His slack key compositions have been used in a number of Honda TV spots, on The Disney Channel
and in many documentaries. He recently composed all the music for the Hawaii production of “Ho’okele Wa’a-Turning The Canoe”, a film for the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui, directed by Danny Miller.
Best known as long-time guitarist for the worldʻs most successful musical comedy artist, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Kimo is regarded as one of the world’s foremost “ki ho’alu” or Hawaiian “slack key” guitar artists. This warm and engaging acoustic guitar style has it’s roots in 1840’s Hawaii, when Mexican vaqueros first brought guitars to the Big Island of Hawaii. If you saw the Oscar-winning film, “The Decendants” you have experienced this great
acoustic guitar tradition.
Kimo is a 2008 winner of the Hawaii Music Awards and two-time Na Hoku Hanohano (the Hawaiian ‘Grammy’) nominee. He is also a two-time winner of the LA Treasures Award for his efforts in keeping this important acoustic guitar tradition alive. He is a veteran of Hawaii’s famed slack key festivals as well as
the So Cal Slack Key Festival every year from 2008 through 2013. He has shared the stage with almost all the world’s top slack key players at one time or another.
Kimo has also worked as a composer for film and TV for many years and maintains a sophisticated private studio in Los Angeles. He has composed music for four features, network TV shows and specials and cable shows. His slack key compositions have been used in a number of Honda TV spots, on The Disney Channel
and in many documentaries. He recently composed all the music for the Hawaii production of “Ho’okele Wa’a-Turning The Canoe”, a film for the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui, directed by Danny Miller.
Here are some of Jim "Kimo" West's Original Composition for Hawaiian or Tropical Weddings
Kimo says: "For a ceremony I would use My Hawaiian Heart and Na Halia Aloha for their emotional impact and Hanalei Morning for an uplifting, happy feeling. Also, My Hawaiian Heart and often use Hanalei Morning as a recessional."
Kimo says: "For a ceremony I would use My Hawaiian Heart and Na Halia Aloha for their emotional impact and Hanalei Morning for an uplifting, happy feeling. Also, My Hawaiian Heart and often use Hanalei Morning as a recessional."
UPCOMING SHOWS!
Saturday, Jan 9 8 PM Jim Kimo West and Ken Emerson, Boulevard Music Culver City CA
***JUST ADDED*** Those "Haolewaiians", Ken and Kimo will be jamming out some smoking hot slack and steel duets here at this venerable Culver City music venue as a warmup for their set at the So Cal Slack Key Festival. Special guests,too ! Tickets and info here . For more info on Ken Emerson, just click here.
Sunday, Jan 18, 2 PM Southern California Slack Key Festival, Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Redondo Beach, CA
There is no Hawaiian show like the So Cal Slack Key Festival-it has achieved legendary status in the world of slack key and has hosted almost all the living legends of ki hoʻalu at one time or another. This yearʻs lineup will include Cyril Pahinui, George Kuo, Makana, Jeff Peterson, Nathan Aweau, Danny Carvallo, Peter Moon Jr., Jeff Au Hoy, Ken Emerson and Kimo. Hula stars include Napua Grieg and 2013 Merrie Monarch "Miss Aloha Hula", Manalani English. The open-to-the-public Island Marketplace will feature island food and crafts as well as more music. See you there! Tickets and info here.
Tuesday, Jan 20 6 PM House Concert with Stephen Inglis, Manhattan Beach CA
Kimo joins Na Hoku Hanohano-winning slack key artist, Stephen Inglis for an intimate performance in beautiful Manhattan Beach, CA. Stephenʻs kumu was the late Rev, Dennis Kamakahi and he continues Dennisʻs rich tradition of slack key and storytelling. Please call (310) 545-6393
Saturday Feb 21, 2015 8 PM Warner Grand Annex, San Pedro, CA
The LA port town of San Pedro is fast becoming a center of arts, culture and most importanty, good restaurants ! Join us in celebrating all thatʻs wonderful about San Pedro at the Warner Grand Annex, a classy, intimate venue dedicated to acoustic, world and roots music. Kimo will feature some new special guests (we are keeping this secret ) so don't miss it! http://www.grandvision.org
April 10, Dana Point, CA , April 11 Mission Viejo, CA "Lord Of The Strings" Concert Series
Kimo is honored to perform for the first time in Tim and Tina Johnsonʻs legendary guitar show. This series regularly hosts the wordʻs best fingerstyle guitarists, including Peppino DʻAgostino, Bepe Gambetta, Richard Smith, Lawrence Juber and many more!
Tix and info here.
May 15 - Sept. 20 "The Mandatory Tour" with ʻWeird Al" Yankovic- tour datesannounced Jan 20!
Saturday, Jan 9 8 PM Jim Kimo West and Ken Emerson, Boulevard Music Culver City CA
***JUST ADDED*** Those "Haolewaiians", Ken and Kimo will be jamming out some smoking hot slack and steel duets here at this venerable Culver City music venue as a warmup for their set at the So Cal Slack Key Festival. Special guests,too ! Tickets and info here . For more info on Ken Emerson, just click here.
Sunday, Jan 18, 2 PM Southern California Slack Key Festival, Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Redondo Beach, CA
There is no Hawaiian show like the So Cal Slack Key Festival-it has achieved legendary status in the world of slack key and has hosted almost all the living legends of ki hoʻalu at one time or another. This yearʻs lineup will include Cyril Pahinui, George Kuo, Makana, Jeff Peterson, Nathan Aweau, Danny Carvallo, Peter Moon Jr., Jeff Au Hoy, Ken Emerson and Kimo. Hula stars include Napua Grieg and 2013 Merrie Monarch "Miss Aloha Hula", Manalani English. The open-to-the-public Island Marketplace will feature island food and crafts as well as more music. See you there! Tickets and info here.
Tuesday, Jan 20 6 PM House Concert with Stephen Inglis, Manhattan Beach CA
Kimo joins Na Hoku Hanohano-winning slack key artist, Stephen Inglis for an intimate performance in beautiful Manhattan Beach, CA. Stephenʻs kumu was the late Rev, Dennis Kamakahi and he continues Dennisʻs rich tradition of slack key and storytelling. Please call (310) 545-6393
Saturday Feb 21, 2015 8 PM Warner Grand Annex, San Pedro, CA
The LA port town of San Pedro is fast becoming a center of arts, culture and most importanty, good restaurants ! Join us in celebrating all thatʻs wonderful about San Pedro at the Warner Grand Annex, a classy, intimate venue dedicated to acoustic, world and roots music. Kimo will feature some new special guests (we are keeping this secret ) so don't miss it! http://www.grandvision.org
April 10, Dana Point, CA , April 11 Mission Viejo, CA "Lord Of The Strings" Concert Series
Kimo is honored to perform for the first time in Tim and Tina Johnsonʻs legendary guitar show. This series regularly hosts the wordʻs best fingerstyle guitarists, including Peppino DʻAgostino, Bepe Gambetta, Richard Smith, Lawrence Juber and many more!
Tix and info here.
May 15 - Sept. 20 "The Mandatory Tour" with ʻWeird Al" Yankovic- tour datesannounced Jan 20!