Home page
Besides the Cyril LeFebvre discs described on the preceding page there are several other products we recommend that Hawaiian guitar lovers ... and all guitar enthusiasts actually... investigate . These are not available from this website but where possible we include links to retailers/ stockists who can supply them:
"Genial Hawaiians" which reissues all 12 Jim & Bob recordings from their 1933 session for Bluebird , along with all 12 sides made by George Ku's Paradise Islanders ...
Ken Emerson and Robert Armstrong " Escape to Jazz Island" .
Gino Bordin " Virtuose de la guitare hawaïenne" reissued 25 vintage sides from this Parisian maestro of the steel guitar ...Europe's most significant exponent of the instrument in our view
You can order direct from City Hall Records in San Rafael, California . Other stockists for the above include Bear Family and Red Lick mail order stores.
More of Gino Bordin can be found on the "Paris Plages d'Hawaii" compilation produced by Cyril LeFebvre and Dominique Cravic for the Paris Jazz Corner (PJC) label. 24 tracks in all by Bordin and his contemporaries Edouard Jacovacci, Alex Manara, Daniel Arnau and Mori Totti. We're no longer sure how the cd can be bought but will add details if we can find them ( PS it comes with a Robert Crumb designed cover)
Probably everyone visiting this site is already a Sol Hoopii fan ...we certainly are. Besides the old Rounder reissues there are 3 CDs of Sol's 1920s/ 30s material which we can't commend highly enough. Firstly there's the Origin Jazz Library " Classic Hawaiian Steel Guitar Performances 1933-34" which covers Sol's stunning Brunswick period and you can order direct from the label here ...you can also explore their superb Bix reissues while you're there
The second Sol CD to look for is the reissue of his earliest recordings made for the Sunset and Hollywood labels in California in 1925. You'll find this CD at City Hall Records website or by mail order from Red Lick or Bear Family
Last but by no means least of our Hoopii recommendations is the Cord International issue " King of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar" ...20 superb tracks from Columbia and Brunswick and as with the two other Sol discs we've mentioned here a really outstanding booklet too. Order direct from Michael Cord's website and explore his label's other splendid Hawaiian releases
The exceptional book by Mark Makin " Palm Trees, Senoritas...and Rocket Ships!" is a must-buy for National /Dobro enthusiasts ...take a look at our separate page for a few more images , then visit Mark's site to purchase your copy
A new CD release we have learned about is this rather excellent STYLO MAGIC reissue of 20 vintage sides of Eddie Bush ...some with the Biltmore trio of Bush, Seckler and Gibbons. A limited edition we believe, with some stunning photos and excellent sound restoration. Available fromRed Lick Mail Order and also Earwig Studios
Some good friends of ours in Paris have just released a new CD of vintage Hawaiian tunes and steel guitar 1930s/Sol Hoopii style.
If you would like a copy then please email us and we'll let you know how to get one.
(photo: Fernando Fernandez Balina)
13 April 2015