Archive for August, 2009

The Little Café


2009
08.20

I like to hone my writing skills by going someplace and writing what I observe. Sometimes I stay for hours and write and sometimes I’m there for a little while. In the case of this writing exercise, I was just there for a brief moment.

The place was the now defunct establishment The Red Elephant café on Bethel Street, next tot the Hawai‘i Theater. My family and I went in to sit and listen to some music and drink a coffee. Here is the short description of what I gathered.

THE LITTLE CAFÉ

The little café, fresh roasted java, creamer slightly spilled next to an overflowing container of straws, forks, stirs and assorted knickknacks.

A diminutive stage, busy traffic noise on the other side of the three-sided window background, an unlikely backdrop.

Singing is a jeans-clad young Asian woman, sultry voice for the lips whose rims don a pierced ring. The indistinguishable lyrics pushed playfully along by her rhythmic, acoustic guitar playing, competent enough. The chord progressions ranged from two to four chord patterns, hypnotic, trance-induced, pulsating textures to the ear.

White, annoying noise of the blender, smoothie enroute, the chatter of several customers who, for the most part, are respectful.

O‘ahu Slack Key Festival at Kapi‘olani Park Bandstand


2009
08.13

This Sunday, August 16th, is the 27th Annual Slack Key Festival at Kapi‘olani Park Bandstand. Please make plans to be there all afternoon for some great performances. I play at 1PM. See you there.

Bishop Museum performance


2009
08.07

Composer Kenneth Makuakane to speak on music and creativity


2009
08.05

Award-winning songwriter and composer Kenneth Makuakane will give a keynote address on music and creativity Monday, August 17, 2009, from 8 to 9 a.m. at Wo International Center’s Luke Lecture Hall on the Punahou School campus. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available on campus.

Read about it in the August 4th issue of the Honolulu Advertiser.

I hope you will find the time to come to Punahou High School to catch my presentation. I promise it will be entertaining and informative.

Jeff Dayton Songwriting Workshop Tonight


2009
08.03