Jeff Peterson

'Maui on My Mind'
Slack key Peterson Prod.

Jeff Peterson, whose Grammy-winning kí ho'alu style previously graced award-winning local compilations, has a major solo contender to appease fans and voters.

Overview: Peterson is a homegrown virtuoso of Hawaiian slack-key. He pays homage to his Maui roots with a clutch of originals whose titles evoke tales — "Hawaiian Skies," "Na Kapuna O Haleakala," "The Winds of Waikapu" — from his influential past. His style is clean, simple and accessible, crossing cultures with rapturous renderings of Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" and Neil Young's "Harvest." Peterson will always be on your mind after a quick listen.

5 stars
- Honolulu Advertiser

Among “those in the know” on the Honolulu music scene, Jeff Peterson is known as the guitar player who can deliver the Bach partitas, Django’s jazzy standards, the best of Kaapana and even some old fashioned rock n’ roll all in world class style. After a string of successes that include a Grammy award-winning performance and a landmark Hawaiian music tour to China, Peterson’s new CD – “Maui on my Mind” – proves that for this guitarist there is definitely no place like home.

Peterson – whose father worked as a paniolo for Haleakala Ranch -- spent his childhood on the Valley Isle. For his latest CD, he draws upon his fond childhood memories and his traditional slack-key roots to paint a musical portrait of Maui yesterday and today.

Perhaps in homage to his father’s way of life, many tunes glow with a “paniolo” or cowboy inspired spirit. For example in the title track, there is something in the openness of the chords and the gentle sway of the rhythm that conjures images of a lone horseback rider making his way through a vast landscape. Similarly, “Paniolo Soul,” with its strong bass, driving rhythms and minor key, is filled with a sense of danger & adventure that is characteristic of the Wild West.

Other tracks are Hawaiian in the very best sense of the word. “Rainbow Bridge” is a traditional slack-key piece with a light-hearted tune and a driving rhythm. The opening lick is classic Peterson – technically innovative, flawlessly executed, and flashy without detracting form the tune’s basically gentle quality.

The gem of the album is a new arrangement of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon.” Peterson delivers a dazzling arrangement that is filled with guitar pyro-techniques yet still retains the simple sincerity of Young’s timeless love song.

“Maui on my Mind” is a terrific CD that is sure to make a mark at this year’s Hoku and Grammy awards. It is a must-have for fans of the slack guitar. Peterson delivers sincere performances of very personal tunes that definitely touch the heart. “Maui on my Mind” could be the best slack-key album of the year.

- Honolulu Music Examiner

Recently returned from a successful tour of China, Jeff Peterson has just released a delightful new CD, "Maui on My Mind," that cements his status as one of our leading, innovative exponents of Hawaiian slack key guitar.

An exceptionally talented guitarist, fluent in a variety of styles from jazz and classical to slack key, Jeff is a multi-Na Hoku Award winner, honored both this year and in 2008 for Instrumental Album of the Year.

Born and raised on Maui amidst Upcountry's paniolo culture, his elegant instrumental compositions blend the graceful artistry of his classical music training with a traditional foundation.

A primarily original work, "Maui on My Mind" pays homage to our island's natural treasures and some of the elders who mentored him like the late Eddie Wilson.

"Many of the songs reflect Upcountry," Jeff explains. "A lot of the music was composed on a new guitar that was built for me, and as soon as I received it, I started writing all this music. The first piece was 'Na Kupuna O Haleakala,' and I was thinking about growing up in Olinda, and my dad and his friends would play music, and I was reflecting on how as a little kid I wanted to own my own guitar.

"One of the cowboys, Eddie Wilson, was one of my first teachers. We spent a lot of time camping together, and he showed me a few chords. When I heard he had passed way I adapted the traditional song 'Wahine Holo Lio,' and wrote 'Paniolo Soul' for him. A lot of the pieces were written about different people or places or experiences I've had on Maui over the years."

There are charming songs inspired by the misty rain "Lilinoe" that brushes Olinda, tributes to "Pu'u Kukui," "Keokea, "Olinda Beauty" and the stunning vista atop Haleakala with "Aurora." He also ventures into Spanish-flavored territory with "The Aloha Tango."

"I was thinking of Raymond Kane," says Jeff. "He would play a Spanish-style piece with a slack key tuning, so that's dedicated to him. It switches back and forth between an Argentinean and Hawaiian sound."

Among the handful of covers he includes, Jeff adapts Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" and Glen Miller's classic "In The Mood," demonstrating his fluency with swing jazz.

"My grandfather was a huge jazz fan," he explains. "And I thought I had to put something on the album for him because he had a huge influence on me growing up and my musical tastes."

In October, Jeff organized a mini China tour, performing at various Shangri-La Hotels, exposing audiences in Shanghai, Beijing and Fuzhou to Hawaiian music and dance, joined by Keola and Moanalani Beamer, Raiatea Helm, Chino Montero, Steve Jones and hula dancer Capella Williams.

"We felt like pioneers playing for audiences who had no idea what Hawaiian music is at all," he reports. "It was pretty amazing, and we were really well received. My main goal was to present something that was authentic, instead of a glitzy Hollywood-meets-Waikiki production. They want to do more 'Hawaiian Nights' in the future."

Most recently Jeff teamed with Jake Shimabukuro at the eighth annual Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Institute in Waimea. "We worked on some music together," notes Jeff. "The highlight of the whole weekend was playing the Beatles 'In My Life,' with him. It was a very magical moment. We approached it almost like a classical piece."

- The Maui News

“Add the Peterson name to the top 10 list of slack key giants”… “His manner is impeccable, his style exquisite”… “Brilliant . . . Peterson raises the bar a few notches in both slack key and jazz” --Wayne Harada, Honolulu Advertiser - Honolulu Advertiser