Music
Press
If you are looking for a CD to wisk you away from the dark wet winter doldrums, seek out Jonny Akamu's Flood the Brim.
This CD is a musical marinade of experamental jazz, classical, flamenco and pop, all with a twist of passion. i appreciate music that is done well, challenging and interesting without the ego. Flood the Brim is all that and more. This compilation CD exhibits a style which is very diverse a constantly changing, from "Graceful Kiss," combining unique unique Hawaiian style faletto vocals with impressive jazz guitar licks, to the title song "Flood the Brim" with its flamenco flavor, to romantic slow dance. "Good bye for now." oo-la-la we are talking romantic city folks. My personal favorit on this CD "Two of Kind." Jonny wrote this piece as a tribute to the amazing relationship his parents shared before his mother passed away. Even though its history is emotionally changed, light jazzy chords on the ukulele lift you into a swinging hammock on a warm summer day. This song will stick with you like peanut butter.
You can see Jonny Akamu live at the Three Trees Coffee house Jan 19th if you think you have this musician pegged, i challenge you to look for him and his new music partner Nick Bishope under the name "Special Blend, at upcoming venuse.
- Tony Knight- The Whatcom Independent
Discography
EP: "Flood The Brim"
Photos
Bio
Experimental Jazz guitarist Jonny Akamu, age 22, was bon in Kailua, Hawaii, but has spent the majority of his life in Bellingham, Washington. He remains tied to his Hawaiian roots through family and tradition, such as creating a hand-made lei for a special person in ones life.
As a typical troubled teen Jonny struggled to make sense out of who he was until he crossed paths with a guitar. The hours he spent with his treasured guitar in hand sealed music as his path to master. He was driven to learn as much as he could from all kinds, all styles. This search led to many late nightseither solo or experimenting with fellow musiciansin which Jonny worked to flesh out the contours of his musical vision to find that distinctive sound combining many styles.
Jonnys passion for music has taken him from the Orient to Europe, always in search of new techniques, influences, style, and rhythms. In 2005, he went to Seville, Spain to study flamenco guitar. The flamenco guitar has a particularly distinctive sound and playing action of its own that includes taps with the right-hand fingernails. The flamenco is considered a folk art originating in Andalusia, a southern province of Spain. Historically, it has always been the musical outlet of the poor and oppressed. Upon returning from Spain Jonny wove elements of the flamenco into his jazz phrasing to create his distinctive style.
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