Personnel: R. Carlos Nakai (vocals, flute); Keola Beamer (guitar); Moanalani Beamer (whistle, drum); John Kolivas (bass guitar); Bobo Butires (congas, percussion).
Photographers: Giuli Doyle; John Running.
Arrangers: R. Carlos Nakai; Keola Beamer .
On OUR BELOVED LAND, Native American flute visionary R. Carlos Nakai pairs up with Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Keola Beamer. Predictably, the result is a mixture of American Indian and Polynesian island music. However, stylistic lines are blurred to perfection here; where the Native music ends and slack-key begins is anyone's guess.
Both styles of music flow freely and in perfect harmony with one another.
Highlights include the opening track "Waipi'o Paka'alana," which is a mystical piece that blends a lyrical flute melody with some understated guitar strumming. "Ka Mano (The Shark)" is an atmospheric piece that uses space and silence to its advantage. On this selection, Nakai's flute echoes quietly in the background while Beamer plays a series of sparse bar chords. On "E Manono," Nakai sings both in full voice and in a whisper. This is all set against an angular guitar motif, tribal percussion, and the whirring of wind. Although most of the songs heard here are Hawaiian, the Native American influence casts this repertoire in a whole new light.
