While many know him for his work with comedic musical genius “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jim Kimo West is an accomplished slack key guitarist in the Hawaiian “ki ho’alu” style. He’s a Grammy winner, with a string of excellent records in his arsenal, and he plays Boulevard Music next weekend. He told the News all about that and more…
When did you start playing and performing?
Gee, I guess I started playing guitar when I was twelve. My older brother played a bit, mostly folk songs. He saw that I was interested so he got me a chord book and some new strings. I dove in headfirst, learning everything I could from records and friends .A few years later I got into electric guitar and was playing rock and roll professionally by age sixteen. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 80’s I met “Weird Al” Yankovic and started touring and recording with him, which I still do today. In 1985 I made my first trip to Hawaii, to the little town of Hana in East Maui. That’s where I first heard the “slack key” guitar. In 1999 I released my first slack key CD, Coconut Hat and I now have about thirteen or so albums in my catalog. I’ve played most all the festivals and concert series over the years and know pretty much all the touring slack key artists.
Describe your sound/style?
I guess I would call my style “progressive slack key.” I try to keep the essence of the style while taking it to new places.
What are your career highlights so far?
I guess winning a Grammy for More Guitar Stories in 2021 would be the capper but I also got nominated for Moku Maluhia in 2019. I have a number of Na Hoku Hanohano (the Hawaiian “Grammy”) nominations including three this year and a couple of LA Treasures awards. For my work with Weird Al, I’ve been part of five Grammy’s, a Billboard #1 charting album and lots of gold and platinum record awards. And I really treasure my “perfect attendance” plaque for the Southern California Slack Key Festival!
What recorded music is available — particularly the most recent?
I have thirteen CDs and a number of singles available on my website and via streaming platforms, iTunes etc. My most recent ones are Ka Honua Maluhia and Aum Akua, a collaboration with Joss Jaffe. I also have a pretty big presence on Sirius XM’s SPA Channel.
Have you performed at Boulevard Music before?
Yes I’ve performed there a number of times as a solo act and also with Ken Emerson and our Slackers In Paradise show. I remember doing a double bill with slack key legend Cyril Pahinui once – a very fun evening!
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
I’ll be playing some traditional slack key arrangements as well as original tunes from my
catalog, including some new unreleased pieces. There will also be some traditional hula which is always a treat!
What else do you have coming up?
I have a new single “Suryodaya” coming out June 15. It’s a collaboration with Indian vocalist and veena player Geethiyaa Varman, a fusion of slack key and East Indian ragas. On July 14 my new full length album “Of Wind and Spirit” drops. It’s a dreamy, Americana- inspired slack key album with some amazing guest artists. In the fall I’ll be doing the European version of the International Guitar Night Tour with Lulo Reinhardt, Thu Le and Josephine Alexander. I’ve done the North American tour twice now and it is really fun and musycal! I just returned from Maui where I was teaching at the Kahumoku Workshop for a week at Napili Bay and am now heading to the Florida Keys to fish for mahi mahi!
Jim Kimo West performs alongside Kyran Daniel at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 24 at Boulevard Music. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more information about the show, or jimkimowest.com for more about the artist.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
There’s a full program of music at the Cinema Bar this week, as usual. The Hot Club of Los Angeles plays every Monday, and Wednesdays are singer/songwriter and open mic night. Other artists performing this week include Ginger Merkin, Groovy Rednecks, Tom Gramlich, RW Roldan and 26 Nights with Aubrey Richmond. Go to thecinemabar.com for more info.