Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
Jim Kimo West
Phone: 818-785-2433
Website: www.myspace.com/jimkimowest

Jim "Kimo" West performs traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music and also works with Southern California's best traditional hula and Polynesian dancers. He can provide anything from solo slack key guitar to a full Polynesian music and dance show for any Hawaiian or Polynesian-themed corporate event, wedding, birthday,luau or tiki party.

Kimo is one of ki ho alus most unique talents. A virtuosic player and prolific composer, his delicate, heartfelt playing technique and his generous output of new, exciting slack key guitar originals puts him solidly in a category of his own. Kimo has played guitar on several Grammy-winning records,in addition to many film and television scores. He is also well known as long-time guitarist for famed musical parodist, Weird Al Yankovic. Kimo also plays steel guitar and ukulele in addition to lead vocals.

Jim Kimo West's long-awaited new CD, Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Kimo-Style" is another great collection of uniquely original ki ho alu instrumentals, with a few choice covers thrown in the mix. Like his first two CD's, Coconut Hat, and "Slack Key West", this CD is full of warm, acoustic slack key instrumentals, based on his ever-evolving collection of experiences in the beautiful islands of Hawaii, and showcases Kimo's fluid technique and unusual tunings. The CD's song notes add another dimension to the experience, providing the listener with insight into the inspiration behind these compositions. Whether you're a fan of Hawaiian music or not, this CD is sure to stay at the top of your playlist!

A Few Testimonials...

"Jim West's new recording continues his Slack Key explorations in his unique and beautiful style, and in various tunings, including two of his own invention, further accentuating his own sound."
-- George Winston. pianist/ guitarist

"Slack Key West, Jim's latest album, is a record that is beautifully performed, written and recorded and shows Jim expanding the role of slack key guitar playing. It's been said often that there are really only two kinds of music; good and bad. Jim West makes good music."
-- Richard Bennett ,Mark Knopfler Band

"James "Kimo" West captures the spirit and essence of ki ho`alu in his work - an extraordinary talent!"
-- Ozzie Kotani, ki ho 'alu master

"It is so refreshing to hear some original compositions that are unique, well crafted and sincere and from the heart... Varied and rich! I love all the tunes and have a hard time picking favorites"
-- Kapono Beamer, Hawaiian music legend

"One of the best slack key players on the planet! I live in Hawaii, play slack key guitar myself and am very familiar with the music of all the well known players in the islands. I had the good fortune of meeting Kimo West in person during a photo shoot on Kauai and he sent me a copy of "Slack Key West". From the first track and with every single track on the cd - I was blown away with delight and surprise - Kimo West is one of the best of the best and deserves to be widely known and recognized in the world of slack key guitar. His guitar playing has fluidity, style, humor and tenderness that is uniquely his own. Each piece on this album (many of them are original compositions) is a gem. Buy this album - spread the word - this player is the real deal."
-- Candace Freeland, Hawaii's premier photo journalist