Tonight the Leslie Lohman Gay Art Foundation will feature Hawaiian slack guitar legend Makana. "The slack key style is characterized by "slacking" the strings to open chords, freeing the hands to alter the sound, a triad of alternating bass patterns, faux rhythms and sweet melodies. Makana is the youngest master of this traditional Hawaiian art form and has evolved his own dynamic, high-octane style, coined "Slack Rock": slack key infused with elements of bluegrass, rock, blues and raga."

Having lived in Hawaii for several years, we got quite accustomed to and grew very fond of Hawaian music and traditional dance.

TheLeslie Lohman Gallery is located at 26 Wooster Street (between Grand and Canal). I attend many gay art openings there and have exhibited at Leslie Lohman Gallery myself. You can check out their calendar and get listed on their e-mail list to be informed of upcoming exhibits.

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Well, I just got back from hearing Makana, and I must say I was so impressed and very moved.

I found out tonight that the New York Times had a writeup about Makana that expresses the whole Makana experience much better than I could have ever type out here.

Makana had performed at the Sage Theatre in Times Square this past week to sold out audiences a few times. I found Makanas music tonight at Leslie Lohman Gallery very fitting,, a great artist performing in a great art gallery.

I have never heard guitar playing like this before in my life. At times, it sounded as thought there were several musicians playing at once. He tuned the guitar separately for each song and adjusted several elements of sound and volume with his bare feet. His voice was just OK,, it was his guitar playing that captivated me most. His guitar solo's were amazing. I especially liked the song Koi. He played the guitar neck keyboard from top to bottom and with his fingers, flat hand, forearms, the calves of his legs and sometimes with nothing at all.

Makanas playing, his spirit, his humble but heartfelt connection with Hawaiian past, the respect he has for his teachers and bringing all of that to the present for us to enjoy was all inspiring.