• Best World Music Album

  • on a gentle island breeze album cover

  • Daniel Ho

    On A Gentle Island Breeze

    A gentle breeze from the Pacific Ocean

    Blowing through the island

    Caressing nature and its inhabitants

    At a leisurely pace on this land

    Whistling one song after another from the inner heart

     

    Innocently influenced by the shimmering sun-lit ocean

    From a serene sentiment like the cycle of day and night

    Daniel Ho’s musical landscape

    So comfortable that even the coconut trees in the Pacific

    Have forgotten which direction to bend

     

    A gentle breeze from the Pacific Ocean

    Blowing tranquilly

    • Background music: In Hoi Yan / On a gentle island breeze
      Song List
    • 1. On a Gentle Island Breeze (2:27)
    • 2. In Hoi Yan (3:13)
    • 3. Bicycle Holiday (3:04)
    • 4. Call of Passage (2:13)
    • 5. A Song of Perpetual Gratitude (3:59)
    • 6. Pua Kea Waltz (White Flower Waltz) (1:49)
    • 7. Rukai Love Song (4:13)
    • 8. Amis Rondo (4:10)
    • 9. The Warship Song (3:03)
    • 10. Aloha Naruwan (2:23)
    • 11. Ocean (3:38)
    • 12. Indigenous Echoes (5:53)

      There is something about coming from an island and meeting people from island cultures that resonates with inviting familiarity. Food and music unify this connectedness even more. The concept of this album came about in Taiwan, a paradise of endless hospitality. We spent an evening at a backyard barbecue with aboriginal locals. Our generous hosts were members from various tribes in the area—Amis, Puyuma, Rukai, Paiwan—a mere cross section of the dozens of tribes dispersed across Ilha Formosa, or Beautiful Island, as Taiwan was aptly named centuries ago. It felt like home in every way, perfect to the core and complete with an island-style kanikapila (jam session).

       

      We played through the night and shared mostly with smiles and head nods, and by calling out keys for various chord progressions. Instantly engaging with their rhythmic vocal displays, our new friends accompanied themselves on guitar and percussion. 'Ukulele was a natural fit for the pentatonic melodies of the aboriginal folk style. Some songs contained lyrics, others were void of spoken language and consisted of open-sounding vocalizations. Their stories were told in inflections—tales of happiness, thanks, excitement, love, and loss. Not bound by language barriers and compositional limits, it was a consummate instance of music acting as a universal form of communication.

    • Daniel Ho

      He has a simple philosophy of presenting music with sincerity and artistry. His dedication has culminated in six consecutive GRAMMY Awards—two of which, 'ikena and Huana Ke Aloha—were collaborations with his childhood friend, Tia Carrere. In 2010, his solo 'ukulele CD, Polani (Pure), was the first 'ukulele album in music history to receive a GRAMMY nomination. The following year, Daniel's solo piano CD, E Kahe Malie (Flowing Gently), received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

      A Honolulu native, Daniel started music lessons at an early age and spent his teenage years orchestrating big band arrangements. Under the mentorship of Ray Wessinger, he learned everything he could to secure a viable career built around his passion. He is a prodigy of the Grove School of Music, where he excelled in composition and film scoring. He began his professional career as the leader and keyboardist of the acclaimed '90s contemporary jazz band, Kilauea.

      Currently, Daniel performs original songs in English and Hawaiian that feature his versatility on 'ukulele, slack key guitar, piano, and vocals. As an independent record company owner, he specializes in Hawaiian and acoustic-themed music. The label's eighty-plus albums include projects with prominent musicians from Hawai'i. Ever learning and evolving, Daniel continues to pursue excellence in composition, performance, audio engineering, and production.
Contact:800﹣850-5015 Email:pcgreene@verizon.net