On October 14, 2003, a new era of slack key music began on Maui. On that Tuesday evening, Cyril Pahinui performed for an enthralled audience at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Hosted by George Kahumoku, Jr., the show featured not only music, but the story behind slack key. George and Cyril played music together and talked story with the audience. Those who attended felt as if they had been invited to a Hawaiian back yard. And not just any back yard, but that of some of the greatest slack key masters ever to perform. Thus was born the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series, the new home of slack key music in Hawai'i. In this first album of live music from the shows, we present a compilation of music by Hawai'i's top slack key artists. The Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series continues weekly in the theater at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on the island of Maui.

GEORGE KAHUMOKU, JR., master slack key guitar player, songwriter, author, world-wide performer, high school teacher, former principal, sculptor, story-teller, and a farmer so in tune with his islands that he has won several state and national awards for his work with the land. George hosts The Masters Concert Series each week.

LEDWARD KAAPANA's hard work and his easy-going attitude have earned him a reputation as one of Hawai'i's most beloved traditional musicians. A master of ki ho'alu (slack key guitar), Led is a fine, emotional singer as well, in both baritone and leo ki'eki'e (falsetto).

CYRIL PAHINUI, like most Hawaiian musicians, started playing early. For this he credits his father, the legendary Gabby Pahinui. In many ways, Cyril both maintains and expands slack key. His musical intelligence, great ear, killer chops and spirit of aloha make him one of Hawai'i's most respected and beloved performers.

OZZIE KOTANI is a respected teacher, arranger, composer and accompanist as well as a solo performer. Like the late slack key master Sonny Chillingworth, with whom he studied, he freely interjects his own personality into his playing, preserving and expanding the tradition.

DANIEL HO began his professional career in 1990 as the leader, keyboardist, producer and composer for the contemporary jazz group, Kilauea. Hawaii-born, in recent years Daniel has begun a return to his roots, recording several albums with George Kahumoku, Jr. In the year 2000, he and George won a Na Hoku Hano Hano award for their work on "Hymns of Hawaii.

KEOKI "LIKO" KAHUMOKU has been playing music professionally for many years, and is notable for his ukulele playing as well as his slack key guitar. He continues to share his passion of Hawaiian music and his culture through his performance and his teachings here and abroad.