Francis Ho'okano was smitten by the sound of the vibraphone in the 1960s. Since then he's introduced many to its exotic sound. He performs Saturday.
Master of the VIBES
By Burl Burlingame
Star-BulletinFRANCIS Ho'okano was perfectly happy playing hand drums and other simple percussion instruments until he heard Cal Tjader. The legendary exponent of Brazilian jazz used a vibraphone to anchor the smoky, exotic melodies he produced in the 1960s, and Ho'okano was smitten.
"I know that Arthur Lyman and Martin Denny were using vibraphones in their successful bands in Honolulu, but I hadn't really paid attention," said Ho'okano. "Then I heard Cal Tjader, and then Milt 'Bags' Jackson play the vibraphone, and I began paying attention."
Ho'okano did his homework. He became one of Hawaii's most accomplished vibraphonists and a percussion teacher, and will be performing Latin and jazz music with his sextet at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Atherton Performing Arts Studio at Hawaii Public Radio at 738 Kaheka St. Admission is $15; $12.50 for HPR members, $10 for students. Information: 955-8821.
The other musicians include Lou Benanto Jr. on bass, Ernie Durante on guitar, Winston Raval on piano, Peter Empenio on drums and Creed Fernandez on percussion.
Just in case you're wondering about the difference between a xylophone and vibraphone, xylophones are made of wood; vibraphones are made of metal.
"They're considered percussion instruments because they're played by striking the instrument with a mallet," explained Ho'okano, who is a deputy sheriff by day.
He is also a self-taught musician who joined Ohta-San during the ukulele master's spectacular run at the Kaimana Hotel in the '60s.
"One of the great things was getting to play with and become friends with good musicians, like Emil Richards, probably the best percussionist in Hollywood."
The vibraphone, said Ho'okano, can be played with virtually any type of music, as long as it has a clear melody. "It works real well for Hawaiian, Latin, jazz, Japanese, almost anything," said Ho'okano. "It's very pleasant to listen to, very relaxing. But the entertainment directors at hotels these days don't even know what vibraphones are!"
Ho'okano's vibraphone is actually his second. The first was seized by the Brazilian government in 1973, along with other instruments, when Ho'okano and Ohta-San's group were touring there.
"Herb (Ohta's) 'Song for Anna' was really popular there -- they were using it as the theme for a soap opera -- but there was something going on in the government and they wouldn't let us leave with our instruments," said Ho'okano. "The American embassy even called Sen. (Daniel) Inouye, but there was nothing he could do. But this fellow who was the owner of Sambo's restaurants heard about it and got us new instruments."
