2025 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards Nominations!
-Album of the year
-Instrumental composition of the year
-Song of the year
-Group of the year
-Most promising artist of the year
-Contemporary acoustic album of the year
Island Time
Here is the new album which I have been recording for the last year in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. I was able to record over 20 bluegrass and slack key musicians whom I have met over the last 15 years through being involved with the Bluegrass Hawaii organization. After one of the campout events in 2023 where I got to perform with a pickup band, I decided to make this virtual “band scramble” album which features several of my original tunes. All tracks were recorded in various living rooms, parks, apartments, lanais, and backyards throughout the island. All of the musicians went into the sessions “cold” and did not get to rehearse or even listen to the songs beforehand. They were only allotted a couple of ” takes” to create a sense of spontaneity. This is very much what the typical backyard jam or “Kanikapila” may sound like when these folks all get together.
Mahalo Nui Bluegrass Hawaii and all of the musicians who helped make this happen. I appreciate all the influence and music we have shared over the years as we continue to grow on our own musical journeys. Everyone certainly added some magic to this soup which makes it so much greater than just the sum of the parts.
Released May 17, 2024
Produced by Rand Anderson
Mahalo Nui Bluegrass Hawaii
Rand Anderson – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Dobro, Upright Bass, Piano, Pedal Steel
Nakana Wong – Upright Bass
Jacob Staron – Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar
Geoff James – Banjo
Justin Murata – Acoustic Guitar
Greg Martin – Ukulele, Vocals
Aaron Swim – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Lesley Kline – Fiddle
Molly Whuppie – Vocals, Saw
Megan Aho – Vocals
Boogiee Parlow – Acoustic Guitar
Marshall -Upright Bass
Bart – Harmonica
Virginia Hayes – Vocals, Fiddle
Bob Hayes – Upright Bass
Lindsay Schuldt – Vocals
Alex Gray – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Carrie Abt – Vocals
Scott Vestal – Banjo
Jeb Wiemer – Mandolin
Callie Morocco – Vocals
Surfer Eric – Banjo
Jason Hann – Djembe
Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rand-anderson/1639077672
Spotify
Bandcamp
https://randman.bandcamp.com/album/island-time-with-bluegrass-hawaii-vol-i
Forever Gone
The first song off the Island Time record is a song called “Forever Gone”. I wrote it during Covid about the dream/illusion of nomadic living off the grid. Featuring the sensational vocals of Molly Whuppie , laid back Hawaiian guitar style of Justin Murata, the sweet, cascading banjo of bluegrass legend Scott Vestal, and me on Upright bass.
Molly Whuppie, Megan Aho – Vocals
Rand Anderson – Bass
Justin Murata – Guitar
Scott Vestal – Banjo
Esther
“Esther” is the second song on the Island Time record. It was written by Ramsay Midwood, who I used to play with in the 1990s when we both lived in Venice Beach, Ca. It is a spooky tune with changes reminiscent of Jack-A-Roe. His version was very Leadbelly meets JJ Cale. In this version, I changed the key, added a chord, and picked up the tempo to make it more of an old-time, bluegrass number.
Aaron Swim does most of the heavy lifting while singing and flatpicking his Martin guitar. I met Aaron on Oahu a few years back and was blown away by his Tony-Rice like prowess on guitar, his soulful, powerful voice, and his long, flowing hair. He always brings a great repertoire and vibe to the picking circle. Aaron and his wife, Celine, have since moved off island. Celine is a wonderful upright bass player so you will most likely run into them if you are picking in or around the Bend, Oregon area.
On Fiddle, I was most fortunate to get on of Oahu’s musical treasure, Leslie Kline. I met her at a bluegrass campout where we were both teaching workshops. I even attended her fiddle workshop. She can play anything from bluegrass to Hawaiian to gypsy jazz to mariachi music. Yes, that is correct! Leslie was in a Mariachi band in Paris for10 years.
On Bass is Nakana Wang. I really would not have done this record if it wasn’t for Nakana taking the time to learn my songs and pushing me to play them. He is a world-class bassist that has been the backbone of all kinds of music for several decades on Oahu. Nakana has taught me many Hawaiian songs and he continues to teach the keiki through the Mana Mele music program.
In order to retain the eeriness of this song, I asked Molly Whuppie to lay down some haunting, bowed saw. She was so excited and it is always fun to work with her. She is an amazing singer and fiddle player and she has exploded online with her presentation of children’s folk songs. She started just doing small backyard events around the island during covid and now she has like 500,000 followers. She has subsequently moved back to Nova Scotia to be close to her family. I am very fortunate to have caught her in this window of time on the island.
On Banjo, no introduction is necessary for the IBMA Banjo Player of the Year, Scott Vestal. I am so blessed to have Scott on many of these recordings. He always adds the perfect part to the song. He always keeps it driving forward and throws in some candy. His playing is so supportive that it becomes “invisible” in the song, but when it pops out, it’s sweet.
Besides getting this together and pushing record, I am playing mandolin on this song.
Words/Music – Ramsay Midwood
Aaron Swim – Vocals Acoustic Gutar
Nakana Wong – Bass
Lesley Kline – Fiddle
Molly Whuppie – Saw
Scott Vestal – Banjo
Rand Anderson – Mandolin
Brother John
Dedicated to John J. Wood.
The third song on the Island Time record is “Brother John”. I wrote the song in honor of a banjo playing friend from decades at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, John J. Wood.
On lead vocals is Lindsay Schuldt. Lindsay and I ended up as bandmates in a band scramble and I really liked her voice and phrasing so I asked her to sing this song. She is also a wonderful fiddle player and even built her own acoustic guitar.
In order to properly salute banjo John, this song requires lots of good banjo to make it work. Hence, I decided to have 2 banjo players. On banjo 1, is Eric the Surfer. I met Eric thru Lindsay but had already heard about him through other folks, That’s how it works when someone shows up on island. Eric has been coming to Oahu north shore every year for the last 50 years to surf the waves. If you listen closely you may hear the waves at Himalayas in the background.
On the other banjo is Geoff James. I have known Geoff now for several years and he is an ace musician, multi-instrumentalist, band leader, and songwriter. He transplanted to Oahu from West Virginia along with his brother and he has become a fixture in the North Shore music scene. Through his playing and repertoire, Geoff really brings the Appalachian sauce to the party.
On flat-picking guitar is the one and only Boogie. With a name like that, people expect something miraculous around every curve. He is one of the hardest working, positive and humble people I know. As a lifelong guitar tech, he has learned a few licks of his own along the way. I was so happy to get him to lay down these tracks as he has been a huge conduit for me and music in Hawaii.
On percussion or may I say, the broken djembe I was able to borrow, is Jason Hann from the String Cheese Incident. I have known Jason for around 30 years from back when he was in a L.A. band called The Zoo People. Jason has had an amazing career playing with just about everyone you could think of.
On Bass is the venerable Nakana Wong. He is referred to as Kumu by many. Kumu means teacher or the source or foundation, such as the trunk of a tree.
On mandolin and harmony vocals is my good friend, Wookiee.
Words/Music – Rand Anderson
Lyndsay Schuldt – Vocals
Nakana Wong – Bass
Boogiee Parlow – Acoustic Guitar
Surfer Eric – Banjo
Geoff James – Banjo
Jason Hann – Djembe
Rand Anderson – Mandolin
Long Shot
People always asking me to play Johnny Cash. I’ve probably played Big River and Folsom Prison Blues at least 5000 times each. No offense Johnny, but I went ahead and wrote my own train shuffle country blues called Long Shot. Of course I had to put some funny chords in it so it’s still kind of a jam-buster.
The song is dedicated to my father, Doug Anderson, who was a gambling man.
On vocals, hailing from Waimanalo, USA is Alex Gray.. In addition to having a smooth country voice, he also writes great songs. He offered me a ride to the airport in Honolulu and we have been working on songs together ever since.
On flat-picking guitar, the wonder kid, Aaron Swim. A highly talented singer/picker who I refer to as my “stunt double”.
On the bass fiddle is Marshall Sky Whacker. I think he is a general or an admiral or something because most of the time he is playing music for dignitaries and high ranking officials aboard aircraft carriers around the Pacific Ocean. He is an awesome jazz, metal and bluegrass guitarist as well.
On harmonica is Bart. I met Bart at a campground in Hawaii and we jammed and recorded some of his tasty blues riffs until the sun went down. OK, we kept playing in the dark. Oddly enough, Bart pretty much grew up across the street from my house.
I am so lucky to once again have master banjoist, Scott Vestal aboard the Long Shot. His sensibility is impeccable and he just keeps driving that train down the track.
I wanted some sass on the backup vocal so I brought in Ms. Callie Morocco. She is the Swiss-army knife when it comes singing.
Finally, I was able to talk myself into playing resophonic guitar on this song. Enjoy!
Words/Music – Rand Anderson
Alex Gray – Vocals
Aaron Swim – Acoustic Guitar
Scott Vestal – Banjo
Rand Anderson – Dobro
Marshall – Bass
Bart – Harmonica
Callie Morocco – Vocal Harmonies
Slide
“Slide” is the fifth track on the island time record, one of my songs that I never get tired of playing. I wrote most of the melody and the chorus while sitting at a stoplight at Birmingham and San Elijo. There used to be a Jack in the Box on the corner and as I looked over there was a sign for their new sliders. I heard the sound of old timey boots sliding across the sawdust on an old wooden dance floor. Musically and lyrically speaking this song is an ode to the late great John Hartford. While I couldn’t decide between half-time or waltz-time, the Jack In The Box closed down.
I can’t express how much justice the incomparable Molly Whuppie (a.k.a. Megan Aho) brought to the table. I am so fortunate to have caught her in a window of time on the island. People are always coming and going from the islands, and after a long tenure on Oahu, Molly moved back to Nova Scotia to tend to her flock. Molly has claimed a global following as a writer, performer, and historian of children’s songs. Her voice is angelic and it’s so perfect in this song. Thank you Molly (Megan).
On the fiddle is one of Oahu’s finest Lesley Kline! Each time we speak I learn something new about her, not only did she play in a mariachi band in Paris for 10 years, she played in an Irish rock band in an Irish pub in Honolulu for another 10 years. She holds all kinds of workshops and jam circles and has passed her influence to countless fiddlers around the islands.
Of course I have Nakana on bass. He has been supportive and diligent both with the recording sessions and live performances in Hawaii. What is funny is that we always run into each other at the thrift stores around Honolulu.
I am so blessed to get Scott Vestal to play banjo on this tune. I wrote this song many years before I met Scott. I remember thinking one time as I was watching him play at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, “how can I get someone like that to play on one of my songs?”
Finally, on acoustic guitar and mandolin is Wookiee. That is what all the cowboys used to call me on Country Thunder tour when I had my dreadlocks.
Words/Music – Rand Anderson
Molly Whuppie, Megan Aho – Vocals
Lesley Kline – Fiddle
Nakana Wong – Bass
Scott Vestal – Banjo
Rand Anderson – Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar
Early Times
“Early Times” is a ragtime influenced tune. My buddy George and I wrote the song back in the days of Franklin Lounge which was pre-Cougar Canyon Band and pre-Mudflap. George and I were working on some other song when the computer crashed and we lost it forever. With nothing left to do, we wrote this song to take down the machine. Back to a time when things were easier. But just like nowadays, the present is always the present and isn’t as rosy as it may seem in retrospect. I’m sure that in the here and now of those days people have plenty of problems. It doesn’t hurt to dream that the grass of the past was greener.
On mandolin is Jake Staron. He came in like a fireball and so his playing fits perfect in the track. He is also a wonderful guitar player and cello player. He is very musical and performs regularly around Oahu in solo and band situations . Check out Hook And Line!
On Banjo is Geoff James. He is yet another multi-instrumentalist and songwriter on Oahu who plays regularly with his dead band called the Other Ones. I call him Chef Jeff because he always seems to be grilling something. Watch out for his forth coming song , “19 Crimes”. It has become an Island favorite.
On Background vocals is Carrie Abt. I met her on a staircase, singing and playing “Angel From Montgomery” with a bunch of random people at a party. Carrie has been writing and recording some of her own songs and I hope to feature one on a subsequent Island Time release.
On ukulele is uncle Greg Martin. He is very well-versed and proficient in the Hapa-Haole style music of Hawaii as well as swing jazz. I knew Greg would be a natural on this song. . I recently found out that Greg is also a Polynesian fire-dancer, and he’s been featured in the book of influential, Portuguese musicians in Hawaii. He is a walking encyclopedia of musical repertoire.
On base, the one and only, Nakana Wong. Mahalo Nut Loa Nakana for all of your support throughout this record!
On lead vocals and guitar, Mr. Rand Anderson.
Words/Music – Rand Anderson, George Richards
Rand Anderson – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Carrie Abt – Vocals
Geoff James – Banjo
Nakana Wong – Bass
Jacob Staron – Mandolin
Greg Martin – Ukulele
When I’m Gone
“When I’m Gone” is the seventh track on Island Time. John Bennett, my partner in Sweet Juanita, composed the simple and brilliant melancholy hook, “Just know I’ll miss you when I’m gone.” Its one of those songs than wil make you laugh and cry at the same time. The song has been a ton of fun to play in bluegrass picking circles as it is easy to follow along to but tricky enough to keep you on your toes.
On lead vocals and fiddle is Virginia Hayes. Her husband, Bob, is on the upright bass. I met Bob and Virginia many years ago on Oahu at a bluegrass picking party, and we have played together many times since. I always enjoy listening to their band, The North Shore Ramblers. They are two of the nicest folks I know and also great hosts and contributors to the acoustic music scene on the island.
On guitar, my dear friend, Boogie. He is officially the nicest person I know. I don’t know how one person can consistently work so hard and always be in a good mood with a positive attitude. Anyway, he spends half his life changing guitar strings for other people. Somehow, in the other half, he figured out how to flatpick.
On banjo is Rusty Waters. Or at least that is sometimes my stage name.
Filling out the rhythm section on mandolin is none other than Rand Anderson.
Words/Music – John Bennett,Rand Anderson
Virginia Hayes – Vocals, Fiddle
Bob Hayes – Bass
Boogiee Parlow – Acoustic Guitar
Rand Anderson – Banjo, Mandolin
Island Time
The final song on the Time Island record, “Island Time,” holds a special place in my heart as the first Hawaiian influenced song I’ve written.
The structure and form is that of what I consider traditional slack key music starting with a slack key guitar in Taro-patch, open G tuning.
“Island Time” reflects my journey into Hawaiian music and culture and I give thanks to Nakana, Justin, and Greg for generously sharing their knowledge and repertory of Hawaiian music.
Last year, I started learning to speak Hawaiian. Although my pronunciation has improved and my vocabulary has expanded, it remains a challenging language. I aimed to blend Hawaiian and English in “Island Time” to create a sing-along that would allow visitors to remember some simple and common phrases. This bilingual approach captures the essence of Hapa Ha’ole music. Unfortunately, I was very unhappy with my vocal takes and I believe the lyrics need further refinement. Someday I hope to have a powerful Hawaiian voice sing the song.
“Island Time” integrates the unique and captivating sounds of the pedal steel guitar, which is more commonly found in country and western music. I have been studying the instrument for 30 years and I am honored to bring it full-circle to its roots in Hawaiian music.
On upright bass is kulu mele (music teacher), Nakana Wong. He has shown me many traditional songs and has been so supportive throughout this process. I like when he sings ki’eki’e (Hawaiian falsetto).
On Guitar is Justin Murata. Word has it that Justin and Nakana have been hanging out since they kids. Justin turned me onto the Hawaiian renaissance period of music in the 1970s when he showed me some music by Peter Moon. He always pulls out the coolest the songs at the jams and his delivery is exceptionally smooth.
On ukulele is “Uncle” Greg Martin. The term “Uncle” is used on the islands to show respect to an older, wiser and sometimes bigger person from whom you should learn from. He plays nylon guitar and ukulele and is an encyclopedia of all eras of Hawaiian music.
On Djembe is Jason Hahn. How lucky was I to run into Jason on Oahu while he was on break from String Cheeses Incident. We found a beat up djembe and did his tracks in a yurt in the country.
Finally, on the Pedal Steel and Slack Key Guitar is Rand Anderson.
Words/Music – Rand Anderson
Justin Murata – Acoustic Guitar
Greg Martin – Ukulele
Nakana Wong – Bass
Rand Anderson – Slack Key Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar
Jason Hann – Djembe
E komo mai
Please come in
Mokupuni manawa
Island Time
Hana aloha
Show love and respect
Nou ko makou hale
Our house is yours
Malama pono
Please take good care
Āina a me ke kai
Of the land and sea
ʻAʻole pilikia
Means no problem
Mahalo nui
Thank you very much
A hui hou
Until we meet again
Na la lhau’oli
Happy days
Anuenue i ka lani
A rainbow in the sky
Wai mehana
Warm waters
Ka makani palupalu
The soft wind
Malama pono
Please take good care
Āina a me ke kai
Of the land and sea
ʻAʻole pilikia
Means no problem
Mahalo nui
Thank you very much
A hui hou
Until we meet again
Ka manawa e hele ai
It is time to go
Ua hauʻoli mākou
We had a good time
Hana aloha
Show love and respect
He ʻohana mākou nui
We are a big family
Malama pono
Please take good care
Āina a me ke kai
Of the land and sea
ʻAʻole pilikia
Means no problem
Mahalo nui
Thank you very much
A hui hou
Until we meet again