• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Shuffle Projects

Swinging Projects for Lindy Hop & Balboa Dancers

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • DJ CHRiSBE
    • Song of the Week
  • RESOURCES
  • CONTACT

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #73: Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai

25.07.2011 by Chris

The theme of the Friday night masquerade party in week 2 of this year's Herrang Dance Camp was Tiki Herräng:

“The year is 1959 and Hawaii is becoming Americas 50th state. Tiki culture is at its peak and Hawaiian shirts, bamboo lounges and carved tiki´s are more popular than ever. Elvis is rattling his knees from one side to another in the army and “Mac the knife” is No.1 on the charts. Empty the brylcreem jar, pop your gum and come and get yourself a tropical fruit punch at the Herranga Tiki Bamboo Lounge. Aloha!”

I was scheduled for two DJ sets at that night, a Lindy Hop and a Balboa set. So I thought, I'm going to find some tunes for these sets, either in Hawaiian style or from Hawaii itself.

One song I've found in many different versions is a Hawaiian War Chant called Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai.

A version I especially like is by Andy Iona (1.1.1902-9.11.1966).

Born Andrew Aiona Long in the town of Waimea, Kauai, he played many instruments, especially steel guitar and saxophone. Additionally he was an arranger and composer.

In 1921 Andy began to play Hawaiian music on the mainland, mostly in New York and California, but also toured Japan for a period of time between the 1920s and 1930s.

In New York he was playing steel guitar for a series of television tapes in the 1940s and he starred in the different movies. From 1951-1952, Andy toured with Hawaiian Falsetto great George Kainapau in the.

Andy’s personal musical influences came both from other Hawaiian musicians and from great jazz musicians.

Source: Hawaiian Music Collection


DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #73: Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai by Andy Aiona & His IslandersTitle: Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai (Hawaiian War Chant)
Artist: Andy Iona & His Islanders
Recorded: 11.11.1940 (?)
Tempo: 187 bpm
Dance: Balboa



Click the link to prelisten and download
Amazon


How many stars would you rate this song? Please leave a comment!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“. Sign up for the weekly blog update by email and get the newest edition directly in your inbox.

Related posts:
Song of the Week #72: “Lafayette” by Hot Lips Page
Song of the Week #71: “Bearcat Shuffle” by Andy Kirk
Song of the Week #70: “Minor Swing” by Django Reinhardt

Filed Under: Music, Song of the Week Tagged With: Andy Iona, Balboa, DJ Chrisbe, Hawaii

Primary Sidebar

Welcome, I'm Christian Bossert. Since 1999, I‘ve been passionate about Swing dances as well as their culture and history. I‘m a Swing dance instructor and international Swing DJ Chrisbe, based in Zurich Switzerland. Read More…

Recent Posts

  • Alphabetical Jazz Steps – Edition 3 (2017) with Chester Whitmore
  • Marcia & Chris unterrichten bei Dance2bee in CH-Muhen, 10.-13.07.2017
  • WhatStep – Your Dance Move Assistant App: The Story
  • Februar-Aktion: 15% auf iTunes Geschenkkarten
  • Marcia & Chris are teaching Balboa in D-Dortmund, 27.-29.11.2015

Most Popular Posts

  • 33 Tips & Actions How To Become A Better Swing Dancer
  • Swing Summer in Europe: Studio Hop Summer Camp in Eauze France
  • Competing at ABW and ESDC
  • Dance Teaching Idea: Ask & Tell
  • A Day At The Balboa Experiment
  • Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging (Documentary)
  • 14 Tips To Become A (Better) Swing DJ

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in