Click to go back
or click to go home
Jamie first visited the Hawaiian Islands around 2000 and on his first day was lucky enough to meet
Keoki Kahumoku and Owana Salazar and enjoy their singing, slack key and steel guitar and ukulele playing.
Within a year, he had also met George Kahumoku Jr., Ozzie Kotani, Keola Beamer and many others from the
world of Hawaiian music.
George became the closest thing to a music teacher Jamie ever had, encouraging him to take up taro patch
tuning and finger picking. Soon, the pair were performing together - Jamie Irish music and George Hawaiian -
across the Islands and on the Mainland: "Celtic Aloha, Oceans Apart, Islands Together" was born. Other musicians
who became involved in the project included Keoki, Job Cabato, Daniel Ho, John Winship, Matt Willen and others,
including dancers Nancy Kahumoku and Hillary Horner among others.
Over time, Jamie has been introduced to many Hawaiian songs (traditional, contemporary, hapa haole, Hawaiian
language, and more) and has included many celtic and British songs which lend themselves to a slack key
approach, creating a fascinating repertoire that truly combines the different traditions and cultures with
great respect and without losing touch with their origins.
Jamie continues to travel to Hawaii each year and has performed on five islands: Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii,
Kauai, Oahu and Lanai. He performs with Celtic Aloha, solo and with Henry Koretzky. Since moving to Tucson,
Jamie has appeared frequently at Lani's Luau Hawaiian Restaurant on the East Side of town. Check the
calendar for his next performance.
For more information on "Celtic Aloha", click here.
Jamie is a member of the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.
Big Island Music Awards winner: Compilation of the Year
Na Hoku Hanohano finalist: Compilation of the Year
"mele na leni" - Jamie O'Brien (slack key guitar tuned to taro patch in F)
Jamie and Jay Connell playing at a luau
Hawaiian Music Award winner: Anthology of the Year
Click to go back
