Posts Tagged ‘Jazz’

Junior Kekuewa Jr. who is one of the Island’s most versatile entertainers gets a chance to show his Jazz style at the Dragon Upstairs on Friday August 27^th 2010 from 10PM to 1AM.  Presenting an evening of Swing & Contemporary Hawai’i’an Music a preview of Junior Kekuewa’s upcoming CD of original compositions, “Lady of the Islands” on Hawaii.Tune.com.

Junior Kekuewa is (in)famous for his traveling road show, a four hour variety act that he brings to parties & events on O’ahu.  Junior Kekuewa is equally well known as that “loud enough to wake you up” DJ on Rory Wild’s Wake Up Crew on Island 98.5.  He has won Pele awards, several Silver Microphone Awards, and a Hoku Award for producing Augie T’s “Komedy Kulture” CD.  (http://www.jrkjr.com/index.php)

However there is a softer more soulful side to Junior Kekuewa. One that expresses himself through Jazz akin to Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Sammy Davis Jr, that side of Junior will entertain audiences at the delightful Dragon Upstairs for what is rightfully being billed as a Special Engagement.

Cover remains a modest $5 so spend freely and tip generously the hardworking crew at The Dragon Upstairs make every night a special night in the Arts District Honolulu.

Three talented Jazz musicians — – Guitarist Steve Loo, Drummer Ivan Kritzan and Matt Moore playing flute and saxophone — – performing as The Black Sand Jazz Trio to liven up Chuck’s Cellar at 150 Kai’ulani Avenue.

The top pop Jazz starts on Saturday August 21^st 2010 from 6 to 10PM, returning Friday August 27^th, Saturday August 28^th, and September 3^rd & 4^th 2010 with other dates possible (your enthusiasm will help). This is a free gig though a tip jar will be on hand to receive the largess of the crowd.  The Black Sand Trio have friends who often drop by to lend their talents, keep your toes crossed and you might catch Betty Loo Taylor tickling the ivories on the piano.

As jazz begins to take over some of the club scenes in Chinatown it’s good to see that things are expanding into Waikiki to show that the tourist town isn’t all about fist pumping fun.

The Dragon Upstairs welcomes Alto Saxophonist Aaron Holbrook with an invitation to join their own home brew of Jazz artists on Saturday August 21^st and 28^th 2010 from 9PM to Midnight.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, a bit of a musical gypsy, officially visiting from New York, Aaron Holbrook (http://www.aaronholbrook.com) will join pianist Satomi Yarimizo, bassist Jon Hawes, and a mystery drummer (TBA) in the cozy confines of The Dragon Upstairs.  Cover is as always a modest $10.

The Dragon Upstairs is the perfect place for a special event; call Hank via 808-526-1410 or email hankinhawaii@aol.com and you and seventy-four of your friends can party in style to the coolest Jazz in Honolulu.

When you have a really nice sandbox all the kids in the neighborhood want to play in it hence the on going stream of World class Jazz artists dropping in to lend their talents to the already talented artists who regularly play at The Dragon Upstairs in the Arts District Honolulu.

Sharmila Guha (http://www.sharmilaguha.com/) possesses one of the most beautiful and versatile voices in Jazz, singing in English, Latin, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Bengali, and Hindi moving easily from classical to pop to Jazz., her 2008 release If Music Be the Food of Love, featuring guitarist Larry Koonse, and bassist Kevin Axt, provides proof of her incredible talent.

On Saturday August 14^th 2010 Sharmila Guha joins the equally impressive trio of pianist Satomi Yarizmo, bassist Jon Hawes and drummer Shinya Yarizmo, performing from 9PM to Midnight in the delightful confines of The Dragon Upstairs.  $10 gets you in the door.

Get an infusion of Latin/funk/jazz/soul with The Bentos, a high energy blend of talent — – Santino Sgambelluri on vocals, Eldred Ahlo on trumpet, Ethan Capone/Joshua Kaye on keys, Henry Roberson III on bass, Mark Lindberg on drums, Jason Gay on tenor sax, Trevor Shifflet on guitar – -  – every Thursday evening in August at the artful Jazz Minds Café from 9PM to 1AM.

Jazz Minds at 1661 Kapiolani Blvd takes rightful pride in serving up Jazz six days a week along with a tasty menu with items ranging from kim-chee pancakes to black and blue ahi, calamari to chicken Wings, pork chops to beef steak to tofu steak, fries & onion rings. fruit & veggie Platters, and a whole lot more.  Jazz Minds serves up a wild array of alcoholic beverages including bottles of Champagne ranging from a modest $10 to $450 depending upon the celebration and the strength of your credit rating.

Sake is equally popular, though more modest, Kuromatsu Junmai Dia-Ginjo for $90 is the priciest of the lot.  Jazz Minds boasts that they have a full service bar a promise they more than fulfill.

Jazz Minds is a great place for parties large and small and if your group is hungry for hot Jazz then The Bentos deliver a tasty variety of funk fusion Jazz every Thursday evening in August.  Make a reservation for your next big event by contacting Jazz Minds Art & Café via 808-945-0800 or e-mail jazzminds@yahoo.com.

That talented trio of musicians, Joe Lohmeier on electric cello & guitar, Dan McLaughlin on guitar, Erika Swartzkopf on harmonica, continue to make musical magic at The Dragon Upstairs on Wednesday evenings 7PM to 10PM August 11^th and August 25^th 2010.

Take a break from the midweek blah with the cool stimulating jazz jam of The Magical Woodshed inside the cozy confines of The Dragon Upstairs in The Arts District Honolulu.

A perfect place for any sort of celebration contact Hank via 526-1410 or e-mail hankinhawaii@aol.com.

The Dragon Upstairs presents an evening of old & new Jazz standards Saturday August 7^th 2010 from 9PM To Midnight.

A modest $10 cover gets you in the door then imbibe in your favorite beverage while DeShannon Higa makes magic with his trumpet, Satomi Yarimizo caresses the keyboards of the piano, and Jon Hawes reveals how seductive the bass can be.

A truly exciting way to celebrate a Saturday night in the Arts District Honolulu at a truly delightful nightclub.

The Ross Nakamura Quintet with Chris Yeh (sax), Denny Ouichi (guitar), Keith Luke (piano), Ross Nakamura (bass), Chris Clark (drums) continue with their successful run on Thursday evenings from 7:30PM to 10PM at The Dragon Upstairs.

A truly talented collection of musicians whose friendship comes through the music they play, their Jazz styling make The Dragon Upstairs the perfect Thursday night rendezvous, giving patrons a jump on the weekend ahead.  Catch the rarified AIR August 5^th, 12^th, 19^th and the 26^th 2010.

This is a no cover event thus freeing up funds for the terrific drink specials at The Dragon Upstairs.  The Dragon Upstairs is a great place for celebrating a special occasion, with nightly musical treats and terrific drink specials, contact Hank for catering & entertainment info via 526-1410 or throw him an e-mail via hankinhawaii@aol.com.

Jazz Artist Olga Salvatore and Guitarist/Bassist Greg Shirley present a wonderful mix of Jazz performance, Poetry & Chat about the history of Jazz courtesy of F.O.L.K (Friends of the Libraries of Kona http://www.folkhawaii.com/) at the Kealakekua Public Library from 11AM to 12 Noon on Saturday July 31^st 2010.

Hawai’i is fortunate that Olga Salvatore decided to relocate from California to the Big Island a little over eight years ago, bringing her stirring vocal talents to the local Jazz scene as well as the Latin Music scene through her band Manzanero (www.manzaneroinhawaii.com), which performs primarily Latin dance music such as salsa, cumbia, cha cha cha, bolero, rumba, mariachi and more.  As a Jazz artist Olga Salvatore frequently duets with Greg Shirley, though with notice she can conjure up a seven piece band, together they dazzle Big Island audiences at events big & small.  Check out Olga Salvatore via http://www.olgasalvatore.com/.

“Things To Know About Jazz” is free and the public is strongly encouraged to attend, what can be better than an afternoon of Jazz at the delightful Kealakekua Public Library Saturday July 31^st 2010.

QuadPod has generated a lot of great noise lately, their take on Neo-Bop hits the spot with local crowd, much in demand these days, patrons of The Dragon Upstairs are lucky they can squeeze in three special appearances from 10PM To 1AM July 9^th, the 16^th and the 23^rd of July 2010.

A modest ten dollar cover for this talented quartet consisting of a stellar line-up: DeShannon Higa (trumpet), Reggie Padilla (sax and keys), Jon Hawes (bass),  Konrad Kendrick (drums), each of them in demand for all the right reasons.

Celebrate Friday Nights with style & class in the splendor of The Dragon Upstairs and get down to the groove of Neo-Bop with QuadPod.