Jazz

Recent University Laboratory School graduate Eli Wolf will spend his summer playing guitar before heading to Reed College this fall. He credits his dedicated teachers, friends and his mother for their support. Catch Wolfe live this summer at ʻŌhana Jazz and the Pacific Music Institute.

Known for his extraordinary trumpet playing, his 10–12 piece Subtonic Orchestra, the jazz quartet Quadpod and his arrangements with the Royal Hawaiian Band, DeShannon Higa spoke with Classical Pacific host Sharene Taba about his work around town and his 30-year music career.

During Spring Break, the award-winning Honokaʻa Jazz Band performed at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea before heading to Oʻahu. Band director Gary Washburn and his students join Classical Pacific host Sharene Taba for a closer look at the dedicated musicians behind this Grammy Signature School program.

Noel Okimoto brings his quintet to Live from the Atherton's Jazz Performance Series on June 14, performing music from his album "Hōʻihi." He'll be joined by longtime collaborators and friends Gustavo DʻAmico, Tommy James, Abe Lagrimas, Jr. and Dean Taba.

Celebrate arts at our public schools! March is the Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s inaugural Fine Arts in our Schools Month. Classical Pacific host Sharene Taba visits ʻEwa Makai Middle School’s Tiger Jazz Band, led by Ms. Leah VanDoran.

21 years since releasing his award winning album "Ohana," Noel Okimoto talks about his childhood as a professional drummer, his friendships, and his new album, "Hō`ihi." Follow Noel and his Ohana Jazz performances @ohanajazzhawaii

Eha Batutas makes their debut performance at a sold out concert at the Atherton Performing Arts Studio on Saturday, July 6. The quartet is made up of Dean Taba, bass, Gustavo D'Amico, saxophone, Rafael Amaral, guitar, and Abe Lagrimas, Jr, drums and each musician will bring in 2 of their compositions for an evening of all original works. Amaral and Taba visit HPR2 to talk about composition, work and the origin of the band.

The week before their sold-out performance at Hawaii Public Radioʻs Hawaii Jazz Performance Series at the Atherton Performing Arts Studio, Tommy James (piano) and Dean Taba (bass) visit Classical Pacific. Drummer Darryl Pellegrini couldnʻt make it because of his teaching schedule, but Taba and James discuss Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck and Duke Ellington.

Hawaii Public Radioʻs Kelsea Armstrong will be performing with Hot Club of Hulaville at the Atherton Studio this weekend as part of the Hawai`i Jazz Performance Series. Singer Armstrong performs regularly at Jazz Clubs around town, and will be featured in this sold out event.

Maui High School graduate Skyler Stook is a Communicolgy major at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He taught himself to play the guitar and is in the Universityʻs Jazz Ensemble. Skyler Stook brought in his guitar and played music, shared how he got interested in jazz, and offered advice for anyone wanting to learn the guitar.