Welcome to Jazz Maui

Join Us for Our Next Event

Jazz Maui presents “A Tribute to Chick Corea”, to honor the late, great jazz pianist featuring music performed by some of Maui’s most accomplished musicians and special guests. The dinner show, a benefit for music education programs, is being held on Saturday, March 13, at the Empanada Lady Restaurant in Wailuku. The show features music by Sal Godinez, keyboards; Eddie Aviles bass; and, Estaire Godinez, vocals/percussion; Paul Bunyan, sax; along with special guests Gene Argel, keyboards, guitar; and, D’Vonne Lewis, drums.

The keyboardist, composer and bandleader Chick Corea, considered one of the most revered figures in contemporary jazz, as well as an artist whose work spanned fusion to classical , died on February 9, 2021 at age 79. As a member of Miles Davis’s band in the late 1960s, he participated in the birth of jazz fusion. In the 1970s he formed the jazz fusion band Return to Forever. He continued to collaborate frequently while exploring different musical styles throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His compositions such as ”Spain”, “500 Miles High”, “La Fiesta”, “Armando’s Rhumba”, and “Windows” are widely considered jazz standards. Regarded as one of the foremost jazz pianists of the post-John Coltrane era, Corea was named a “Jazz Master” by the National Endowment of the Arts, won 23 Grammy Awards and was nominated 67 times.

Times for the two dinner show seatings are 5PM and 7:30PM. Show tickets are $15 and are available at Jazzmaui.org. Seating is limited and table reservations may be made by calling (808) 868-4544. This event is semi-outdoor with socially-distanced Covid-19 policies in effect for your protection and comfort. Adults only, 18 year minimum, ID required.

Composer, bandleader, poet and drummer D’Vonne Lewis has become one of the most frequently seen and widely respected artists on Seattle’s music scene. As first-call drummer to many musicians, he gigs with styles ranging from jazz, funk, hip hop and rock to Brazilian and African. Aside from his work as an in-demand sideman, Lewis works regularly with his own bands: Triplifried, D’Vonne Lewis’ Limited Edition and the award-winning Industrial Revolution. Many thanks to Patrick Dours and Ian Bag of Rodeo General in Makawao for their support in bringing D’Vonne to Maui.

Pianist and vocalist Sal Godinez is a well-known favorite on Maui. He has played with some of Hawaii’s most popular entertainers including Benoit Jazz Works, Amy Hanaialii Gillom, Willie K, and Melveen Leed. Originally from California, Sal has been a professional musician since the age of 15. His first interest was classical music but in college his horizons broadened to jazz, funk, salsa, Brazilian and indigenous genres. Before moving to Maui, he toured across the mainland United States playing with different bands.

Estaire Godinez, grew up in the San Francisco, California Bay Area and has lived and performed throughout Europe and the USA. She has toured and performed with Prince, George Benson, the Brothers Johnson, and Larry Graham and has played on more than 80 albums. She now lives on Maui where she performs with her own group and with John Cruz.

A Tacoma, Washington state native, Gene Argel left the Pacific Northwest in his early 20s to gig in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and points west – the westernmost being Maui, Gene’s home since 1982. As both leader and “house pianist” for countless club gigs, Gene has backed visiting class acts who came to the island including stars such as Branford Marsalis, Emil Richards, George Benson, Bill Perkins and Steve Gadd. He has also played with fellow islanders Gabe Baltazar and Henry Allen. Whether on piano, keyboards or his beloved B-3, Gene distils the full quantum of beauty and passion in his performances.

Bassist Eddie Aviles was born in New Jersey and started playing guitar at 11and bass at age 18. He has performed metal, country, rock, soul and Latin with different bands in the bay area. He moved to Maui in 1984, where he presently lives and performs.

The Empanada Lady restaurant, located at 2119 W. Vineyard Street in Wailuku, offers traditional Caribbean food from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica using fresh ingredients and exotic flavors.

Jazz Maui, a nonproft organization, provides opportunities for participation in high quality jazz music education and performances for students of all ages. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Jazz Maui presented live festivals, clinics and workshops and now offers them virtually, creating a venue for student performers to learn from and establish connections with music professionals. For tickets and more information, visit jazz maui.org.

Watch Our
Exclusive “Save the Music” Virtual Gala!
A live event held on Friday October 30, 2020

A Benefit to support “Virtual Jazz In the Schools”

Swing Star plays Gypsy Jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt’s Hot Club of France.

This musical style includes swinging jazz, Waltz, passionate Ballads, Bossa Nova and Waltz, as well as the sound of European Gypsies.
The group of guys; Steve Elliott on guitar, Loren Tilley on guitar, and Michael Guzalak on clarinet and sax, got together on Maui in early 2018.

Steve is the founder and instigator of the group, so you can blame him. His burning passion for Gypsy Jazz drew in Loren next, and Michael soon joined in to form Swing Star.

All the members are multi-instrumentalists and over the years have played in many different bands and styles of music, from Accordion to Zydeco.

Joy Renee Fields is one of Maui’s own premier entertainer and Vocal coach.Her entertainment history on Maui is vast.

Some of her favorite gigs include working nine seasons with Jimmy Mac and the Kool Kats; A wonderful duo in the Four Seasons Lobby for eight years; and a short time with Darren Lee, Elvis impersonator for the Burn’n Love Show.

Vocal Coach Joy has trained hundreds of voices through the years, and vocal rehabilitation has become her passion.

Dinner reservations required. Call (808) 868-4544 for table reservation.

Semi-outdoor event – socially distanced. Covid-19 policies in effect for your protection & comfort. 2119 W. Vineyard St. in Wailuku.
Tickets are $10 for the music portion at jazzmaui.org and benefit “Virtual Jazz in the Schools”. Adults only – 18 yr. minimum. ID required.

Visit JazzMaui.org for more information. (text) 808-283-3576

“A Musical Tribute to Black History Month”, a retrospective of classic African American inspired music performed by some of Maui’s most accomplished musicians. The dinner show, a benefit for music education programs, is being held on Saturday, February 20, at the Empanada Lady Restaurant in Wailuku. The show features music by Sal Godinez, Ron Metoyer, Jesse Smith, Jay Molina, Tanama Colibri, Sarah Black and Prem Brosio along with poetry by Bryant Neal and Ayin Adams.

Times for the two dinner show seatings are 5PM and 7:30PM. Show tickets are $10 and are available at Jazzmaui.org. Seating is limited and table reservations may be made by calling (808) 868-4544. This event is semi-outdoor with socially-distanced Covid-19 policies in effect for your protection and comfort. Adults only, 18 year minimum, ID required.

Pianist and vocalist Sal Godinez has been tickling the ivories on Maui for years and has played with some of Hawaii’s most popular entertainers including Amy Hanaialii Gillom and Melveen Leed. Coming from a musical family, Sal spends his days composing, rehearsing and performing.

Originally from Oakland, California, guitarist and vocalist Ron Metoyer was a member and songwriter for Rhythm Riot and released a self-titled LP on the San Francisco-based Infransonic records. He moved to Maui in 1983 yet left soon afterward to tour with platinum-selling Canadian rock artist Kenny Shields. Upon his return to Maui he has become a regular performer with his band, The R. E. Metoyer Blues, Rock &Soul Revue since 2011 and the Island Soul Band since 2015.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Jesse Smith began playing drums at the age of four. He feels his experience is too extensive to list but is always happy to answer any questions. As a drummer, he continues to pursue his primary goal of playing with sensitivity and taste.

Jay Molina has a long history of outstanding musical collaboration in his home state of Hawaii-from Music Magic to Asian Blend, one of the State’s most popular event and nightclub bands, to Slam featuring David Choy. Most recently he can be seen playing bass with his son Andrew, a well-known ukulele player, here in the Islands and traveling the world.

Sarah Black is a contemporary jazz and soul vocalist from the West Coast who got her professional start in San Diego. She spent years visiting Maui and recently moved to the island to be closer to her family as she pursues a remote graduate degree in psychology. Sarah’s vocal style is greatly influenced by gospel and soul traditions and she layers modern, jazz and neo-soul styles to create her unique sound.

Prem Brosio is a professional guitarist and music educator from Maui. He studied jazz guitar in Switzerland and earned a Bachelor of Education in Music from UH Manoa. Prem currently calls Maui his home and is where he spends his time teaching and (since Covid) making music online.

Singer, songwriter, author and poet, Tanama Colibri is of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage. Her multi-lingual and experimental style encompasses world, pop, spoken word and soul which she expresses with authenticity and fervor. Tanama attended the Edgard Varese Conservatory of Music in Paris studying Afro-Cuban percussion. She opened for world-renowned Katie Thiroux Trio during the 2017 Jazz Maui Music Festival and in 2018 was a guest singer with trumpeter Mike Lewis at the Blue Note Hawaii. Tanama is presently working on a new EP and performs weekly at family-owned Empanada Lady Restaurant.

The Empanada Lady restaurant, located at 2119 W. Vineyard Street in Wailuku, offers traditional Caribbean food from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica using fresh ingredients and exotic flavors.

Jazz Maui, a nonproft organization, provides opportunities for participation in high quality jazz music education and performances for students of all ages. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Jazz Maui presented live festivals, clinics and workshops and now offers them virtually, creating a venue for student performers to learn from and establish connections with music professionals. For more information, visit jazz maui.org.

Dinner reservations required.
Get Tickets at Jazzmaui.org
Call (808) 868-4544 for table reservation.

Semi-outdoor event – socially distanced. Covid-19 policies in effect for your protection & comfort. 2119 W. Vineyard St. in Wailuku.

Tickets are $10 for the music portion at jazzmaui.org and benefit “Virtual Jazz in the Schools”. Adults only – 18 yr. minimum. ID required. Visit JazzMaui.org for more information. (Text) 808-283-3576

A night of Eric and Nat’s favorite romantic tunes put together for this special event.

Special 3 course Valentine’s dinner with a glass of champagne. $75 pp ( gratuity included)

PERFORMER BIOS

Eric Gilliom is an award-winning musician and entertainer whose multi-hyphenate talents have taken him from his roots in Hawaii to performing live on the stages of Broadway, the Grammy Awards and into the mainstream through his various concerts and appearances in films and television.

He is currently the lead singer of Mick Fleetwood’s Island Rumours Band, based on the island of Maui. As a native Hawaiian singer, songwriter, and musician, he’s won the Hoku Award (Hawaiian Grammy) for Best Album with his partner Willie K as ‘The Barefoot Natives.’

His versatility allows him to sing everything from Rock, Soul, R&B to Hawaiian and Broadway show tunes. He has played with and opened for a who’s who of musical legends including Earth Wind & Fire, Steven Tyler, John Legend, Willie Nelson, Jamie Foxx, Michael McDonald, Dave Mason, Dave Koz and Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers just to name a few.

A graduate of the Goodman School in Chicago, as an actor, singer and performer, he’s worked with Debbie Allen on Broadway (Carrie & TV’s Fame,) in television on The Jamie Foxx Show, and on the big screen with Gene Hackman in Hoosiers, and starred in the award-winning comedy Get A Job.

Currently, Eric is playing and touring with Barry Flanagan of HAPA and writing his one man show which is set to hit the road this fall

Dr. Nat

For over 30 years on Maui, Dr. Nat has been a physician by day and a musician by night. A Naturopathic physician, Dr. Nat specializes in Regenerative and Physical medicine. As a musician, Dr. Nat feels grateful to have evolved in his music by having had the opportunity to play and grow with many of the island’s talented artists.

Born in Argentina to Chilean and American parents, Latin music has always touched a part of his soul. He started the band “Dr. Nat and Rio Ritmo” in 1998, a source of Latin rhythms and dance for the Maui community to enjoy for over two decades. While delighted to play Cuban salsa and Brazilian samba all night, he also loves any chance to play Funk, Reggae, Rock, and Jazz as well.

Together these “Brothers From Another Mother” have been affiliated at different times in different projects for 30 years most memorably playing the roles of Dr. Frankenfurter and Rocky in the various Maui Rocky Horror Show incarnations.

Dinner reservations required.
Get Tickets at Jazzmaui.org
Call (808) 868-4544 for table reservation.

Semi-outdoor event – socially distanced. Covid-19 policies in effect for your protection & comfort. 2119 W. Vineyard St. in Wailuku.

Tickets are $75 for dinner and show at jazzmaui.org and benefit “Virtual Jazz in the Schools”. Adults only – 18 yr. minimum. ID required. Visit JazzMaui.org for more information. (Text) 808-283-3576

Jazz Maui is pleased to present a new dinner show series showcasing some of Maui’s best musicians at the Empanada Lady restaurant in Wailuku Town.

“We are excited to offer music of this caliber while enjoying great food in an intimate covid safe environment..”  Bryant Neal, founder Jazz Maui

Jazz Maui is a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for participation in high quality music education and performances and is supported by, Arts Education for Children Group, and Makana Aloha Foundation.

PERFORMER BIOS

Phil Smith – Phil has been performing and recording for over six decades as a Master Woodwind Musician. He has a lifetime of experience playing all the saxophones and in addition, plays a superb clarinet and has a rich baritone voice for vocals and funny Cajun stories. Phil Smith’s passion includes playing all styles of jazz, rhythm ’n blues, latin, swing, and danceable classics.

Phil’s talents have been sought after for performance and recording by such notable talent as: Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Michael Bloomfield, Charlie Rich, Dinah Shore, Joe Williams, Johnny Mathis, Big Joe Turner, San Francisco Medicine Ball Band, Bourbon Street Irregulars, Cami Thompson, Vic Damone, Edy Gorme, Mac Davis, Henry Mancini, Doc Severenson, Earl “Fatha” Hines, Michael Buble, Englebert Humperdinck, The Smothers Brothers, Buddy Morrow, Claude Thornhill, Les Elgart, and Willie K to name a few.

Pianist, Brian Cuomo has been a major player on the Maui music scene for over 30 years.  Arriving on Maui from New York, he has accompanied Bill Perkins,  Etta James and Freda Payne on piano and has created arrangements for Martha Valez, Inter Gallactic Touring Band, Eon and Fireballet.

Jesse Smith – Born and raised in Hawaii, Jesse began playing drums at the age of 4. Although extensive, rather than listing his experiences, he is ‘always happy’ to entertain any questions. As a drummer, his primary goal is to play with sensitivity, taste and to never be offensive.

Sarah Black is a contemporary jazz and soul vocalist from the West Coast who got her professional start in San Diego and Southern California. Sarah has spent years visiting Maui and moved to the island last year to be closer to her family as she pursues a remote graduate degree in psychology.

While in San Diego, Sarah was recognized as a new premier vocalist and performed in the Young Lions Series put on by internationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. Sarah’s vocal style is greatly influenced by gospel and soul traditions, and she layers modern, jazz and neo-soul styles to create her unique sound.

Dinner reservations required.
Call (808) 868-4544 for table reservation.

Music begins at 6:00pm. Semi-outdoor event – socially distanced.
Covid-19 policies in effect for your protection & comfort. 2119 W. Vineyard St. in Wailuku.

Tickets are $10 for the music portion at jazzmaui.org and benefit “Virtual Jazz in the Schools” – Adults only – 18 yr. minimum. ID required. (text) 808-283-3576

He snapped his fingers on ‘The Addams Family,’ played the bongos for ‘Mission Impossible’, played vibes on the Flintstones theme song and worked with everyone from Judy Garland to Linda Ronstadt.

Jazz Maui Players 6-7 PM

Peter Dela Croce – Percussion
Prem Brosio – Jazz Guitar
Danny M – Bass
Jake Thomas – Trumpet
Joie Yasha – Sax
Michael Guzalak – Sax, Clarinet
Tanama Colibri – Vocals
Shea Derrick – Vocals

Memorial Tribute to Emil Richards 7 – 7:20

Original “Jazz at Blackies” Band 7:30 – 9:00

Paul Marchetti- Drums
Sal Godinez – Keyboards & Vocals
John Zangrando – Saxophones
Danny M – Bass
Estaire Godinez – Vocals & Latin percussion