The Hammond tonewheel organ, produced from 1935 to 1975, was one of the first mass-produced musical instruments which combined the electrical, mechanical and acoustic worlds. It is a keyboard instrument that could produce totally new sounds, and at the same time imitate other acoustic instruments. Considered by some to be the “grandfather of electronic music,” from gospel to blues, from rock concerts to jazz clubs, the Hammond organ was truly revolutionary.
Ian Sheridan is a professional bassist, producer, and mixing engineer. He has performed and recorded with many artists including Grammy Award-winner Jason Mraz. Ian has produced and engineered multiple songs and albums that have received national radio airplay, charting, and commercial and media placement. He has been playing the bass professionally for more than 20 years and has been producing and engineering for over 15 years.
DeShannon Higa is a multi-talented performer, composer, and arranger. His professional experience spans over 30 years and has performed locally and globally with many renown artists including Al Jarreau, Jeff Lorber, Michael Feinstein, Burt Bacharach, the original Elvis Presley band, Diana Krall, David Tao, and Wynton Marsalis.
Like many blues and soul vocalists of note, “Long Tall Deb” Landolt cultivated her soul/gospel honey-dipped voice in church as a child. Her debut “Raise Your Hands” gained heavy rotation on Sirius XM’s “Bluesville” and garnered attention for both her vocal dynamics and songwriting. Transpacific bluesman Colin John received his early touring miles with Teeny Hodges, Little Mike and The Tornadoes, Henry Grey, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Phil Guy, Big Jack Johnson, and Gary Brooker of Procol Harum. The one-of-a-kind sound of Long Tall Deb and Colin John incorporates a solid blues and soul sensibility cross-pollinated by their respective deep roots in Texas and Hawaii topped with world roots influence gleaned from their travels throughout the world.
A sensational saxophonist and vocalist, Joie Yasha has played more than 25 shows over the last two years at the Blue Note Hawaii and recently at the Cicada in Los Angeles. She has headlined or performed in tandem with jazz, pop, world and spiritual musicians such as Bikram Singh, Samite, Deva Primal and Miten, Gunhild Carling, Nancy Wilson, Gladys Night, Lou Rawls, Lilo Shiffron, Bette Midler, James Moody, Tia Fuller, Javon Jackson, Delfayo Marsalis, Larry Coryell, Donald Byrd, Joshua Redman, Roy Ayers, and Christina Aguilera. She has traveled and performed at festivals and in cities around the world including: Maui Jazz and Blues Festival; Jazz Maui Festival; Jazz Vienne; Montreux Jazz Festival; The North Sea Jazz Festival at The Hague; Florence and Rome, Italy; Paris, France; and, Brussels, Belgium.