Jimmy Vivino (aka Jimmy V) has always considered himself “a blues man with a job”. Although best known for serving 26 years as Conan O’Brien’s musical director, guitarist and bandleader, his experience in the music business predates that by 20 plus years.
In addition to her own award-winning and nationally-acclaimed CDs, her background vocal work can be heard on Brother Iz’s “Country Roads” and “Hawaiian Superman”. Live on-stage, Ginai was a regular at the Blue Note Hawaii in Waikiki performing tribute shows to such stars as Natalie Cole, Sade, and Anita Baker. She has been a guest performer with the Honolulu and Long Beach Symphonies and has been the opening act for artists such as Ray Charles, Lou Rawls, Bruce Hornsby, and Diana Krall to name a few. Her work includes stints with the swing band Hula Joe and The Hut Jumpers, the gypsy jazz group Hot Club of Hulaville, and touring internationally with Legends in Concert as Whitney Houston.
The Makai Jazz Group is composed of drummer Jimmy C, keyboardist Jeff Hellmer, saxophonist Bruce Boege, and bassist Dave Graber.
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Keyboardist Toby Couture was born in northern New York to a music family. His father was a folk musician and his mother played classical music. Toby attended the Conservatory of Music SUNY Purchase College, studying jazz piano, classical guitar, percussion and French language, graduating cum laude. After traveling Europe to practice French and German, Toby worked for years as a freelance musician, bandleader and composer, and also released the album “As You See” with German guitarist Daniel Friederich. Since moving to Maui over ten years ago, he has worked with many local musicians on Maui including Willie Nelson, Marty Dread, Guerilla Jazz, and his own projects. He has composed several suites of neo-classical music for local dance company Adaptations Dance Theater, as well as producing and recording work other local artists.
Ashton Yarbrough has been playing bass for 11 years. He started as a classical bassist in an orchestra but has played all kinds of music including jazz, musical theater, gospel, funk, rock and mariachi. He also works as a piano teacher and accompanist.