Emil Richards’ illustrious career began in the 1950s and, since then, he has played and/or recorded for most of the famous names in music including: Charles Mingues, Perry Como, Ray Charles, George Shearing, Paul Horn, Shorty Rogers, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle, Judy Garland, Sarah Vaughan, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Stan Kenton, the Beach Boys, George Harrison, Frank Zappa, and many, many more.
Tenor-saxophonist Eric Schneider is an institution in the Chicago jazz scene, having played topnotch jazz for 30 years. He gained recognition when he was a member of the Earl Hines Quartet during 1979-82 (also playing alto and clarinet), and he toured with the Count Basie Orchestra during 1982-83. He has also performed with Benny Goodman, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Rosemary Clooney and Billy Eckstine.
An unprecedented evening of jazz music is planned for Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Gannon’s in Wailea in support of music education on Maui. The Deshannon Higa Benefit Jazz Concert was organized with Jazz Maui and Gannon’s After Dark to raise awareness and funding for the Arts Education for Children Group (AECG).
Renown trumpet player Deshannon Higa and his band will perform and feature jam sessions with special guest musicians comprised of local professionals, teachers and students in a showcase of Maui’s jazz studies programs. Individual performances and jam sessions will feature guest musicians including the select student combo Teal & Black Quintet, jazz instructor group Chop Suey Combo, and internationally acclaimed musicians Andrea Razzauti and Adonijah Imgrund.
Jazz Maui is produced by Arts Education for Children Group (AECG), a nonprofit organization, to provide music students on Maui an opportunity to participate in instructional workshops and jam sessions conducted by internationally acclaimed jazz musicians and music educators. With this goal, Jazz Maui develops signature events featuring high quality jazz and various music performances for the enjoyment and enrichment of Maui visitors and residents.
Gannon’s After Dark is an after hours venue at Gannon’s, A Pacific View Restaurant in Wailea featuring live music concert series and dance parties. Gannon’s After Dark is committed to featuring live music performances of local and visiting artists in a warm, intimate atmosphere for a rich musical experience.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and can be purchased by calling Gannon’s at 808-875-8080. Concert begins at 8:30pm and will conclude when the trumpet stops blowing.
DeShannon has played jazz trumpet and flugelhorn professionally in both Hawaii and New York City for over 20 years. He has performed around the world and in famous venues such as Birdland, Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall. DeShannon is one of the founding members of the group “Bop Tribal” whose recording received a 4-star review in Downbeat Magazine and contended for a Grammy Award in the Best Jazz Solo category (DeShannon’s solo on “Jellyfish”). His styles range from be-bop to New York-style hard bop and Latin jazz. As a bandleader, composer, recording artist, and visionary, he has assembled two bands of his own creation: gr00ve.imProV.arTists (an urban jazz-electronica dance band) and Quadpod (a neo-bop quartet).
Born and raised in Japan, Shiro Mori brings a unique and original flavor into his musical expression. Honing his skills on the New York jazz scene, he has developed his own personal style as a performer, composer, and arranger. Presently his artistic and creative home is on the island of Maui, where he is a major player of both guitar and piano.