by Abi Braceros | Apr 12, 2024 | Artists 2023
David Graber, upright and electric bass, is originally from Winnipeg Manitoba Canada and now lives with his wife, Emelyn, in Maui. He received his Bachelor of Music in jazz studies, with distinction, from the University of Calgary (and was awarded the Margaret Locke Scholarship for strings). Dave graduated from Grant Mac Ewan Community College (and was awarded the Edmonton Jazz Society Scholarship). He studied privately with Gary Willis from Tribal Tech and Charles Banacos of the New England Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music. David has performed music (including jazz, Latin, and contemporary styles) in festivals throughout western Canada and the USA including aboard Carnival Cruise Lines. He has performed on recordings and has written for Mel Bay’s Bass Sessions. Dave has played with artists such as Sheryl Renee, Larry Coryell, Eric Marienthal, Willie K, Skip Martin, Donald Harrison, Steve Turre, Jimmy D, Delfeayo Marsalis, Fareed Haque, Mark Gabriel Hasselbach, and Glen Goto to name a few.
by Abi Braceros | Apr 2, 2024 | Artists, Artists 2023, Artists 2024
Chad Lefkowitz-Brown is a New York-based saxophonist and recording artist recognized for his work as a soloist in the genres of jazz and pop music. Hailed as a “Sax Phenom” by the New York Daily News, Chad is a featured artist on two Grammy winning albums, and has toured through six continents playing venues from Carnegie Hall to the Super Bowl. As a bandleader, he has headlined jazz venues and festivals around the world. As a soloist, Chad has joined acts like Chris Botti, Arturo Sandoval, and Christian McBride. No stranger to the big screen, Chad has been featured on numerous TV shows with pop icons like Taylor Swift, rock legends like Don Henley, as well as the Hollywood film, “Here Today” with Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish.
Visit www.chadlb.com
by Abi Braceros | Mar 15, 2024 | Artists 2023, Artists 2024
A professionally trained piano player since the age of six, Gilbert Emata relocated to Maui from the greater San Francisco Bay Area in 1993. With his love of so many different genres of music, Maui has been the perfect melting pot of musicians he has worked with over the last 30 years including Ekolu, Willie K, Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom, and Asian Blend. Currently, Gilbert is working convention venues with The Drivers and performs every Saturday night at Kula Lodge with Gina Martinelli.
by Abi Braceros | Mar 15, 2024 | Artists 2023, Artists 2024
Kiah Abendroth is a third generation female trumpet player. She holds a Master’s Degree in Music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, specializing in classical trumpet performance. Her instructors include renowned trumpeters Judith Saxton, David Washburn, and Dean Boysen (as well as her father, Roy Abendroth, and the inspiration of her mother and grandmother, Lori and Beverley). Although Kiah’s training is classical, she also enjoys playing free improvisation, jazz, world, reggae, sacred music, folk and other music genres. Kiah has performed with artists such as Ozomatli, Elijah Ray, Fantuzzi, Amber Lily & Tubby Love, in addition to various chamber orchestras, pit orchestras and jazz ensembles in New York City and around the USA. During her time in NYC, Kiah was honored to be the producer and soloist for an original production at the Lincoln Center Institute, “Introspection,” which featured classical works, original poetry, and an original philosophical ballet.
by Abi Braceros | Mar 15, 2024 | Artists 2023, Artists 2024
Drummer Kevin Garland started his musical journey at UNC Colorado as a jazz major and went on to expand his studies to include music, recording arts, and technology. A founding member of the funk band Three to 5, Kevin has also performed with various other bands including Desert Hollow, Soul Kitchen, and Espresso. In addition to his tight and technical playing, Kevin brings a unique sense of spirit and rhythm – perhaps due to his time in Ghana, where he had the rare opportunity to enhance his skills by learning the art of traditional gahu drumming.
by Abi Braceros | Jan 31, 2024 | Artists 2023, Artists 2024
A Tokyo native, Meg Okura is a Grammy-nominated violinist and award-winning composer based in the Bronx, New York. As a teen, Ms. Okura toured Asia as the soloist and concertmaster of the Asian Youth Orchestra. At 19, she made her U.S. solo debut at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. She earned B.M. and MM degrees from the Juilliard School as a violin performance major, only to make a difficult switch to jazz upon graduation. She has toured internationally as a violinist, appearing at Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Barbican Hall in the U.K., Madison Square Garden, Village Vanguard, Blue Note Tokyo, Hollywood Bowl, and numerous jazz and Jewish music festivals worldwide with many jazz greats such as Lee Konitz, Michael Brecker, Tom Harrel, Steve Swallow, Sam Newsome, Diane Reeves, as well as David Bowie, Pharaoh’s Daughter, Cirque du Soleil, Emilio Solla, and many others.
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