Jazz Maui is Proud to have Featured the Following Artists

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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Sam Newsome is a composer and pioneering soprano saxophonist celebrated for his groundbreaking solo work and fresh approaches to jazz improvisation. He first gained prominence playing with jazz legends such as Terence Blanchard and Donald Byrd, showcasing his deep roots in the tradition. Over the years, he has redefined the possibilities of the soprano saxophone, garnering five-star reviews in DownBeat Magazine for his groundbreaking works. While known for his experimental work, Newsome brings a soulful and engaging approach to this performance, bridging jazz’s rich past with its evolving future.

Jazz Maui Little Big Band, a 13-member band including six horns and a full rhythm section, this group of visiting and local professional musicians plays a variety of different composers and jazz styles – from Duke Ellington to Tower of Power and everything in between.

Members of the Jazz Maui Little Big Band are:
Craig Roselieb – alto and soprano sax
Bruce Boege – tenor sax
John Zangrando – baritone sax
Pete Ellman – trumpet
Henry Arroyo – trombone
Belford Hernandez – piano
Jeff Hellmer – piano
Prem Brosio – guitar
Ashton Yarbrough – bass
Howie Rentzer – drums
With special guests:
Joy Belt-Roselieb – vocals
Abra Joy – vocals
Tadashi Thomas – trumpet

Guitarist Prem Brosio

Jazz pianist Tommy James is also a composer, arranger and music director. He has been the pianist and music director of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and recently moved to Honolulu from his former home in New York.  Mr. James has worked with a wide ranging group of artists of many musical genres: among the outstanding artists and bands with whom he has performed and/or recorded are The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, Joe Williams, Maureen McGovern, Cleo Laine/John Dankworth, Nell Carter, Marlena Shaw, Roy Ayers, Melba Moore, Manu Dibango, Billy Vera, The Spinners, and the Temptations.

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Now on Maui, New York City-based Marie-Claire Giraud is a soprano, jazz singer, musical theater singer, songwriter, composer, playwright, and actor. Born on the island of Dominica and raised in The Bronx, started her operatic training in Rome, Italy.

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.

Saxophonist Bruce Boege has played jazz music from Hawaii to Hungary in various groups. He began as the lead guitar player and a singer in the Ravens for a few years then learned the saxophone and began playing jazz in the 1970s with The Bel Isle Trio in Belfast, Maine. He was a member of the Maryanne Driscoll quintet, an avant garde jazz group that toured Hungary, and has played at the Paradise Club in Boston, Birdland in New York City, The Left Bank Cafe in Maine with Miles Evans, and in concerts with James Williams (piano player with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers). Bruce moved to Maui in 2008, played with The Soul Kitchen Band, and setup a recording studio on island mostly to record for others but also to write and record his own songs.

Bruce also operates his Limin Music recording studio in Kihei.
www.liminaudiomusicstudio.com

A versatile drummer, Jimmy C’s eclectic, street-wise drumming style results from years of layering a variety of musical genres such as jazz-fusion, Dixie-cowboy, and Philly doo-wop: he plays rock ‘n roll, country, and show tunes as well as jazz. Although he mostly performs live, Jimmy is also a recording artist.

Producer, songwriter, musician/multi-instrumentalist Rod Antoon (bassist, keyboardist/organist, drummer, programmer), arranger/composer, and vocalist/singer has toured with artists and groups such as En Vogue, MC Hammer, Cameo, and the Commodores.

Bassist and composer Aron Caceres graduated with honors from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music after studying performance and composition with luminaries such as Reggie Workman, Kirk Nurock, Alexis Cuadrado, Ben Allison, and others. In the past several years Aron has performed in nationally and internationally acclaimed venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center, The United Nations, Webster Hall, The Westport Country Playhouse, and Auditorio  Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo Brazil. He has performed alongside artists such as Jane Monheit, New York  Voices, Robin Eubanks, Luis Bonilla, Jon Faddis, Dave King, Bill Watrous, Bobby Black, Armen Donelian, Lew Tabackin, Monika Herzig and Mark Ferber. In the spring of 2019 Aron was the bassist for Lin Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical “In the Heights” for its commission in Westport, CN. He has toured the USA, Europe, Asia, and South America and has made appearances at Monterey Jazz Festival, NYC Winter Jazzfest, the Bern Jazz Festival, Ridgefield Jazz Festival, and the San Jose Jazz Festival.

Pianist Caelan Cardello has played and studied with some prominent figures in music today including pop songsmith Bruce Hornsby and jazz artists Jimmy Cobb, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jack Dejohnette, Wallace Roney, and Christian Mcbride and many other jazz greats in New York City’s legendary jazz haunts like Dizzy’s Club, Minton’s Playhouse, Smalls Jazz Club, and The Jazz Standard. Caelan’s musical accomplishments and live performances have garnered him several prestigious awards including the New Jersey Governor’s Award, the James Moody College scholarship award for “outstanding musicianship,” the 2021 BMI Foundation’s Future Jazz Master Award, and the “outstanding soloist” award at the Charles Mingus HS Competition & Festival. Caelan plays both solo and with his trio in New York City, around the tri-state area, and tours throughout the USA. Currrently, he is working toward a Master’s degree in jazz performance at The Juillard School.

Drummer and composer Julian Miltenberger has performed internationally in countries such as Togo, France, Switzerland, Uruguay, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Canada. He has accompanied musical artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Diego Urcola, Yosvany Terry, Alain Mallet, Darren Barrett, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Julian graduated with a Master’s degree from Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute in 2023, and is currently based out of Brooklyn, NYC.

Three to 5 is an elite instrumental group including guitarist Matt Del Olmo, bassist Ian Sheridan, dummer Kevin Garland, and organist Matt Novotney.

Victor Fields has been described as belonging to the rare species of silky soul jazz singers. A Billboard-charted artist in both contemporary jazz and R&B, Victor has a rich gauzy tenor and the ability to move seamlessly between blues, jazz, R&B, and pop. The legendary singer Lou Rawls called him, “the man with the golden voice”. The Los Angeles Times said he is “a stylistically accomplished singer”, and Chicago Jazz Magazine recognized him as “one of the most dynamic and versatile jazz singers today!”.

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The dynamic versatility of Colorado’s Sheryl Renee comes from a literal lifetime in and around the entertainment business. An audience favorite, Sheryl moves effortlessly between music genres, artistic avenues, and her entrepreneurial pursuits. Her voice can be heard on hundreds of recordings and commercials. She gets great joy from nurturing and introducing extraordinary talent.

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Drummer Howie Rentzer has played in lots of top 40 bands in Boston and Los Angeles and in Honolulu where he played with Jimmy Borges, Carol Kai, Maria Muldaur, and Bobby Enriques. On Maui he has performed with Henry Allen, George Benson, Mose Allison, and Greg Karukas. Howie has opened for Kenny Loggins and was in the band for Howie Mandel’s comedy show.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist, composer, and singer/songwriter Kevin Hays’s many recordings have received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Downbeat Magazine and Jazz Times, as well as the “Coup de Coeur” award from the Académie Charles Cros (France). Kevin has appeared on numerous albums as a guest artist, recording with Chris Potter, Bill Stewart, Joshua Redman, Jeff Ballard, Nicholas Payton, and Al Foster, among many others. Notable collaborations include a piano duo project with Brad Mehldau (Modern Music – Nonesuch), world tours with James Taylor, Sonny Rollins, John Scofield, Joe Henderson, and Roy Haynes.

Shea Derrick, a Texas native, has been singing for the past twenty years. With a soulful, rock, funky flair- this songstress captures her audience with each flawless note that will have you singing or dancing along. You can see her on Maui with one of her two talented and funky bands, Shea Butter and the Cream or Shea Derrick and the Full Flavor Band.

Gibran Vicente is a vocalist and guitarist with a love for bossa nova, jazz and funk.

Pianist Brent Elberg founded Bayside Music School in the Bay Area of California in 2020. He holds multiple degrees in music education and performance from Laney College, and Cal State East Bay. He performs in a variety of genres including rock, jazz, funk, and musical theater.

Hailing from Haiku, Tadashi Thomas is an up-and-coming jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger on the New York City music scene. A recent graduate of SUNY Purchase, Tadashi refined his craft under the mentorship of legendary trumpet virtuosos Jon Faddis and Ingrid Jensen.

Tadashi Thomas’s musical journey is marked by an unwavering passion for innovation and a profound commitment to the art form. He seamlessly navigates the realms of bebop, swing, latin, and contemporary jazz, blending technical prowess with emotive storytelling.

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Gabriel is a succinct and lyrical trumpeter, flugelhornist, and flautist, with mad skills across the jazz spectrum. He has 15 critically acclaimed albums under his name, 11 certified Contemporary Jazz Billboard hits, JUNO Awards, the West Coast Music Award, plus the 2011 Canadian Smooth Jazz ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ Awards. He has charted on mainstream and contemporary charts, and has performed at festivals all over the world, and even in the home of Bill Gates.

Visit gabrieljazz.com

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.

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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.

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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.

Dr. Joie Yasha is a passionate musician and a talented instrumentalist. Based on Maui, she has a storied history of live performances, musical arrangements, and recording sessions. With a professional career in Atlanta, GA, Ithaca, NY, India, and Maui she has toured the US and Europe.  As a member of the Clark Atlanta University Jazz Orchestra, she toured Europe and played the following jazz festivals in the year 2000: The Hague, Montreux, Jazz Vienne, Paris, Brussels, Rome and Florence.  In addition, as an orchestra member, she was in concert with Nancy Wilson, Gladys Night, Lou Rawls, Lilo Shifffron, and James Moody. Since then as an independent musician she has been in concert with Grammy winning and nominated artists including Mauisiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective (album Passages: The Water Brought Us), Kebbi Williams, John Cruz, Samite, Phillip Harper, Roy Ayers, B.B. King and in ensembles supporting Donald Byrd and Joshua Redman at Cornell University, her graduate school alma mater.  She is a musician with Maui Jazz and Blues Festival 2016 (to present) along with award-winning musicians Benny Uyetake (Na Hoku), Rock Hendricks, Larry Coryell, Delfayo Marsalis, and Javon Jackson. Additionally, she has headlined at the Blue Note Hawaii where she has also been regularly featured with the Mike Lewis Big Band. She is a frequently featured artist with Jazz Maui Festival 2018 (to present) where she has played in concert with Quincy Jones and Clark Terry protege Justin Kauffman and Katie Thiroux.

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.

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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.

A Maui resident, bass player Ashton Yarbrough started as a classical bassist in an orchestra but has played all kinds of music including jazz, musical theatre, gospel, funk, rock and mariachi. He also works as a piano teacher and accompanist.

Guitarist Steve Boynton has shared the stage with such luminaries as jazz organ great Brother Jack McDuff, Janice Seigel from the Manhattan Transfer, and guitar legend Robben Ford. He has been a featured soloist performing classical guitar concertos with orchestras and has played on countless recording sessions.

Joe Cano is known for his repertoire of musical styles and ethnic fusion: he moves seamlessly between a wide variety of genres including jazz, reggae, classical, salsa, blue grass, Flamenco, soul, polka, and more. A talented guitarist, Joe has written more than 300 songs, produced, and toured the world. Rounding out the trio are keyboardist George Tavy and drummer Larry Fitzpatrick.

New York native Louise Lambert is a vocalist, pianist and bandleader with a broad range of musical styles including smooth jazz, swing, and soul. A multidimensional performer, she is also a lyricist and composer and has written songs for The Pointer Sisters and The Spinners and co-wrote a song with Alanis Morissette. She has sung with Robert Goulet, Roberta Flack and many more and has done extensive work as a studio vocalist and commercial voice overs.

Phil Benoit is from Southern California and moved to Hawaii in the late 1970s. He started playing the clarinet at a young age and picked up the guitar as a teenager. A self-taught guitarist, he has been performing professionally for more than two decades. Angela Benoit was born and raised in Paia. She has been singing all of her life and has been performing professionally for more than 20 years. Together they head up the Maui-based jazz group “Benoit Jazzworks” and play their original music, jazz standards, bossa nova, pop, and Hawaiian swing. Angela’s vocals are smooth and rest somewhere between high alto and low mezzo-soprano while Phil provides a swinging guitar.

Multi-instrumentalist Mark Johnstone is best known for his keyboard work with the Grammy- nominated Mick Fleetwood Blues Band and The Island Rumors Band. He can also be found in a variety of settings as a soloist or sideman, displaying skills on keys, guitar, harmonica and vocals. While working and touring with Mick Fleetwood he shared the stage with many accomplished artists such as Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson, John Mayall, Michael MacDonald, Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler, Dave Mason, Pat Simmons, Sammy Hagar and many more.

John Zangrando or “Johnny Z.” came to Maui in 1980 from New York and has been one of the busiest sax players on the island since. He has played or recorded with George Benson, John Mayall, Michael McDonald, Dionne Warwick, and Gladys Knight. He has also played with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Danny Gottlieb and Mark Egan of Elements and was musical director for singer Jon Hendricks for his Hawaii tour. Johnny Z plays tenor, alto, soprano, baritone and bass saxophones, as well as flute, piccolo, bass clarinet and electronic wind instrument (EWI).

Doug White came to Maui from Minnesota for a one week vacation and 39 years later is still on the island, performing with his bass at various venues. Throughout the years, he has played with many musicians performing music from jazz to Hawaiian to rock ‘n roll and blues.

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Described by Chicago Jazz Magazine as “…one of the most brilliant and imaginative contemporary composers of mainsteam jazz…stimulating and emotive original music with a rare blend of sophistication and organic spontaneity”, Porter’s music has also been described as “fluid, expressive, and magnificent” by Down Beat Magazine.

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Sal is a member of The Tom Kubis Big Band, and can be heard with Gordon Goodwin’s critically acclaimed Grammy Award Winning Big Phat Band. A few of the artists Sal has also recorded with include Paul McCartney, Natalie Cole, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Lalo Schifrin, Brian McKnight, Michael Buble, Keely Smith, Barbra Streisand, Joey DeFrancesco, and Maynard Ferguson.

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Jeff Hellmer, jazz pianist and educator, has enjoyed a long and vibrant career. Twice named a finalist in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, he has performed throughout the United States as well as in Europe and the Far East. His recording, Peak Moments, was declared an “exciting addition to the modern jazz piano catalog” by the All Music Guide. He has been a soloist and guest conductor with the Dallas Wind Symphony eight times, in repertoire ranging from Stravinsky to Bill Evans.

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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.

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 as well as the sound of European gypsies. The group of guys are multi-instrumentalists and, over the years, have played in many different bands and styles of music, from accordion to zydeco. Swing Star features Michael Guzalak playing clarinet and saxophone and doing vocals, with bassist Dave Graber and guitarists Steve Elliott and Bita Fonseca.
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Well known on Maui, Paul Marchetti studies drums and percussion in New York and has performed and recorded with artists such as Mick Fleetwood, Eric Marienthal, Walter Becker, Michael McDonald, Michael Buble and many more. He started his career in 1973, touring and recording with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary. Marchetti has appeared on national and local television shows and recorded and toured with an international list of artists.

Katie Thiroux is an internationally-acclaimed bassist, vocalist, composer, bandleader and recording artist. In addition, she teaches at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Summer Jazz Camp and serves as artistic and educational director of the Jazz Maui Camp, an opportunity to students from around the world to get a first rate learning experience as well as exploring the beauty and culture of Hawaii. Thiroux’s contemporary jazz draws upon the rich history of the music and her unique gift of simultaneously balancing sultry vocals and virtuosic bass playing leaves audiences worldwide in awe. In the words of music icon Quincy Jones, “This girl is IT!”

Los Angeles-based drummer Matt Witek has toured the world with many jazz musicians and recorded with Katie Thiroux on her award-winning album “Introducing Katie Thiroux”. A creative and passionate musician specializing in jazz, he is also an educator for the prestigious
Monterey Jazz Festival and for Jazz Maui Camp.

After losing his sight at the age of 11, Justin Kauflin gravitated towards playing jazz piano, despite having a classical background in violin and piano. He received top honors at jazz festivals nationally and began performing professionally by age 15. A protégé of Quincy Jones, Kauflin is the subject of a documentary entitled “Keep On Keepin’ On” that follows jazz legend Clark Terry as he mentors Justin as he prepares to compete in an elite international competition. A composer, producer, educator and Quincy Jones & Yamaha Artist, Kauflin is an instructor at Jazz Maui’s Jazz Camp, one of the organization’s music education programs.

Phil Smith was born in Memphis, Tennessee; the Home of the Blues. That city influenced his career as a musician and lover of jazz and blues for over 40 years. He grew up in Blytheville, Arkansas and started playing the clarinet when he was 8 years old. His older brother Joe was already paling the accordion and with the addition of his younger brothers, Mark and David, they formed the Smith Brothers Combo in their home town. The began to play for talent shows, beauty pageants, services clubs and other functions in the community. His brothers are still active in the Memphis music scene today.

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Gina Martinelli is a local resident who has been a singer/performer on Maui for almost 30 years. Her vocal range and smooth tones have allowed to work in just about every genre of music from Rock and Blues to Country, even Jazz. Performing in venues such as the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Hotels and NightClubs, not to mention community benefits like 9-11 Relief Benefit alongside Willie Nelson, Whale Day and American Heart Association benefits.
Gina’s commitment to music and community is something she plans on sharing for many years to come.

Kisa Uradomo graduated from Maui’s King Kekaulike High School and was one of only two musicians from Hawaii ever selected to play in the prestigious National Youth Orchestra of the United States, a program of the educational arm of Carnegie Hall. She studied at the Eastman School of Music and pursues a master’s degree in violin Performance at the University of Michigan.

Accomplished cellist Alex Greenbaum is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. As cellist of the Hausmann Quartet he has served as an Artist-in-Residence at San Diego State University where he has taught cello and chamber music. One of the principal cellists of The Knights, he has performed and recorded throughout the USA and Europe with luminaries such as Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw and many more. Alex has performed as a soloist and his varied interests led to collaborations with dance groups such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Mark Morris Dance Group. He has recorded for major record labels, film, television and commercials.

Biographies

Joshua Nakazawa, Cellist: Mana Music Hawaii Founder
Insta: @manamusichawaii
After his classical training at Manhattan School of Music, Josh, a native of Boston MA, set on a musical path that continues to lead him around the globe. Josh has performed Solo, Chamber and Orchestral music at the Banff Music Festival in Canada, the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and the Spoletto Music Festival in South Carolina. After playing with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and in addition to his current full time position with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, he also plays with the Hawaii Opera Theater and as a guest musician with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

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Hailing from Haiku, Jake Thomas is a New York based trumpet player, composer, and arranger. He has performed at landmark jazz venues including Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, The Django, and Blue Note Hawai’i. Thomas has shared the stage with musical luminaries including the Birdland Big Band, Delfeayo Marsalis, and Samara Joy.

Thomas has just finished his third year at SUNY Purchase, and as a student of trumpet legend Jon Faddis, he plays lead trumpet with both the Purchase Jazz Orchestra and the Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra.

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Born in Ohio to a British architect father and Italian artist mother, Colin spent his youth in Memphis, picking up guitar by accident:

“I was playing trumpet in the school band and I punctured my ear drum in a football game. So the Band director put me in the concert band playing double bass with a bow, and from there I progressed to electric bass in the jazz band at school and then switched to guitar.””Colin was also busy soaking up classic Chicago blues and Memphis soul during this time.

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Jazz harmonica player Tom Stryker began his musical journey in San Francisco in 1954 under the guidance of former Borah Minevitch Rascal, Ray Tankersley. He later began playing professionally with world-famous ‘Harmonica Rascal’ Johnny Puleo. Tom went on to perform as a soloist and with various symphonies, harmonica trios, and jazz bands. He has appeared on telelvision and radio shows as well as the World Harmonica Championships in 1980 as lead player with Harmonica Express, a quartet. Tom has performed all over the world and in jazz clubs in Reno and aboard Holland America Cruise Lines.

Jazz pianist Tommy James is also a composer, arranger and music director. He has been the pianist and music director of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and recently moved to Honolulu from his former home in New York.  Mr. James has worked with a wide ranging group of artists of many musical genres: among the outstanding artists and bands with whom he has performed and/or recorded are The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, Joe Williams, Maureen McGovern, Cleo Laine/John Dankworth, Nell Carter, Marlena Shaw, Roy Ayers, Melba Moore, Manu Dibango, Billy Vera, The Spinners, and the Temptations.

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Prior to settling in Hawai’i, Shari Lynn attended the Pasadena Playhouse, sang with George Shearing and led her own band, touring twenty eight states for seven years. Since settling in Hawaii in 1976, she has successfully continued her career as a professional singer and actress. She’s headlined in concerts with the Honolulu Symphony, and was the “girl singer” with the Del Courtney orchestra. She’s had regular gigs in major hotel showrooms and lounges such as the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Room with The Brothers Cazimero, the Kahala Hilton’s Maile Room with Kit Samson, and the Sheraton’s Hanohano Room with her own band, Fascinatin’ Rhythm, which also had a ten-year run at the Hale Koa Hotel.

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Valery Ponomarev worked with Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers for 4 years. With the Messengers, he performed at major concert halls, clubs, and festivals all over the world and recorded eleven record albums. He also made numerous television appearances with the Messengers in Europe, Japan, and Brazil. In the United States he has made television appearances on “To Tell The Truth,” on the PBS network, National Geographic Today, and CNN. He performed at the Clifford Brown Memorial Concert in Wilmington, Delaware, 1991, which featured the music of the legendary Max Roach/Clifford Brown Quintet with Max Roach (leader) on drums, Harold Land, tenor sax, George Morrow, bass, Sam Dockery, piano, and Valery Ponomarev, trumpet.

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Singer – Songwriter, Amy Hānaiali’i remains Hawai’i’s top selling female vocalist of all time. Hānaiali’i’s success as a recording artist speaks for itself and is evidenced by a multitude of awards and acknowledgements, including five GRAMMY® nominations for Best Hawaiian Music Album.

Amy’s albums have also garnered 22 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards – Hawai’i’s equivalent to the GRAMMY® awards. Hānaiali’i’s range of multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano wins, showcases her varied musical depth over the years prevailing in the following categories: Female Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Group of the Year, Christmas Album of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year, and many others.

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