Loretta Ables Sayre, Freddy Cole, Kalani Pe'a and HIROSHIMA Take the Blue Note Hawaii Stage This April
By: Macon Prickett Mar. 28, 2018
Blue Note Hawaii welcomes some of music's most renowned artists this month, kicking off with the 60th birthday celebration of Loretta Ables Sayre with special guest star Robert Cazimero. The Hawaii News Now Jazz Legends series continues with Freddy Cole, one of the most influential jazz singers in history and the younger brother of musical icon Nat "King" Cole. Local favorite and the 2017 GRAMMY® Award winner from Hawaii Kalani Pe'a is up next, followed by genre-bending blues and bluegrass artists Dirty Cello. Blayne Asing & Alx Kawakami join forces for two nights and innovative African artist Vieux Farka Touré has his Blue Note Hawaii debut. Streetlight Cadence returns home to Hawaii for two nights, followed by artist in residence, Robert Cazimero. Next up is a round of local talent with shows by Keauhou, Josh Tatofi and Makana, which is a fundraiser for the Willie K Cancer Fund. Mike Lewis continues his series of tribute shows paying homage to Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, the music of Roberta Flack, as well as presenting a Big Band Extravaganza, featuring some of the area's most talented high school and collegiate level jazz bands. Josh Kaye and Friends will celebrate the music of Stax Records, which launched the careers of Issac Hayes, Wilson Picket, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and many more. Gypsy 808 will present the music of Django Reinhardt and the month ends with a bang when HIROSHIMA returns to the Blue Note stage.
A 15% kama'aina discount is available to residents for most shows. This is available online with code MAHALO15, as well as in person at the box office. Parking is validated at the OHANA East Hotel for $6 for four hours, and at the Outrigger Waikiki for $15 for four hours valet.
The full April Blue Note Hawaii lineup includes:
Loretta Ables Sayre 60th Birthday Celebration with Special Guest Robert Cazimero
April 1
Tickets: Premium: $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Hawaiian Contemporary
Loretta Ables Sayre began singing professionally in 1979 as the first featured female vocalist with Keola and Kapono Beamer in the Ocean Showroom of the Reef Hotel in Waikiki. In addition to her work on Broadway, Loretta is well known in Hawaii for her performances in theater, concerts, TV series, commercials and voice over work.
Tribute to Ray Charles: Mike Lewis & Friends
April 2
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Soul, Funk, R&B, Jazz
Native New Yorker and trumpeter Mike Lewis presents a tribute to the "Father of Soul," Ray Charles. Ray Charles pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s, combining blues, gospel and jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack," "I Got A Woman," and "Georgia on My Mind."
Big Band Extravaganza
April 3
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Big Band Jazz
Trumpeter Mike Lewis and friends present a night of growing talent as they showcase the best of local high school and collegiate level jazz bands! Local songstress Ginai will be featured on vocals. Don't miss our first-ever Big Band Extravaganza featuring Maryknoll, Castle & Mater Dei High School Big Bands, the University of Hawaii Jazz Ensemble and Vocalist Ginai.
Tribute to Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald: Mike Lewis & Ginai
April 4
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Jazz, Pop, Soul
Trumpeter Mike Lewis and vocalist Ginai pay tribute to two pinnacles of the early American Jazz scene, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Considered one of the most influential artists in jazz history, Louis Armstrong rose to fame in the early days of jazz and would continue influencing artists that came after. Ella Fitzgerald's signature ability to mimic instrumental sounds helped popularize the vocal improvisation technique of scatting.
Jazz Legends: Freddy Cole
April 5-7
Tickets: Premium $45, Loge & Bar $35
Genre: Jazz
Recognized as one of the great practitioners of American Song, Freddy Cole, like his late elder brother Nat "King" Cole, is widely regarded as one of the most influential singers in jazz music. Cole's career continues to ascend as he's moved into the front ranks of America's homegrown art form, with a style and musical sophistication all his own.
Kalani Pe'a
April 8
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15.
Genre: Hawaiian
"[Kalani's] soulful voice showcases his many influences growing up...but his ?ike (Hawaiian knowledge) and love for our culture keeps it right where it needs to be," said Jaz Kaiwiko?o. Pe?a was determined in perpetuating Hawaiian language through music with his debut album titled "E Walea," which won the 2017 GRAMMY® Award for "Best Regional Roots Music Album."
Tribute to Stax Record Legends: Josh Kaye & Friends
April 9
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15.
Genre: Soul, R&B, Funk
Pianist Josh Kaye and friends returns to Blue Note Hawaii with a tribute to the great artists attributed with Stax Records. Synonymous for southern soul, Stax Records was second to Motown in sales and influence, but first in gritty, raw, stripped-down soul music. They would spawn a new crop of hit-makers, launching the careers of Issac Hayes, Wilson Picket, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and many more.
Gypsy 808: The Music of Django Reinhardt
April 10
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Gypsy Jazz, Swing
Inspired by the music of Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France, Hawaii's very own Gypsy 808 plays mainly swing dance music of the '30s and '40s in the gypsy jazz style. Many of the tunes are drawn from the Great American Songbook, but several composed by Reinhardt and others are unique to gypsy jazz.
Dirty Cello
April 11
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15.
Genre: Blues, Bluegrass
From China to Italy, and all over the U.S., Dirty Cello brings the world a unique spin on blues and bluegrass. Led by crossover cellist, Rebecca Roudman, Dirty Cello is cello like you've never heard before. From down home blues to virtuosic stompin' bluegrass, Dirty Cello is a band that gets your heart thumping and your toes tapping!
Blayne Asing & Alx Kawakami
April 12 & 13
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Hawaiian Pop
Born and raised on the island of O'ahu, singer-songwriters Blayne Asing and Alx Kawakami have both gained success in the local music scene. They've won Na Hoku awards, achieved radio play, and are lead vocalists and guitarists in Henry Kapono's 4 party harmony group, The Songs of C&K.
Vieux Farka Touré
April 14 & 15
Tickets: Table & Booth Seating $45, Bar $35
Genre: Jazz, World, Blues
Often referred to as "The Hendrix of the Sahara", Vieux Farka Touré was born in Mali to the legendary Ali Farka Touré. With each new project, including his latest album, "Samba," Vieux expands his horizons, embraces new challenges and further entrenches his reputation as one of the world's most talented and innovative musicians.
Tribute to The Beatles
April 16
Tribute to The Beatles: Mike Lewis & Friends
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Pop, Rock
Trumpeter Mike Lewis and vocalist Ginai return to Blue Note with a jazz tribute to classic Beatle songs. Led by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the Beatles legacy remains unchallenged to this day. Relentlessly imaginative and experimental, the Beatles grabbed hold of the world in 1964 and never let go for the next six years.
Streetlight Cadence
April 17 & 18
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Folk, Pop
Streetlight Cadence is a four-piece Alternative Folk Pop band that started on the streets of historic Waikiki. The band has spent the last six years honing their craft as songwriters and entertainers. Although they come from a strict classical background of musical performance, the men of Streetlight Cadence are anything but your typical quartet.
Robert Cazimero
April 19
Tickets: Prem $45, Loge $35, Bar $25
Genre: Hawaiian
In the 1970's, Robert Cazimero was instrumental in the resurgence of Hawaiian music and culture. That resurgence began a career that almost thirty years later is stronger than ever. Musician, composer, kumu hula; his work in each of these areas is well-known throughout the world.
Keauhou
April 22
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Hawaiian Contemporary
Comprised of Kahanuola Solatorio and brothers Nicholas and Zachary Lum, Keauhou strives to bring forth inspiration from ancient Hawaiian music, and contribute to a renewed respect for the beauty of traditional Hawaiian music. The trio swept Hawaii's Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 2017, winning 9 awards, including Hawaiian Music Album of the Year.
Josh Tatofi
April 23
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Hawaiian Contemporary
Hawaiian Music Live calls him the Polynesian Luther Vandross, which aptly describes the soothing voice of Josh Tatofi. Honolulu-born Josh Tatofi began performing in his teens, and recording with the popular Maui band, 'Ekolu. And as he has gotten older he has gravitated towards R&B slow jams with his smooth voice and phrasing, interpreting into his own stylized Hawaiian songs.
Makana with Special Guest Lopaka Colon
April 24
Tickets: Table & Booth Seating $45, Bar $30
Genre: Contemporary, Pop, Hawaiian
Makana is a master of the beautiful and rare art form of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar earning multiple Grammy-nominations for his original music. Guitar Player Magazine ranked him as one of the top guitarists in America. He has toured with musical legends Sting, Santana, The Eagles and performed at The White House in 2011 for President Obama.
Tribute to Roberta Flack: Mike Lewis & Friends Featuring Ginai
April 25
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: R&B, Soul, Pop
Trumpeter Mike Lewis and vocalist Ginai pay tribute to American soul icon Roberta Flack. Internationally hailed as one of the greatest songstresses of our time, GRAMMY Award-winning Roberta Flack remains unparalleled in her ability to tell a story through her music. Her songs bring insight into our lives, loves, culture and politics, while effortlessly traversing a broad musical landscape from pop to soul to folk to jazz.
Hiroshima
April 26-28
Tickets: VIP $45, Table & Booth $35, Bar $25
Genre: R&B, Jazz, World
Hiroshima, a group whose music falls between R&B, pop, world music, and jazz, has long had its own niche. The band integrates traditional Japanese instruments into their musical blend and has created a rich sound both utterly unique and irresistibly relatable. Worldwide sales in excess of 4 million and multiple gold records attests to their appeal.
HAPA with Original Members Barry Flanagan and Keli'i Kaneali'i: First Time in 17 Years
April 29 & 30
Tickets: Prem $35, Loge $25, Bar $15
Genre: Contemporary, Hawaiian
Meaning "half" in Hawaiian, the name HAPA is inspired by the band's two members, Keli'I Kaneali'I, from South Pacific ancestry and Barry Flanagan, from New Jersey. The groups self-titled album, released in 1993, remains the number one selling recording by a group or duo in the history of recorded Hawaiian music. Often encapsulated as the "Sound of Maui" or the "Soundtrack of Hawaii" the music and sound of HAPA evokes a place that many people have referred to as "heavenly." For the first time in 17 years, the original members will reunite on the Blue Note Hawaii stage.
About Blue Note Entertainment Group
Blue Note Entertainment Group, founded in 1981 by Danny Bensusan, is a multi-faceted entertainment company that owns and operates New York's Blue Note Jazz Club, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, Highline Ballroom, Subrosa, and Lucille's Grill; The Howard Theatre (Washington D.C.); and Blue Note Jazz Clubs Worldwide (Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan and Milan, Italy, Beijing, China, Napa, California, and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil). The company also programs the Regattabar Jazz Club (Cambridge, MA). Blue Note Entertainment Group presents shows outside of its club network. The annual Blue Note Jazz Festival was established in 2011 and has since grown to become the largest jazz festival in New York City each June. Subsidiaries of Blue Note Entertainment Group include the GRAMMY®-nominated record label Half Note Records, whose catalogue includes over fifty titles recorded live at New York's Blue Note Jazz Club, as well as Blue Note Travel, Management Group and Media Group.
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