Jazz Maui to launch virtual music series
The Jazz Maui Virtual Music Series featuring professional guest and local musicians is being live- streamed for free on Akaku Channel 55 (https://www.akaku.org/channel-55/), JazzMaui on Facebook (facebook.com/aecgjazzmaui) and Jazz Maui on YouTube beginning Friday, Oct. 22.
The series includes three themed concerts recorded in front of a live audience, then edited to be live-streamed. Each segment also includes a workshop/clinic about the themed instrument.
The streaming schedule is: Oct. 22 – “Jazz Blues and Beyond II” featuring the Katie Thiroux Trio; Nov. 26 – Jazz featuring Ukulele and the Hawaiian Steel Guitar; and Dec. 17 – Jazz featuring classical instruments.
“We are thrilled to be able to share these musical experiences with a broader audience,” said Bryant Neal, executive director of Jazz Maui. “Because of the Covid pandemic, live performance venues have been limited. Through live-streaming on various platforms and linking them, more people can enjoy these wonderful concerts and classes.”
The first event in the series is “Jazz, Blues and Beyond II.” The Katie Thiroux Trio featuring Quincy Jones protege Justin Kauflin will stream live on Oct. 22 on various platforms. This concert showcases world-class musicians playing “straight ahead” jazz, appealing to the traditional jazz enthusiast. This show was recorded live at Maui Preparatory Academy on July 3, 2021. The star-studded lineup features internationally-renowned bassist and vocalist Katie Thiroux, pianist Justin Kauflin, drummer Matt Witek, Paul Marchetti, Marcus Johnson and vocalists Tanama Colibri and Sarah Black along with other special guests The education component includes a workshop held June 23, 2021 at King Kekaulike High School that provided an opportunity for young musicians of all skill levels to study with professional music instructors.
The second event in the series, “Jazz featuring the Ukulele and the Hawaiian Steel Guitar,” was recorded on Oct. 16 at Seabury Hall. Each segment of this show is led by an accomplished Hawaiian musician/instructor demonstrating how these instruments are used in jazz music. Performers include the Joel Katz Band featuring Jazz on the Hawaiian Steel Guitar; The Benny Uyetake Band featuring Jazz and the Ukulele; and The Seabury Hall Ensemble under the direction of Kamalei Kawaa, formerly of Na Wai Eha. Vocalist Tanama Colibri joins both Uyetake and Katz on select numbers. Workshop details will be posted on Jazzmaui.org. This event will be live- streamed on Nov. 26, 2021.
Scheduled for live-streaming on Dec. 17, the third event, “Jazz and the Classics,” explores jazz featuring classical instruments. The performers for this concert are the Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (MYPO) under the direction of Iolani Yamashiro, The Maui Flute Choir under the direction of Peggy Schecter, and The Phil Smith Trio.
Workshop details will be available on Jazzmaui.org.