It’s a party ’neath the stars.
With a jamfest of jazz, featuring some of Hawaii’s best.
And this year, it’s a milestone 60th anniversary for the host school, LaPietra’s Hawaii School for Girls.
So “Sunset Jazz: A Note to the ’60s,” set for Sept. 17 on the lawn of the school campus in the shadows of Diamond Head, will be a festive way to commemorate La Pietra’s birthday.
Doors open at 5 p.m., and music begins at 5:30 p.m.
Sunset Jazz was founded 24 years ago by jazz singer Shari Lynn, who was La Pietra’s director of music, before she retired a few years ago. She was in the first jazz show on campus, and once again will be among the troupers in this year’s production. And while jazz is the core music genre, the event will embrace Broadway favorites, salsa and big-band sounds.
The slate of troupers includes Eddie Ortiz and Son Caribe featuring Cynthia Romero, Hot Club of Hulaville, Kip Wilborn, and the Mike Lewis Big Band.
“In 1999, Sunset Jazz was created to bring live music and performance to the students at La Pietra,” said Shari. “We hoped they would enjoy and be inspired by the experience. We had no idea that it would become a favorite community event, selling out year after year,” she said.
Tickets: $75 each, which includes wine and dessert. Those attending may opt to bring their own picnic suppers, and purchase a basket for two for $125, available on site.
Details: lapietra.edu/SunsetJazz …
Michael Paulo’s ‘Smooth Jazz Nights’
Home-grown jazz star Michael Paulo will stage “Smooth Jazz Nights,” at 8 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Hibiscus Ballroom of the Ala Moana Hotel.
The concert will have a sentimental undercurrent; it will remember the late Al Waterson, a regular emcee of Paulo’s jazz endeavors here. Waterson, a popular host, singer, actor and entertainer, died April 21.
Apaulo Productions, saxophonist Paulo’s company, will also showcase Mindi Abair, saxophonist, and Peter White, guitarist, along with Paulo’s All-Star Band comprising Arthur Thompson, a drummer from Los Angeles, along with Hawaii musicians Michael Grande on keyboards, Zanuck Lindsey on guitar and Bruce Hamada on bass.
The event also will mark the release of Paulo’s new album, “Here Is Happiness,” titled after his late dad Rene Paulo’s hit from the past. The recording will be available at the concert.
Tickets: $75 for reserved table seating, $65 for general admission, available at tix.com or (951) 696-0184 …
‘Newsies’ closes on a high
I took in the final performance of I’m a Bright Kid Foundation’s hit show, “Newsies,” this past Sunday (Aug. 25) at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College.
I had seen, and reviewed, the opening night show (Aug. 9) and knew I had to return for the finale. Yeah, worth seeing it again!
Over 10 performances, the kids and adults – 35 of ‘em, but notably the kids — had become so ingrained in their roles that you could sense and see the pride and joy in their faces. Mission accomplished.
Happily, IAMB executive director Ligaya Stice and the show’s director, Mary Chesnut Hicks, could sit and fully watch the show for the first time. Surely, it’s way different to see it from the backstage wings of the theater.
I sat next to Hicks, who was all smiles and was a generous hand-clapper especially when the newsies were soaring and leaping and dancing. You could sense the energy. “They’ve become one family, sharing their love of theater,” she said at intermission. Indeed, the mentor was joyous and both happy and sad – happy that the journey was incredible, sad because soon it would be over.
Also a happy camper, er, clapper: Auntie Mo (widow of Ron Bright), who has seen all performances. It’s a tradition, from way back. Besides, her son Clarke Bright, maestro for the orchestra, and grandkidS Caity Bright and Drew Bright were onstage newsies, and Christopher Bright on drums in the ork.
At the final curtain, everyone in the cast had lei. Hicks named all the backstage crew to come out for a bow, and a lei, if they didn’t have one; Clarke Bright, musical director, asked all his musicians to leave the pit and take an onstage bow. I’ve not seen such outpouring of goodwill and aloha. Do other theater groups do something similar on closing night?
Noticeable in the curtain bows: Genesis Kaeo, who played Jack Kelly, the lead newsie, tried to hold back tears, but it flowed – a natural response, again of happiness and sadness. Note: his singing voice had become so powerful and his delivery with co-star Seanlei Nishimura (Katherine) was impeccable.
Maybe it was not a surprise, but the houses have been filled with youngsters (with parents, of course), perhaps eager to see school chums on stage, or simply moms and dads felt the message of “Newsies” – stand up for what you believe, don’t be bullied by others, fight for what’s right – is a lesson worth experiencing together.
So: This was the right show at the right time. IABK had been saddled – like the rest of the world — by the devastating pandemic affecting everyone several years ago; and it was unable to produce a legit show till this season. Patience paid off…
And that’s Show Biz…