Sandy Tsukiyama Live at Adega Portuguesa Restaurant & Bar (10-21-2012)

Adega means 'wine cellar'. Venha ouvir o pato e uma canção de ganso! (Portuguese translation: Come hear the duck & goose song!) It's Adega Restaurant Owner, Trigo's DeSilva's favorite! Adega Portuguesa Restaurant & Bar is Honolulu's only place for authentic Portuguese food, and Latin music from Brazil. Every Sunday night from 7:30 pm to 10 pm, Sandy Tsukiyama and her band play some of the best Latin Jazz in the islands. We were awed with Sandy's sultry voice and rhythmic Portuguese lyrics. Here is what the Adega Portuguesa Restaurant & Bar website (http://www.adegahi.com/) has to say about Sandy:

“A Honolulu native, Sandy Tsukiyama grew up in a musical household. She discovered Spanish language and Music Theory at her alma mater, Roosevelt High School and received a BA in Ethnomusicology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. At UH she continued in Spanish and began studying Brazilian Portuguese. Fascinated by bossa novas on radio jazz programs, she embarked on a quest to further investigate the music of Brazil. Her first vocal gigs were with Brazilian-inspired group, “Ohta-San’s New Thing” and the Ebbtides, in 1975. She began studying voice with Marilyn Kim and was backup singer and percussionist for Nohelani Cypriano. In 1980, recipient of a Rotary Post-Graduate Fellowship for International Understanding, she studied Brazilian folk music traditions and voice at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Escola de Música. During her three-year stay there, she became immersed in the vibrant musical culture of the city. Fortunate to perform backup for Marku Ribas and Robertinho do Recife, along with numerous, well-known artists, Sandy appeared at various venues from posh piano bars such as Chiko’s Bar, Rive Gauche, and national TV broadcasts on Rede Globo. She was house vocalist for two years in the piano bar at Restaurante Antonino in the Lagoa District, where Lisa Ono, who later became Japan’s primary bossa nova exponent, would occasionally sit in. At the “Todos os Cantos” music festival, in Curitiba, Paraná, in 1981, she was accompanied by the yet unknown, Eliane Elias. While married to percussionist Carlinhos “Pandeiro de Ouro” de Oliveira, she befriended countless household names on the Brazilian music scene”

You can also catch Sandy on her Radio Show "Brazilian Experience", every Sunday afternoon at 4 pm on KIPO Hawaii Public Radio on 89.3 FM.

Enjoy these captured golden moments. Felicidades e não pare a música! (Portuguese Translation: Cheers! & Don't Stop The Music!)

Members of Sandy Tsukiyama’s band:

Sandy Tsukiyama – vocals, percussions
Peter Factora – drums
David Yamasaki – guitar
Ernie Provencher - bass guitar

Pictures:

Video 1 – Desafinado

Video 2 – Corcovado

Steve Lucas ~ A Fellowship in Jazz featuring Eddie Ramirez at Ige’s Restaurant & 19th Puka (10-17-2012)

Jazz was definitely in the air in Aiea! With lots of Rooting & Tooting too! Steve Lucas ~ A Fellowship in Jazz, featuring special guest artist, Eddie Ramirez! Fans and Diners were treated to a special performance by extraordinaire trumpet and flugelhorn player, Eddie Ramirez. Eddie, member of The Society of Seven, Phase 7 and many other noted musical groups, was visiting from Fremont, CA. Cannonball Trumpets, which Eddie highly endorses, shares the following bio:

"Eddie brings over 45 years of international show and tour experience to the state. Included in his repertoire is big band, swing, Dixie, classical, jazz funk, Latin, classic rock, gospel and R&B. Eddie's classic training stated at age 7, when he became the youngest trumpet soloist in the Philippines. He went on to write and perform musical scores for TV show and moves in the mainland, and perform with touring artist such as Stan Getz, Nancy Wilson and Ann Margaret. He played lead trumpet with several big bands, toured with his own Latin band 'Brass Wave', mastered free form jazz in Germany, and honored his multi-instrumentalist skills on tours throughout Asia, Japan, Hawaii, Germany, Canada and the U.S. His arrangement of Chick Corea's "Spain" for the Honolulu Symphony, which he also performed with them, remains a milestone in his career. He also perfected holding a note indefinitely and playing two-horns-atonce, for which he is probably best known in the islands. Eddie spent the 80's on stage and TV in Hawaii, making albums and touring with Hawaii's top show group Society of Seven. He then toured with Bobby Womack on his Resurrection Tour thought the U.S., and Joe Louis Walker throughout Europe. In the Bay area, he's done guest solos on CD for Danilo, Sista Monica, Elaine Lucia, Chuck Prolio's OMB, IshikoJam, Kirk Casey, and music for CD-rom games by Electric Arts. Eddie is currently teaching adults and children music theory, piano, flute, trumpet and vocals and freelancing with Big City Revue, Mich Woods (rocket 88 swingband), Rudy Salvini's Big Band, and Danilo. His first U.S. CD "Velvet Fist" was released in 1999. He produced multiple CD's that contains love song of Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban. He is currently at work on his next, entitled "The Eddie Ramirez Project"."

Mahalo to Ron Ige, owner of Ige's Restaurant & 19th Puka for providing not just delicious food, but also a stage/showroom that serves the community well. This was truly 'A Fellowship In Jazz' to remember! Enjoy these captured Golden Moments & Don't Stop The Music!

Pictures!





The Musicians:

Steve Lucas – guitar, vocals
*Eddie Ramirez - trumpet, flugelhorn
Steven Yamasaki – bass
Tuns Gionson – trumpet, vocals
Yano Gionson – guitar
Jose Baylon – bass guitar, percussions, vocals
Glen Racoma – drums
Frankie Paracuelles - bongos, drums
Harry Chang – drums
Dennis Wilson - trumpet
Sterling Sakuma – drums

The Vocalists:

Sandy Tsujimura, Adney Atabay (of Phase 7 and TRK), Mei-Ling, David Haynes, Norma and Rhea.

Video 1 – Quiet Nights.



Video 2 – Sabor A Mi, featuring Tuns Gionson on vocals.



Video 3 – It’s Too Late, featuring Sandy T on vocals.



Video 4 – Video Medley. Part 1 “Mysty”, featuring Adney Atabay (vocals) and Sterling Sakuma (drums). Part 2 “Here’s That Rainy Day” featuring Meling (vocals). Part 4 David Haynes on vocals and “Invisible trombone” with the song “Around the World”.

Men in Grey Suits live at Jimmy Buffett's Honolulu Surfing Museum (10-11-2012)

It's Surf Rock! at the Jimmy Buffett's Honolulu Surfing Museum in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort.  Every Thursday night from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. 

"Men In Grey Suits is Honolulu's newest Surf Rock band playing music of The Ventures, Dick Dale, and many others including many movie and TV theme songs of the 60's that were strongly influenced by surf guitar sounds like Hawaii 5-0 and The Pink Panther Theme.  Although beginning as a cover band, material is being written for a debut album to be released in December 2012.

Formed by guitarist Chad Hamman who was visited in his sleep one night by a Kahuna telling him that Honolulu needs a new Surf Rock Band to liven things up a bit.  A few well placed advertisements drew Robbin Henley, Jr., Florida native surfer and guitarist extraordinaire in to the band.  Soon followed by bassist Michael Clare, refugee from the space rock/fusion world of Gong who found himself stranded in paradise and the lure of the psychedelic tinged sounds of the surf guitars pulled him in.  Drummer Alvin Fejarang, a veteran of 20 years in the phenomenal Oahu band Kalapana couldn't resist the challenge of providing the rhythms and the rest is for the future to uncover."

(Information from http://www.meningreysuits.com)

Tour schedule: 
SPECIAL Halloween performance at the Honolulu Surfing Museum - Wednesday October 31!

Men In Grey Suits:
Chad Hamman - guitar;
Alvin Fejarang - drums;
Mike Clare - bass guitar;
Robbin Henley, Jr - guitar.

Check out their website and music
at: http://www.meningreysuits.com

Pictures!

Videos!

n u v o and Soul Pilot at Amuse Wine Bar (10-5-2012)

What a gem!   Cupola Theater at the Amuse Wine Bar, home of Fresh Fridays with n u v o !   There's a large dance floor which ballroom and swing dancers like.  We saw dancers all the way from Wahiawa and Haleiwa there!  The Amuse staff was quick to accommodate guests with additional tables & seating.  Free parking, great wine selection and ono pupus.  They also serve iced coffee!  We like!  Checkout their website: http://www.amusewinebar.com/

Every 1st Friday n u v o plays Top 40, Funk, R&B and Disco music from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. (However, Jules said there is no show in the month of December due to holiday parties, but will resume in 2013) On this Friday night, the 1st set featured guest band, Soul Pilot.  A Double Treat! Two bands with an array of good music to groove and dance to.  Enjoy the pics and golden moment videos below.  Mahalo to all!  And Don't Stop The Music!


n u v o

Jules Kam - Lead Vocals
Ross Murakami - Drums
Dayton Arima - Bass Guitar, Vocals
Dave Watanabe - Guitar, Vocals
Jason Lazzerini - Sax
Matt Nakamoto - Keyboards, Vocals

Soul Pilot


Rachel Gonzales - Lead Vocals
Russell Shiroma - Guitar,Vocals
Bradley Choi - Drums
Dayton Arima - Bass Guitar, Vocals
Mitchell Fukumoto - Keyboards
John Lundgren - Sax

Audissey, BS Express, and Chaotic Five live at Manoa Grand Ballroom (9-21-2012)

Hats off to Dennis Matsukawa of Audissey, and Bernadette Ferreira of Kool Inspiration for supporting new young talent!

Pictures!

A video of the performance........