Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) - Pacific Harp Project Jazzes Up Harp Repertoire - Kaimuki

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Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) - Pacific Harp Project Jazzes Up Harp Repertoire
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Type: Special Event
Date: Friday - 12/4/2015
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location:
Hawaii Public Radio (HPR)
Atherton Performing Arts Studio
738 Kaheka Street
Honolulu, HI 96814

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Pacific Harp Project Jazzes Up Harp Repertoire December 4, Atherton Studio

The four-member Pacific Harp Project explores the traditional harp repertoire in a new context, allowing for collaboration and improvisation. The group releases its self-titled debut CD with a concert in HPR's Atherton Studio on Friday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. The group consists of Megan Bledsoe Ward (harp), Noel Okimoto (vibraphone), Jon Hawes (bass/composer), and Allan Ward (drums/composer).

Tickets to the Pacific Harp Project CD-release concert are $30 general, $25 for HPR members, and $15 for students with ID. Reservations may be made at www.hprtickets.org or by calling the station (955-8821) during regular business hours. The Atherton Studio is located at Hawaiʻi Public Radio, 738 Kāheka Street. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Pacific Harp Project is an outgrowth of harpist Ward's doctoral dissertation, The Harp in Jazz and American Pop Music. She describes the group's origins, "I've always wanted to play jazz on the harp, but the way the harp is constructed makes it extremely difficult to apply a lot of jazz repertoire to the instrument. On the other hand, we have a lot of beautiful French impressionist and 20th-century music for harp, with harmonies very similar to a lot of jazz repertoire. Our goal is to combine standard harp repertoire with improvisation, jazz, pop, and original compositions."

About the artists

Megan Bledsoe Ward holds a bachelor of music in harp performance, a master of music in harp performance and literature, and a master of arts in music theory pedagogy from Eastman School of Music, where she studied harp with Kathleen Bride. Ward then studied with Heidi Lehwalder and Valeri Muzzolini Gordon at the University of Washington, where she earned a doctorate of musical arts in harp performance. Her doctoral dissertation, The Harp in Jazz and American Pop Music, was published in 2012. Ward currently performs as principal harpist with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra in Alaska and as a freelance harpist in Honolulu. She teaches music theory, music fundamentals, and choir at Pacific Rim University, and teaches private harp lessons in both Hawaiʻi and Alaska.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Noel Okimoto has been playing professionally since the age of ten. Okimoto's primary instrument is the drum set, but he is also an accomplished orchestral percussionist, vibraphonist, composer, and clinician. He received his bachelor's degree in percussion from the University of Hawaiʻi. Okimoto has played in Hawaiʻi, the mainland USA, and internationally with Freddie Hubbard, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Richie Cole, Bill Watrous, Ernie Watts, Bud Shank, Barney Kessel, Lew Tabackin, Sadao Watanabe, Wynton Marsalis, Ronnie Cuber, Makoto Ozone, Jeff Richman, Larry Coryell, Nestor Torres, Gene Harris, Take 6, David Benoit, Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, Steve Allen, Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, Patti Page, Dionne Warwick, and Jake Shimabukuro, among others. He was also a member of the Gabe Baltazar Group for five years. He is currently the percussion section leader of the historic Royal Hawaiian Band. Okimoto recorded an award-winning jazz CD in 2004, entitled ʻOhana, that received a 4-star review in Downbeat magazine and positive reviews in other national and international publications.

Electric and upright bassist and composer Jon Hawes was born in England and raised in Massachusetts. Since relocating to Oʻahu in 2003, he has been fortunate to perform, tour, and/or record with a diverse collection of artists such as Henry Kapono, Cecilio & Kapono, Michael McDonald, Makana, Ricky Peterson, Tavana, Eric Giliom and Michael Ruff, Kenneth Makuakane, Paula Fuga, Valery Ponomarev, Paul Carlon, Stafford Hunter, Mykah9, among others. Album credits include the Grammy-nominated and Nā Hōkū-winning CD The Wild Hawaiian by Henry Kapono. Film score and television commercial credits include clients such as Hawaiian Airlines and First Hawaiian Bank, and short films by director Brett Wagner. Hawes lives in Kailua with his wife and stepdaughter.

Allan Ward (percussion/composer) has earned a bachelor of music degree in performance from Colorado University, Boulder and dual master of music degrees in jazz studies and music education from the Eastman School of Music. Additionally, Ward completed a master of science in music education through Syracuse University. Before moving to Honolulu, he taught music for the Seattle Public Schools. He is now a full-time member of the Royal Hawaiian Band and performs and teaches locally.

About Hawai‘i Public Radio

HPR is a private, non-profit organization which broadcasts classical, jazz, and international music; and in-depth news and informational programming from National Public Radio, American Public Media, Public Radio International, and other local, national, and international program sources, as well as programs produced by Hawai‘i Public Radio. In December 2014, Charity Navigator, the premier charity evaluator, awarded HPR its third consecutive four-star rating for exceptional fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. HPR was named one of the 2015 Best Places to Work in Hawaii by Hawaii Business magazine and Best Places Group.

HPR's mission is to serve the entire population of the state of Hawai‘i with two excellent program streams. HPR-1, the news magazine and fine arts stream, can currently be heard on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i (KHPR 88.1 FM and 88.5 FM); Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lana‘i (KKUA 90.7 FM); East Hawai‘i (KANO 91.1 FM (Hilo) and K234AN 94.7 FM (Waimea)); Kauaʻi (K269GD 101.7 FM); and West Hawaiʻi (K239BV 95.7 FM). HPR-2, the news, local talk, and music stream, is found on Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i (KIPM 89.7 FM and KIPH 88.3 FM (Hana)); West Hawai‘i (KIPM 89.7 FM and KHPH 88.7 FM); the newest station in south Hawai‘i (KAHU 91.7 FM); O‘ahu and Kaua‘i (KIPO 89.3 FM; KIPL 89.9 FM). HPR is online and streaming at hawaiipublicradio.org and hpr2.org; as well as on Facebook (hawaiipublicradio) and Twitter (@hipubradio). Free iOS and Android™ apps for "Hawaii Public Radio" are available for download from the App Store or Google Play™. HPR-1 and HPR-2 may also be heard via cable broadcasts from Oceanic Time Warner (channels 864 and 865) or Hawaiian Telcom TV (channels 661 and 662).

About HPR's Atherton Performing Arts Studio

The Atherton Studio seats 75 people and is home to a magnificent Bösendorfer concert grand piano. The Studio is available for rent for musical performances, community group meetings, and lectures. It is located in the HPR office and studio complex at 738 Kaheka Street, across from the Honolulu Don Quijote. Metered street parking is available, as are paid lots at the First Hawaiian Bank (Kapi‘olani branch) and in the Pan Am building.

About Hawaii Public Radio

HPR is a private, non-profit organization which broadcasts classical, jazz, and international music; and in-depth news and informational programming from National Public Radio, American Public Media, Public Radio International, and other local, national, and international program sources, as well as programs produced by Hawaii Public Radio. In October 2013, Charity Navigator, the premier charity evaluator, awarded HPR its second consecutive four-star rating for exceptional fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

HPR's mission is to serve the entire population of the state of Hawai‘i with two excellent program streams. HPR-1, the news magazine and fine arts stream, can currently be heard on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i (KHPR 88.1 FM and 88.5 FM); Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, and West Hawai‘i (KKUA 90.7 FM); and East Hawai‘i (KANO 91.1 FM (Hilo) and 94.7 FM (Waimea)). HPR-2, the news, local talk, and music stream, is found on Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i (KIPM 89.7 FM and KIPH 88.3 FM (Hana)); West Hawai‘i (KIPM 89.7 FM and KHPH 88.7 FM); O‘ahu and Kaua‘i (KIPO 89.3 FM; KIPL 89.9 FM)

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Kaimuki, Hawaii Event Calendar Item

Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) - Pacific Harp Project Jazzes Up Harp Repertoire

Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item