Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) -Unique Collaboration of Jazz Strings

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Kaimuki, Hawaii
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Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) -Unique Collaboration of Jazz Strings
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Type: Special Event
Date: Saturday - 2/21/2015
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location:
Hawaii Public Radio (HPR)
Atherton Performing Arts Studio
738 Kaheka Street
Honolulu, HI 96814

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Unique Collaboration of Jazz Strings at Atherton Studio Feb. 21

Violinist Duane Padilla, ʻUkulele Grand Master Benny Chong, Bassist Byron Yasui

A founding member of the Hot Club of Hulaville, classically trained violinist Duane Padilla heads a trio of jazz masters, including Benny Chong (ʻukulele) and Byron Yasui (bass) at Hawaiʻi Public Radio's Atherton Studio on Saturday, February 21st. Together they explore what might happen if French jazz violinist Stephane Grapelli and American violinist Stuff Smith accidentally met in a Waikīkī night club and were asked to jam "island style." The concert will also preview music and talk story from Padilla's upcoming lecture on "Jamming like Stuff and Steph" at the American String Teachers Association National Conference.

Doors swing open at 7:00 p.m.; the music starts swinging at 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($30 general, $25 for HPR members, and $15 for students with ID) may be purchased 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.

About the artists

Duane Padilla began musical studies at the age of four with Suzuki violin teacher Idell Low. After continuing his training with Gerardo Ribeiro at Northwestern University and Syoko Aki at Yale University, he began his career as an orchestral musician, performing with the National Repertoire Orchestra, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, the New Haven Symphony, and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. An active classical chamber music performer, his award-winning ensemble The Gemini Duo was a semi-finalist in the prestigious international Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York City. The Duo also earned outreach grants from Chamber Music America and the American Federation of Musicians, and was a featured ensemble on the Connecticut Commission on the Arts Performing Artist Roster and the CMA Rural Residency Artist Roster.

Padilla's more recent artistic endeavors have turned towards jazz. As a founding member of the Hot Club of Hulaville, he won the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts's Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for jazz album of the year for their gypsy jazz release "Django Would Go!" His subsequent solo jazz violin album "Sentimental Swing" was named one of the top 40 jazz releases of 2011 by the South African Jazz Educators Association. Recent concert collaborations include duo performances with pianist Tommy James (Music Director of the Duke Ellington Orchestra NYC), fingerstyle guitar legend Jeff Linsky, guitarist Paul Mehling (Hot Club of San Francisco), Hawaiian pop icon Makana, Grammy-winning Hawaiian slack key guitarist Jeff Peterson, and jazz ʻukulele grand master Benny Chong. He has opened concerts for jazz giants Martin Taylor, John Jorgensen, and John Pizzarelli.

An equally accomplished educator, Duane began his teaching career in Connecticut, where he was head of the Suzuki Program the Tabor Community Arts Center and the Bethwood Suzuki School. He is currently on the faculty of the Punahou Music School and serving on the National American String Teachers Association's Eclectic Styles Committee as Vice Chairman.

Benny Chong taught himself to play the ‘ukulele when he was 11 years old. He put aside the instrument nine years later to concentrate on the guitar. He later became the guitarist for The Aliis, who accompanied Don Ho for nearly 25 years. He returned to the ‘ukulele for his debut CD, entitled Ukulele Jazz. The ‘ukulele is not commonly considered a jazz solo instrument -- until you hear Benny Chong play it. Chong employs complex chords involving open strings mixed with strings stopped at higher frets, a right hand that elicits different volumes for each string within the same chord, a silky strumming technique, and lightning fast chord and melody movements.

Byron K. Yasui is a retired Professor Emeritus of composition at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he taught since 1972. He is the co-founder and artistic director of the University's Hawaiʻi Guitar Festival. He holds degrees in music education and composition from the University of Hawaiʻi and Northwestern University (D.M.A.). He remains active as a freelance jazz double bassist and a classical guitar duo partner with Brazilian virtuoso Carlos Barbosa-Lima. He is also an award-winning composer of modern classical music and his works have been performed, published, and recorded internationally.

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

Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item