Jazz Blowout set for March 31-April 1

Some of Hawai‘i’s top jazz artists will assemble for the Fifth Annual Great Hawaiian Jazz Blowout from 2 to 10 p.m. March 31 and from noon to 8 p.m. April 1 at Bakken Hall, on the Mid-Pacific Institute campus.

The event will explore the many facets of jazz, from African to early American, from blues to Dixieland, from swing to big band, from Latin to world beat, from mainstream to contemporary.

"This year’s production will offer a number of exciting program features, such as Middle Eastern fusion jazz by New York-based Armenian musicians and contemporary Hawaiian jazz showcasing the improvisational talents of some of our most popular local artists," said Jackie Ward, organizer of the Blow-Out.

"The excitement is created by the fact that the artists, each time they take the stage, are able to break new musical ground often with familiar favorites ... the synergy generated by their interaction produces the miracle we call jazz."

The lineup will entail soloists, combos and groups. Among them:

Vocalists — Harvey Thompson, Jimmy Borges, Keahi Conjugacion, Marianne Mayfield, Mary Ann Hurst, Rachel Gonzales, Teresa Bright, Rocky Brown.

Groups — Swingin’ Tradewinds Jass Band (Dixieland), Partners in Time (Middle Eastern jazz fusion), Nueva Vida (contemporary jazz), Boogie (blues), Mistura (Brazilian).

Musicians — Aaron Aranita, Bailey Matsuda, Chris Planas, Clyde Pound, Deshannon Higa, Ernie Provencher, John Norris, Kit Ebersbach, Les Peetz, Abe Lagrimas, Harvey Thompson, Jack Morse, James Ronstadt, Scott Schafer, Lyle Ritz, Miles Jackson, Noel Okimoto, Peter Factora, Rocky Holmes, Steve Jones, Tennyson Stevens and many others.

Tickets: $12 per day, $20 both days; $5 for students, free for keiki under 12; discounts for seniors and military.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Conductive Education Center of Hawai‘i for children with cerebral palsy. Reservations: 734-0397.

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