Hawai'i's jazz artists line up for two days of smooth sounds at the Great Hawaiian Jazz BlowOut: From left: Gabe Baltazar, Jackson Miles, Keahi Conjugacion, Aaron Aranita, Jimmy Borges. Advertiser library photos

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

•	7th Annual Great Hawaiian Jazz BlowOut Noon-midnight Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday Kapono's, Aloha Tower Marketplace $15 one day, $25 both days 734-0397

"There's no down time," she said about the flow of blues, be-bop, Hawaiian jazz and New Orleans jazz, and every other form of jazz. "We'll have one stage divvied up, with the larger one taking two-thirds the space and the smaller one one-third. That way, we have the same lighting, same sound, with one stage setting up while the other is on."

Because the event is a daytime attraction that glides into the nightscape, efforts are also under way to prevent glare from the afternoon sun.

"We're gonna get some plants and trees to block the sun, yet provide a peek at the ocean," said Ward. "We'll have a few tents, too, and table umbrellas, so there will be some shield."

Ward said she's been organizing this kind of musical to-do long enough to simply rely on the skills of her performers.

"You find group leaders, they find the musicians," she said. "They form the combos that will be playing."

Some elements are intentional, like Saturday's kick-off act, featuring singer Azure McCall, pianist

Tennyson Stevens, and the City of Refuge Gospel Choir. "Kicking off with gospel is a blessing," said Ward. "You get off on a happy note."

Anyone who's a someone in the jazz community will be on stage at some time of the day. At last count, she had about 100 names in the hopper.

"Yes, we'll have the Gabes (Baltazar), the Jimmys (Borges), the Melveens (Leed) and the Sharis (Lynn). They're great artists."

There will be Dixieland jazz, led by Jack Morris and the Swinging Tradewinds, and blues by Miles Jackson Jr. and Chris Planas. Keahi Conjugacion and Rachel Gonzales will wail; there will also be room for improv and unplanned appearances.

"I'm sure there will be many musicians with instruments, waiting for a call to the stage," she said.

So: While there is a tentative lineup of who's on when, changes are likely depending on the mood and the availability of talent.

The format also allows flexibility for the audience; roaming and kibitzing and camaraderie are expected, with no "set" seating. Table-hopping, in fact, is encouraged.

"It's all about having a good time — with great jazz," said Ward. "It's a bigger version of what we do at The Rafters" (her Kaimuki home), where musicians regularly assemble and crowds attend based on word-of-mouth buzz.

Music at the 7th Annual Great Hawaiian Jazz BlowOut will be performed on two stages (actually, it's one large stage divided into two parts). Here's the tentative lineup:

Saturday

• Noon: "Voices of Praise" City of Refuge Gospel Choir, featuring Azure McCall, vocals; Tennyson Stephens, keyboard.
• 1 p.m.: Shriners Potentate Jazz Band.
• 2 p.m.: Milestone Jazz. Miles Jackson, bass; Jimmy Funai, guitar; Peter Factora, drums; Billy Beames, sax; Aaron Aranita, piano.
• 3 p.m.: Jazzamba Brazilian Jazz. Winston Raval, piano; Ernie Provencher, bass; Adam Baron, drums; Chris Planas, guitar; Aaron Aranita, sax and flute.
• 4 p.m.: New Orleans Jazz Band. Gabe Baltazar, sax; Lew Maddox, drums; Don Smith, trumpet; Steve Carruthers, trombone; Kit Ebersbach, piano; Ernie Provencher, bass.
• 5 p.m.: Chris Planas Group. Chris Planas, guitar; Richie Pratt, drums; Richard Heirekuji, bass; Bailey Matsuda, piano; Aaron Aranita, sax.
• 6 p.m.: Marcell Porter and Friends. Marcell Porter, trumpet; Gilbert Batangan, guitar; Mark Tanouye, bass; Adam Baron, drums; Dan Del Negro, piano.
• 7 p.m. Gabe Baltazar and Friends.
• 8 p.m. Melveen Leed and Friends.
• 9 p.m. Ace Thompson and Friends.
• 10 p.m. Patrick Greene and Friends. Patrick Greene, guitar; Dan Del Negro, piano; Miles Jackson, bass; Peter Factora, drums.
• 11 p.m.: BlowOut All-Stars Big Band.
• Midnight: After Hours Jam Session.

Secondary staging area: Throughout the day, times not yet scheduled:

• Rachel Gonzales, vocals; with Les Peetz, piano; Ernie Provencher, bass; Chuck James, drums.
• Kroon, David Kroon, guitar/vocals; Roger Araujo, drums; Aaron Aranita, sax; Miles Jackson, bass.
• Rea Fox, vocals; with Gilbert Batangan, guitar.
• Slim Mango

Sunday

• 11 a.m.: Jazz Brunch with Kapono's New Orleans culinary specialties and New Orleans jazz and Gospel. The Swingin' Tradewinds Jass Band.
• Noon: Iolani Jazz Ensemble.
• 1 p.m. Brien Matson Combo. Brien Matson, trombone; Rob Prester, piano; Todd Smith, bass; Adam Baron, drums.
• 2 p.m.: Hawaii Jazz Singers.
• 3 p.m.: Winston Raval Trio.
• 4 p.m.: Bluzilla.
• 5 p.m.: Keahi Conjugacion and Friends.
• 6 p.m. Teresa Bright and Friends.
• 7 p.m. PBS Big Band.

Special Guests: Shari Lynn and Jimmy Borges.

Secondary staging area: Throughout the day, times not yet scheduled:

• Jerome James Trio.
• Amber Ricci, vocals; with Scott Shafer, drums; Bobbie Nishida,guitar.
• Country Blues.