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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, March 21, 2006

SHOW BIZ
Get ready for new Brother Noland, Ohta jams

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

Brother Noland

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Herb "Ohta-san" Ohta

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Paul Walker

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Liz Damon

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ON THE RECORD: Brother Noland's highly anticipated CD, "Mystical Fish," will be released April 18. It should jump-start his musical career; it's got original sounds galore, and if you've got eager ears, you can get a preview listen at mount ainapplecompany.com. ...

Speaking of great expectations: Grammy winner Daniel Ho has been readying his new 'ukulele-duet CD with Herb Ohta Jr., titled "Step 2: 'Ukuleles in Paradise 2." Due sometime in April, the disc will be blessed with a cameo appearance by Ohta's dad, Herb "Ohta-san" Ohta, on a revival of dad's "Song for Anna" monster hit from yesteryear. The elder Ohta just earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Keo's in Waikiki manager Brian Jahnke had just mentioned to restaurant owner Keo Sananikone that he ought to see the film "Eight Below," since Sananikone is a dog owner. Then Jahnke seated a diner and told him he resembled Paul Walker, the star of the dogs-in-the-snow adventure, and sure enough, it was Walker, on yet another Hono-lulu visit (his young daughter lives here). Walker posed for a photo with Sananikone for Keo's Wall of Fame gallery. ...

If you like drive-in movies, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," along with "Surf Movie Reels 1-14," is set for Saturday at Maui Community College. Doors open 5:30 p.m.; admission is $5 per person for walk-ins, $20 per car (keiki are free). Live music and food vendors augment the films. ...

SHORTS OF SORTS: Rex Nockengust is off to Europe, hitting Madrid, Vienna and Rome. To get in an Italian mood, the cabaret singer dined at Romano's Macaroni Grill with Beach Glass Bingo partner Gene Allen (who will soon join him). At the restaurant, they recognized a familiar "Happy Birthday" — sung in Italian by Shawna Masuda, who works at the restaurant and who just closed in "Cats" at Army Community Theatre's Richardson Theatre.

Nockengust returns to his Shanghai Bistro gig with keyboarder Don Conover on April 7. Masuda, meanwhile, plans to make her first New York visit shortly, staying with Katherine Mills, the localite who now attends New York University. And you bet she'll soak up the shows on Broadway. ...

It'll be deja vu at the Hawai'i Theatre Center's 2006 fundraiser, "Carnivale," at The Kahala. Recruited from last year's gala: singer Joey Caldarone and pianist Kit Samson to provide the music. ...

DATEBOOK: Besides its April 1 performance at the Diamond Head Crater Celebration, look for the Steve Miller Band in a concert at 8 p.m. April 7 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village's Grand Ballroom on the Big Island. Tickets are $80 in advance, $85 at the door. And country artists Neal McCoy and Craig Morgan also perform at the resort, 8 p.m. April 22, with tickets set at $55 in advance or $60 at the door for dance floor seating, $45 and $50 for general admission. Call (808) 886-1234. ...

The Makaha Sons are next up in the "Hana Hou!" series at Hawai'i Theatre, at 8 p.m. April 14. Tickets are $30; call 528-0506. ...

"Lab Jazz," a fundraiser for the University Laboratory School's Class of 2006, assembles a host of jazz notables at 7:30 p.m. March 24 at UH's Orvis Auditorium. Performers include Jimmy Borges, Azure McCall, Rich Crandall, Noel Okimoto, Steve Jones and Scott Villiger, with additional appearances by Angela Crandall (a student) and Ira Wong (a teacher). Tickets: $12 adults, $8 students. Call 371-4529 or 722-9025. ...

TRADE WINDS: Next time you're in Las Vegas, look up Liz Damon, the "1900 Yesterday" singer. She's a hostess at the California, Fremont and Main Street hotels downtown (relocating there, from the Stardust). "Tell the locals to bring their Liz Damon albums (CD or vinyl) ... and I'll autograph them," Damon said. Locals have recognized her, asking, "Are you Liz Damon?" ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.