Along the way, the band found a new friend — renowned New York jazz critic Nat Hentoff. Bassist John Kolivas sent some early "Tenacity" tracks to the writer, who like what he heard so much that he offered to write the CD liner notes.

"The Honolulu Jazz Quartet is ready to be recognized in jazz scenes throughout the world," Hentoff wrote. That's heady praise.

The band will hold a special concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 20 at Punahou School's Luke Lecture Hall in the Wo International Center.