The skilled, imaginative musicianship of DeShannon Higa & grOOve.imProv.arTiSts is the main reason to check out the Hanohano Room's still-evolving after-work weekly.

THE LISTENING PARTY

Where: The Hanohano Room at the Sheraton Waikiki, 922-4422

When: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays

Cover: None

Got parking? Yes, free valet and self-parking with validation.

The appeal: Funk-filled acid jazz, trip-hop beats and scat vocals mixed live and in the moment ... with a sweet sunset/early p.m. skyline view.

I'm under 21: See ya when you're not.

The crowd: The Hanohano's raised mid-room lounge section's tables were copped by twenty- and thirtysomethings when we stopped by 'round 7 p.m. The busy enough — if not full — lounge included, but wasn't limited to: a trio of dudes in suits, a table full of what sounded like state-employed accountants, a way metrosexual posse of males and a handful of couples.

Higa & grOOve.imProv.arTiSts: In short, THE reason to check out the L.P. The collective's name highlights what it does best. Higa and crew are in full-on experimental mode, nixing jazz standards to get coolly freaky with on-the-spot-created oddball groove lines, riffs, melodies and live beats. Lyrics are imagined and, at times, even self-penned on-stage by sublimely gifted vocalist Maria Remos.

Libations: A 20-strong signature cocktail menu showed some interesting creativity with its occasionally offbeat combinations of spirits, liqueurs and the occasional fresh ingredient or two. A selection of "treatinis," now $8 each, might be better dropped back to the $5 prices that we appreciated on our visit.

Food: On paper, a brand new appetizer menu seems an improvement over a less-pricey, but uninspired, selection we chose from on our visit. To attract loyal pau-hana business, however, a leap in price from $6 "pupu" to $11 to $18 "appetizers," will need to be justified with more on the plate; portions on the former menu were too small to satisfy.

Wasn't this a Flash & Matty weekly? Yes, but no more. The Listening Party was founded by the upscale Honolulu club promoters at the start of the year with a changing roster of acoustic-based acts. F&M re-jiggered the event in May, with Higa and grOOve.imProv as resident headliners. Flash & Matty remain on as advisers, but they departed from the Listening Party's week-to-week promotions last month and now are focusing on other projects.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.