Saxophonist Ben Himpel from Bonn, Germany, will collaborate with local talents James Kraft on guitar and Lou Benanto on bass, to present a selection of jazz music from the Great American Songbook.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii and the Friends of Aina Haina Public Library, this one–hour program is recommended for ages 12 to adults.

Originally from Berlin, Germany, Himpel has privately studied the saxophone and jazz with Steve Coleman, David Baker, Gebhard Ullmann, Mack Goldsbury, Mike Zilber and Uli Lenz, among others. He writes and arranges music, has won prizes at German music competitions, and has played in several groups over the years including the Berlin Youth Jazz Orchestra, and the Indiana University Big Bands.

James Kraft and Lou Benanto are two of the top jazz musicians in Hawaii. They studied independently with jazz masters throughout the United States such as Al Hendrickson, Ted Greene and Gary Peacock.