by Michele Van Hessen
*Archived March 2006 article

The Halekulani is one of the leading hotels in the world, and it is the perfect setting for the Hawaii International Jazz Festival 2006 (HIJF). This Hawaiian signature event is celebrating its thirteenth year with a fantastic schedule of daylong and evening experiences. On Saturday, April 1, 2006 there will be a 10 A.M. jazz clinic featuring demonstrations of various jazz styles set against historical context. Following the clinic, an open-forum discussion with the celebrated musicians is offered to attendees. Later that evening, audiences will hear Hawaii's finest jazz musicians at the event's centerpiece concert beginning at 8 P.M. Arrays of delectable Halekulani culinary delights will be available for purchase. An extraordinary roster of talent has been assembled by HIJF's Founder and Executive Director Abe Weinstein, who is dedicated to providing cultural enrichment to Hawaii residents and visitors through the wonderful American art form of jazz music.

"Halekulani is dedicated to supporting local arts of all genres and we are honored to have been bestowed the privilege of hosting this renowned festival," said Peter Shaindlin, Chief Operating Officer, Hotels and Resorts of Halekulani. He continued, "The Hawaii International Jazz Festival is a wonderful forum for Hawaii's finest jazz musicians to share their extraordinary talents with both our guests and the local community." The sponsorship in part by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the City and County of Honolulu, ABC Stores, Starbucks, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Hawaiian Airlines, and now the Halekulani is due to Weinstein's unprecedented ability to create synergy around the Hawaii International Jazz Festival.

The evening performance held in the Halekulani ballroom features three acts. Ginai, a jazz and R&B vocalist, songwriter and percussionist who has opened for Diana Krall, performed around the world and most recently was seen in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan will be appearing with the Hawaii International Jazz Festival All Star Band, directed by Weinstein. Weinstein is an experienced performer who has been a member of the Honolulu Symphony, an instructor at Punahou, Leeward Community College and the University of Hawaii. The band includes Gabe Baltazar and David Choy on sax, DeShannon Higa on trumpet, pianist Rich Crandall, bassist John Kolivas, guitarist Robert Shinoda, and Adam Baron on drums. The performances that evening will continue with Shelly Berg, the musical director of the USC Jazz Orchestra. Berg, an arranger, composer, educator and pianist known for his excellent versatility was a finalist in the 1988 Great American Jazz Piano Competition. His recent CD, "The Will" spent eight weeks in the top-ten on the Gavin Definitive jazz radio chart. Rounding out the evening's performances is a freeform jam session featuring a mixture of the festival's musicians.

HIJF plays a vital role in Hawaii's cultural and musical education landscape. HIJF honors and perpetuates the history of jazz. In the islands, dating back to the early 1920s, the Moana and the Royal Hawaiian hotels were venues for swing, which was partnered with the melodic Hawaiian tunes creating an indigenous Hawaiian Jazz. Youth education clinics are held and post-concert jam sessions follow the major concerts of HIJF. This jazz festival has brought hundreds of world-famous jazz artists to Hawaii and has presented over 50 world-class concerts. On April 7th, the festival will present a Hawaiian Jazz concert at the hip Chinatown's Red Elephant. Then the HIJF will continue its activities at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets for the Hawaii International Jazz Festival are $75.00 and $60.00. For more information, please contact the HIJF main office at (808) 941-9974, visit www.hawaiijazz.com or email: aewjazz1@aol.com. Festival parking is complimentary, courtesy of Halekulani.