By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– September is jam packed with amazing talent at Blue Note Hawaii with an array of iconic national artists, local favorites and some great comedy. Local artists include Kuana Torres Kahele, Melveen Leed, Willie K, a tribute to Cannonball Adderley and a tribute to Natalie Cole by Mike Lewis & Friends. The Henry Kapono Artist to Artist Series continues with the legendary Keola Beamer. The Blue Note Hawaii Comedy Series continues this month with Tom Green. National recording artists include singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson, the concert king of the Philippines Martin Nievera, guitar phenom Al Di Meola, saxophonist Michael Lington, indie artist Rachel Yamagata with Brendan Jenner, jazz sax superstar Dave Koz, GRAMMY® award winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling, and The Brian McKnight 4.
A 15% kama‘aina discount is available to residents for most shows. This is available online with code MAHALO15, as well as in person at the box office. Parking is validated at the OHANA East Hotel for $6 for four hours, and at the Outrigger Waikiki for $15 for four hours valet.
The full September Blue Note Hawaii lineup includes:
Eric Hutchinson
August 31 – September 2
Tickets: $35, $25, $25
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Pop, Rock, singer-songwriter
Singer, songwriter, performer, producer, DJ – Eric Hutchinson is a constantly evolving musician, driven by his passion and curiosity for all things musical and creative. His first single “Rock & Roll” earned him his first gold record in the United States and became a #1 hit in Australia, New Zealand & Norway.
Kuana Torres Kahele
September 3
Tickets: $35, $25, $15
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Hawaiian Contemporary
Kuana has been involved in the music and hula scene of Hilo since he was 6 years old. Known for his original acoustic compositions and beautiful arrangements of traditional Hawaiian music, Torres is also recognized as the man behind the voice in “Lava,” an animated short film by Pixar.
Martin Nievera
September 4
Tickets: $35, $25, $15
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Motown, Soul, Gospel
They call him the “concert king of the Philippines.” Local Hawaii Kai boy, Martin Nievera, has sold out concert venues all over Asia, Europe, Australia, Canada and the Middle East performing hits from Broadway to Bublé, as well as a collection of his own hit songs from his 35 years in the business.
Tribute to Cannonball Adderley by Mike Lewis & Friends
September 5
Tickets: $35, $25, $15
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Jazz
Native New Yorker and trumpeter Mike Lewis presents a tribute to the legendary jazz saxophonist, Cannonball Adderely, featuring Benjamin Drazen. Adderely is most notably known for his 1966 jazz single “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” and his work with trumpeter Miles Davis in the 50s and 60s.
Al Di Meola
September 6 – 9
Tickets: $55, $45, $35
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Jazz-fusion, Jazz
A bona fide guitar hero and perennial poll-winner, Al Di Meola has been recognized internationally over the past four decades as virtuoso of the highest order. While his dazzling technique on both acoustic and electric guitars has afforded him regal status among the hordes of fretboard aficionados who regularly flock to his concerts.
Melveen Leed
September 10
Tickets: $35, $25, $15
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Vocal jazz, pop, soul, funk
Melveen Leed (born on Molokai island, Hawaii) is an American singer. After winning the title of “Miss Molokai” she began singing in the mid-1960s, releasing many records in the genres of Hawaiian, Country, and Jazz music. She would go on to win Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Best Female Vocalist consistently from 1978 to 1987.
Tribute to Billie Holiday by the Josh Kaye Trio Ft. Sherry Graham
September 11
Tickets: $35, $25, $15
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Vocal-Jazz
The Josh Kaye Trio presents a tribute to Billie Holiday featuring vocalist Sherry Graham. Considered of the best Jazz vocalist of all-time, Billie Holiday rose to fame in the 1930s after being discovered in a Harlem jazz club. She would later perform with legendary jazz composers Count Basie and Artie Shaw; Billie broke new ground in Shaw’s orchestra as the first African-American singer in an all-white orchestra.
Michael Lington
September 12 – 13
Tickets: $35, $25
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Jazz-Fusion
Jazz saxophonist Michael Lington creates melodic musical wonders punctuated by stirring horn sections, grooving bass lines, a swirling organ, funky guitar licks and driving rhythms. Featured alongside Lington will be local Hawaiian jazz musicians Michael Grande (keyboards), Zanuck Lindsey (guitar), and Randy Aloya (bass).
Henry Kapono’s Artist to Artist Series: Keola Beamer of the Beamer Brothers
September 14
Tickets: $45, $35, $25
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Hawaiian Contemporary, Folk-rock
Keola Beamer comes from a line of musicians five generations back, and can also trace his roots to the House of Kamehameha and Ahiakumai, 15th century rulers of Hawaii. As a slack key virtuoso Keola has drawn the likes of Willie Nelson, who has been quoted saying “Keola Beamer’s [slack key] style is the best there is on the planet.”
Blue Note Comedy Series: Tom Green
September 15 – 16
Tickets: $45, $35
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Comedy
The multi-talented Canadian comedian, actor and broadcaster graced the cover of Rolling Stone, commandeered the coveted guest-host chair on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” and conquered the World Wide Web with his free-wheeling, wildly popular internet talk show, Tom Green’s House Tonight. Today, Tom tours across the country and beyond, performing standup at sold-out venues.
Tribute to Natalie Cole by Mike Lewis & Friends
September 18
Tickets: $35, $25, $15
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Funk, Gospel, Soul
Mike Lewis presents a tribute to Natalie Cole, featuring Riya Davis on vocals. The daughter of legendary jazz-singers, Nat King Cole and Maria Cole, Natalie Cole found her own voice in funk, blues, and R&B. She would later release her debut album Inseparable in 1975, which would go on to win 2 GRAMMYs.
Willie K
September 19
Tickets: $45, $35, $25
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Blues, Hawaiian, Rock, Gospel, Jazz, Opera
The Hawaiian phenomenon Willie K is undoubtedly the only artist in the world who can go into an Irish pub in the middle of Maui and play anything from indigenous acoustic Hawaiian music to jazz, reggae, rock, country and even opera—and leave everyone within earshot slack-jawed in astonishment.
Rachael Yamagata featuring Brendan Jenner
September 20
Tickets: $35, $25
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Singer-songwriter, Pop
Singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata first broke onto the music scene with her critically-acclaimed 2004 debut album “Happenstance” released on RCA Victor and would become hailed as the “troubadour of heartbreak” in the press. She would later launch her own record label Frankenfish Records in 2011.
Dave Koz featuring Javier Colon
September 22 – 24
Tickets: $75, $65, $55
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Jazz-Fusion, Pop, Soul, Funk
In the 25 years since the release of his self-titled solo debut album, saxophonist Dave Koz has received nine GRAMMY® nominations, had nine No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Current Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, toured the world and been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These performances will be featuring The Voice season 1 winner, soul-singer, Javier Colon.
Eddie Ortiz & Son Caribe
September 25
Tickets: $35, $25, $15
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Latin Jazz
Eddie Ortiz & Son Caribe have performed alongside and opened for almost every major Latin music event since 2001. Along with regular performances throughout the islands, the band has frequently been called upon to perform internationally throughout the Far East. Son Caribe’s CD “Salsa From Hawaii II” was a #1 Best Seller In Hawaii, and received GRAMMY Award consideration for 2004 Best Salsa/Merengue Album.
Kurt Elling
September 26 – 27
Tickets: $35, $25
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: Vocal-Jazz, Blues, Gospel
GRAMMY® winner Kurt Elling is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. Elling’s rich baritone spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth. His repertoire includes original compositions and modern interpretations of standards, all of which are springboards for inspired improvisation, scatting, spoken word, and poetry. The New York Times declared, “Elling is the standout male vocalist of our time.”
The Brian McKnight 4
September 28 – 30
Tickets: $75, $55, $45
Showtimes: 6:30pm & 9pm
Doors: 5pm & 8:30pm
Genre: R&B
Brian McKnight has gained international and domestic recognition, earning himself a spot in contemporary music history. He has released 16 albums to date over the past twenty years, selling over 30 million albums worldwide, and receiving 16 GRAMMY nominations. McKnight will perform all of his hits, appearing with his quartet comprised of piano, bass, guitar and drums.
About Blue Note Hawaii
Located in the former Society of Seven showroom inside Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Blue Note Hawaii will feature a year-round lineup of musical entertainment – from local talent to international sensations – for limited engagements. As a part of Outrigger’s ongoing commitment to the musical arts, the performance venue has undergone an extensive, multi-million-dollar revitalization, creating a brand new venue in the heart of Hawaii’s most famed beach resort destination. Blue Note Hawaii features completely new décor and a state-of-the-art sound and light system.
The 9,000 square-foot facility was designed by local architecture and interior design firm InForm Design, and seats over 300 patrons, showcasing two performances nightly in an intimate setting – seven days a week, 365 days a year. Blue Note Hawaii also features a contemporary gift, including a dedicated location for musical acts to hold autograph sessions following each show. Guests can also dine at the venue, where a full-service restaurant and bar highlights the culinary talents of Chef Rodney Uyehara. Talent buying and programming is handled out of Blue Note Entertainment Group’s New York office. Additionally, the venue is available for private event bookings.
About Blue Note Entertainment Group
Blue Note Entertainment Group, founded in 1981 by Danny Bensusan, is a multi-faceted entertainment company that owns and operates New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, Highline Ballroom, Subrosa, and Lucille’s Grill; The Howard Theatre (Washington D.C.); and Blue Note Jazz Clubs Worldwide (Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan; Beijing, China; Milan, Italy; Napa, CA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Honolulu, HI). The company also programs the Regattabar Jazz Club (Cambridge, MA). Blue Note Entertainment Group presents shows outside of its club network. The annual Blue Note Jazz Festival was established in 2011 and has since grown to become the largest jazz festival in New York City each June. Subsidiaries of Blue Note Entertainment Group include the GRAMMY®-nominated record label Half Note Records, whose catalogue includes over fifty titles recorded live at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club, as well as Blue Note Travel, Management Group and Media Group.