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Honolulu Jazz Quartet |
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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 13 February 2005 |
 The
Honolulu Jazz Quartet (HJQ) is:
- John Kolivas - Bass, Leader
- Tim Tsukiyama - Tenor and Soprano Sax
- Dan Del Negro - Piano
- Adam Baron - Drums
The
Honolulu Jazz Quartet was founded in 2001 by local bassist John Kolivas
with the intent of bringing four like-minded musicians together to
create a consistent, indelible sound. Influenced by jazz greats such as
Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Woody Shaw, Wayne Shorter and Rufus Reid,
the band has developed it's own unique acoustic sound by way of its
original compositions and arrangements.
The group has shared a
concert date with Larry Carlton, was featured at the 10th & 11th
Annual Hawaii International Jazz Festival in 2003 and 2004, and also
opened the 2003-2004 Honolulu Symphony Pops season along with James
Ingram (with full orchestra arrangements by Pops conductor Matt
Catingub).
The HJQ's debut CD "Sounds of the City" was released
to critical acclaim nationally in February 2004. In March, the CD
climbed into the JazzWeek Top 50 National Jazz Radio Chart where it
peaked at No. 32 in April 2004. "Sounds of the City" is made up of ten
original tunes (eight by Kolivas and two by Del Negro) which have been
described as 'a snapshot of frisky memories' from the well traveled
musicians.
John Kolivas--Bassist and group leader grew up in a
musical household where his mother played classical piano and his dad
was a jazz saxophonist. John has performed with Larry Coryell, Herb
Ellis, Arturo Sandoval, Makoto Ozone, Valery Ponomarev, Eric
Marienthal, John Pizzarelli, Bud Shank, Lalo Schifrin, Robin Eubanks,
Jimmy Rowles, Tiger Okoshi, George Benson, Grady Tate, Richie Cole,
Nestor Torres, Gabe Baltazar, Richie Pratt, Azure McCall, Betty Loo
Taylor, and Flip Nunez. He performed on Broadway in The Tap Dance Kid
and Big River, and on tour with The Pirates of Penzance and The Gregory
Hines Show. John has also recently accompanied vocalists Wayne Newton
and Lea Salonga. As a member of the Honolulu Symphony, John has also
performed with Yo Yo Ma, Denyce Graves, Tan Dun, Andre Watts, and
Pinkas Zukerman. Kolivas can also be heard with Hawaiian Slack Key
guitar masters Keola Beamer, Kapono Beamer and vocalist Keali'i
Reichel. He also teaches private bass lessons and a summer jazz
improvisation workshop at the prestigious Punahou School in Honolulu.
John lists Rufus Reid and Francois Rabbath as his major bass
instructors.
Tim Tsukiyama--Saxophone. Tim is a local boy who
attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music and has played with
the likes of Valery Ponomarev, Ray Charles, The Temptations, Cecilio
and Kapono, and Kalapana. Tim is also a member of the Royal Hawaiian
Band.
Dan Del Negro--Piano. Dan was born on the south side of
Chicago and his musical career is steeped in the traditions of that
great jazz town. Dan has performed with Herbie Mann, Tiger Okoshi, and
Nestor Torres. He also has extensive experience in musical theatre,
having performed with touring companies of Les Miserables, Joseph and
the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Miss Saigon. Dan also performs
with the Hawaiian vocal group Na Leo Pilimehana, and jazz vocalist
Keahi Conjugacion.
Adam Baron began playing drum set at age
fifteen. Studying at both the University of Missouri Conservatory of
Music, and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Adam has broadened his
musical scope and honed his skills as a professional musician.
Studying with jazz greats, Jeff Hamilton, Todd Strait, and Joe Hunt
taught Adam how to approach all music with the listening ear of jazz.
Adam has recorded with the Honolulu Jazz Quartet, Herb Ohta Senior,
Jill Cohn and Eduardo Mendonça. In addition to being the drummer for
the Honolulu Jazz Quartet he performs regularly with many jazz artists
in Honolulu playing everything from Soul music to Soukous. He holds a
degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Washington.
Website http://www.honolulujazzquartet.com
"The
Honolulu Jazz Quartet (HJQ) is one of the state's most popular
contemporary jazz bands, and Sounds Of The City (HJQ 2039; 61:12; ***)
is a satisfying document of their straightahead style." - Todd Jenkins,
Downbeat Magazine
"Sounds of the City is an inspired set by an
inspiring group. In that sax and a rhythm section category, this is the
finest I've heard this year." - Dan McClenaghan, AllAboutJazz.Com -
Posted November 12, 2004
"I was completely taken aback by a
group of guys with a lot of heart and one of the most impressive jazz
recordings I have heard to date. . . To find an independent group from
Hawaii in the Top 50 is awesome, especially since it is their first
release." - Sheldon Nunn, JazzReview.com
"Love the CD!" - Frank Johnson at WRTI - Philadelphia
"The HJQ, formed in 2001, a band firmly rooted in harmonically sophisticated but smooth post-Bop." - Cadence Magazine, May 2004
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 Friday, 21 November 2008
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