On Sunday, May 18, at 4 pm, the ‘Iolani Stage Bands, presented their final concert of the year, with guest artists Benny Chong, ukulele virtuoso and bassist Byron Yasui, performing with Stage Band 3.
When the doors opened at 3:30 pm, the audience was treated to music by the ‘Iolani Jazz Combo, an after-school group, coached by professional bassist Dean Taba. Two of these students, Daniel Hee and Pablo Warner, had just returned from Maui that morning, being members of the newly crowned state champion volleyball team.
All three bands performed very musically and the level of improvisational skills was quite high. They performed a great variety of jazz from traditional to Latin and contemporary. All of these were performances demonstrated a good knowledge of the various styles.
Soloists Byron Yasui and Benny Chong, played two pieces with the band, Autumn Leaves and On Green Dolphin Street as well as an upbeat, jazz styling of Blue Hawai‘i, which brought the house down. These two great musicians appeared through the sponsorship of the Tam and Young Arts Chair.
Congratulations to all of the band members and their director, Curtis Abe.
