LAHAINA — Jazz Maui presents the weekly Sunset Jazz concert series featuring world-class live jazz music and chocolate/beverage pairings every Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Factory at 78 Ulupono St. in Lahaina.
On Sunday, Dec. 10, The Jazz Maui Holiday Players — saxophonist Joie Yasha, pianist Jeff Hellmer, drummer Paul Marchetti, bassist Dave Graber, trumpeter Paul January and vocalist Abra Joy — will perform.
Sunset Jazz concert attendees must be 21 or older and have a valid photo ID. Seating is limited and often sold out, so advance ticket purchase is required at www.JazzMaui.org or https://mauichocolate.com/pages/sunset-jazz.
A sensational saxophonist and vocalist, Yasha has played more than 25 shows over the last two years at the Blue Note Hawaii and recently at the Cicada in Los Angeles. She has headlined or performed in tandem with jazz, pop, world and spiritual musicians such as Bikram Singh, Samite, Deva Primal and Miten, Gunhild Carling, Nancy Wilson, Gladys Night, Lou Rawls, Lilo Shiffron, Bette Midler, James Moody, Tia Fuller, Javon Jackson, Delfayo Marsalis, Larry Coryell, Donald Byrd, Joshua Redman, Roy Ayers, and Christina Aguilera. Joie has traveled and performed at festivals and in cities around the world.
Jazz pianist Hellmer has enjoyed a 35-year career as a performer and educator, appearing frequently on the central Texas scene as well as throughout the United States at venues ranging from the Litchfield Jazz Festival to the Idyllwild Arts Academy. Twice named a finalist in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, he has performed and taught jazz throughout the United States as well as in Russia and Taiwan. As the long-time director of the University of Texas Jazz Orchestra, he led performances of the band at the North Sea and Montreux Jazz Festivals and has appeared with jazz masters such as Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, John Clayton, and Kenny Garrett.
Well-known on Maui, Marchetti studied drums and percussion in New York and has performed and recorded with artists such as Mick Fleetwood, Eric Marienthal, Walter Becker, Michael McDonald, Michael Buble and many more. He started his career in 1973, touring and recording with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary. Paul has appeared on national and local television shows and has recorded and toured with an international list of artists.
Bassist Graber graduated from Grant MacEwan College with a diploma in Jazz Studies in 1991. He was awarded the Edmonton Jazz Society Scholarship, graduated with distinction from the University of Calgary in Jazz Studies/Performance, and received the Margaret Locke Scholarship for strings. He has studied privately with Gary Willis of Tribal Tech and Charlie Banacos of the New England Conservatory of Music and the Berklee College of Music. Dave has also taught at the National Guitar Workshop in both Seattle and San Francisco.
Trumpet player January got his first paying gig when he was 11 years old, playing piano for a children’s fashion show in Denver, Colorado. By 1972, he was attending music school, teaching piano and trumpet, and working every weekend. He spent the next 46 years playing in various spots around Reno and Tahoe, as a single performer playing jazz, standards, and pop, or with groups as large as 17 playing everything from funk to big band jazz. He has had the privilege of working with some of the biggest names ever to grace the stages of Reno and Las Vegas and has made many friends along the way
Abra Joy has sung and played many varieties of music around the world. Exposed to jazz at an early age, she became a lifelong lover of the genre, leading her to performances in locales such as France, New York, Austin, and Maui. She shares her love the art form through her compelling interpretations of jazz standards.
Held in the upstairs open-air pavilion, Sunset Jazz offers great live jazz music and sunset views. During the concerts, the Chocolate Factory features a carefully curated wine, spirits and beer list along with three flights of chocolate and beverage pairings for purchase. Chocolate Sommeliers are on hand to assist with pairings or imbibers can create their own.
Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate, through its Chocolate Laulima program, supports local nonprofit organizations such as Arts Education for Children Group/Jazz Maui. Proceeds from concert ticket sales benefit Jazz Maui’s music education programs.
For tickets, visit https://mauichocolate.com/pages/sunset-jazz or JazzMaui.org. For more information, text (808) 283-3576 or e-mail info @aecg.org.
