Weekend Offers Jazz, Zydeco, Hawaiian Swing and More

By Vanessa Wolf

Kahulanui. Courtesy image

week·end

ˈwēkˌend/

noun

noun: weekend; plural noun: weekends; noun: week-end; plural noun: week-ends

1. 
the period from Friday evening through Sunday evening, esp. regarded as a time for leisure.

“She spent the weekend camping.”

Right there off the cuff is an ace idea for you: go camping in the rain.

Not so much?

Then check out these other offerings we found instead.

Hawaiian Swing , Which is Apparently a Thing

According to the MACC, the band Kahulani “draws inspiration from the Hawaiian Swing music orchestras of the 1920s and 30s, and performs classic Hawaiian songs in a syncopated style to make Hawaiian Swing vibrant and alive for today.”

Band leader Lolena Naipo Jr.’s grandfather was a member of the Royal Hawaiian Band during an era when horns and drums were a part of Hawaiian music so one can only presume that’s where all this got started.

Kahulanui is comprised of Lolena, Patrick Eskildsen, Robert Duke Tatom and Tim Taylor, with special guests on horns.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Yokouchi Pavilion.

Tickets are $45.

If You Are a Rich Man (or at least have $24)

Gary Shin-Leavitt as Tevye in MAPA’s Fiddler on the Roof. Photo courtesy Jack Grace.

MAPA’s Fiddler on the Roof opens tonight at the Steppingstone Playhouse in the Queen Kaahumanu Center.

Set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, the story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and Jewish religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives.

Tevye must cope both with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters — each one’s choice of husband moves further away from the customs of his faith — and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their village.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and $18 for students.

Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended due to the limited seating capacity for this production.

Kihei to Ka’anapali Road Trip

This Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 22 and 23, brings the third and final weekend of the annual Maui Open Studios event spanning from Kihei to Ka’anapali.

Maui Open Studios is an annual island-wide event consisting of three weekends of self-guided tours of local artist studios and exhibition spaces.

It’s like a bar crawl, only better… or with a different caliber of people anyway.

Artists will be on hand to perform live demonstrations and attendees can also anticipate refreshments and opportunities to purchase the art.

Studios are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days and you can find the specifics here.

Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez 

Buckwheat Zydeco. Courtesy image

It’s Mardi Gras!

Well, not really for another ten days or so, but here on Maui it appears to be Mardi Gras already.

As a result, on Saturday night, Lazar Bear and Red Stripe present Mardi Gras Hawaii 2014 in the MACC’s Castle Theater.

Coming all the way from Louisiana, “American musical legend and preeminent ambassador of Zydeco music” Buckwheat Zydeco and IIs Son Partis Band will be performing along with C.J. Chenier & Red Hot Louisiana Band.

Anticipate their signature blend of zydeco, Creole, and rhythm and blues music.

The Castle Theater will have a dance floor and there will be Mardi Gras beads (keep your tops on, ladies) and New-Orleans-influenced food and beverages available for purchase.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m., but the MACC encourages attendees to “come early, stay late.”

Tickets are $45, $50 and $55.

Get Your Congolese Cultural Celebration On

CDDW Instructors Mbay Louvouezo (Drummer – L) and Lungusu Malonga (Dancer – R). Courtesy image

For the last week, participants from around the world have come together for a unique residential arts intensive exploring the beauty of Central African music, dance, culture, cuisine and hospitality through daily classes.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Congolese Dance & Drum Workshop and on Saturday, Feb. 22, the community is invited to join for “Kimvuka (The Gathering).”

Kimvuka is a Congolese cultural celebration featuring spirited performances by world-renowned Fua Dia Congo performing arts company, international guest artists, CDDW 2014 participants & the power and magic of ngoma drumming.

The celebration is held at the YMCA’s Camp Keanae on the Hana Highway.

Kikmvuka begins at 8 p.m. and admission is $20.

Listen to Jazz, Support Music Education

Also on Saturday, enjoy an evening of jazz music at Gannon’s in Wailea in support of music education on Maui.

The Deshannon Higa Benefit Jazz Concert was organized with Jazz Maui and Gannon’s After Dark to raise awareness and funding for the Arts Education for Children Group (AECG).

Trumpet player Deshannon Higa and his band will perform and feature jam sessions with special guest musicians comprised of local professionals, teachers and students.

Scheduled collaborators include Teal & Black Quintet, jazz instructor group Chop Suey Combo, and internationally acclaimed musicians Andrea Razzauti and Adonijah Imgrund.

The show starts at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and can be purchased by calling Gannon’s at 808-875-8080.