Jazz Maui presents the Gina Martinelli Quartet at Sunset Jazz on Sunday, January 12, 2025 from 5-7pm at the Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Factory, 78 Ulupono Street in Lahaina featuring vocalist Gina Martinelli, bassist Dave Graber, drummer Howie Rentzer, and pianist Jeff Hellmer.

Vocalist Gina Martinelli has a vocal range and smooth tones allowing her to work in just about every genre of music from rock and blues to county and jazz. A local resident, she has been a singer/entertainer on Maui for almost 30 years and has performed in venues such as the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, hotels and night clubs.

 David Graber, upright and electric bass, received his Bachelor of Music in jazz studies, with distinction, from the University of Calgary (and was awarded the Margaret Locke Scholarship for strings). Dave graduated from Grant Mac Ewan Community College (and was awarded the Edmonton Jazz Society Scholarship). He studied privately with Gary Willis from Tribal Tech and Charles Banacos of the New England Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music. David has performed music (including jazz, Latin, and contemporary styles) in festivals throughout western Canada and the USA including aboard Carnival Cruise Lines and has played with artists such as Larry Coryell, Eric Marienthal, Delfeayo Marsalis, Fareed Haque, Mark Gabriel Hasselbach, and Glen Goto to name a few.

 Drummer Howie Rentzer has played in lots of top 40 bands in Boston and Los Angeles and in Honolulu where he played with Jimmy Borges, Carol Kai, Maria Muldaur, and Bobby Enriques. On Maui he has performed with Henry Allen, George Benson, Mose Allison, and Greg Karukas. Howie has opened for Kenny Loggins and was in the band for Howie Mandel’s comedy show.

Jazz pianist Jeff 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.

Every Sunday Sunset Jazz spotlights an all-star line-up of professional jazz musicians in the upstairs open-air pavilion and offers great live jazz music and sunset views. During the concerts, chocolate sommeliers serve chocolate flights selected from 24 different types/flavors of chocolate and suggest alcoholic pairings for each flight from an extensive wine, spirits and beer list. Cheese plates (only available for pre-order at the same time of ticket purchase) and a variety of other light fare options are also offered for additional purchase.

 Sunset Jazz concert attendees must be 21. Seating is limited and often sold out so advance ticket purchase is required at www.JazzMaui.org or https://mauichocolate.com/pages/sunset-jazz.

 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.

 Jazz Maui, a branch of the 501(c)-3 nonprofit Arts Education for Children Group (www.aecg.org), provides opportunities for participation in high quality jazz music education and performances. Throughout the year The Jazz Maui 2024 Maui Music Series presents Sunset Jazz every Sunday and the Pau Hana Series every Friday in Lahaina, outstanding visiting virtuosos in a bi-monthly concert series in Kihei, and special concerts, clinics and classes held at various venues around the islands. Jazz Maui supports “Sheryl Renee Salutes” at ProArts. Selected performances presented by Jazz Maui are live-streamed on the organization’s website: www.JazzMaui.org.

 For tickets visit https:// mauichocolate.com/pages/sunset-jazz or JazzMaui.org and for more information text (808) 283-3576 or email info @aecg.org.