Jazz Maui celebrates two years of Sunset Jazz with a concert featuring vocalist Sheryl Renee, bassist Dave Graber, drummer Howie Rentzer, and keyboardist/trumpeter Paul January.

 “We are so grateful for the support Sunset Jazz has received over the past two years,” says Bryant Neal, executive director of the nonprofit music education organization. “Some of the most popular professional local jazz musicians have drawn sold-out audiences regularly and are spotlighted at this anniversary session.”

 Always an audience favorite, vocalist Sheryl Renee is known as the “Lady with a Golden Voice”. She has shared the stage with some of the best talent in the world including Candi Staton, Larry Dunn, Freda Payne, String Cheese Incident, The Contribution, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra conducted by the late Marvin Hamlisch. Sheryl performed the national anthem for President Barack Obama and her vocals have been featured on countless recordings and commercials.

David Graber, upright and electric bass, is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and now lives with his wife, Emelyn, on Maui. David has played jazz, Latin, and contemporary music styles in festivals throughout western Canada and the USA including aboard Carnival Cruise Lines. He has performed on recordings and has played with artists such as Sheryl Renee, Larry Coryell, Eric Marienthal, Willie K, Delfeayo Marsalis, Fareed Haque, Mark Gabriel Hasselbach, and Glen Goto to name a few.

 Howie Rentzer knew he wanted to be a drummer after seeing the Buddy Rich Big Band perform. Howie studied with Fred Buda, who played with the Boston Pops and the Boston Ballet, had private lessons with the greatest jazz drummer in Boston, Alan Dawson, a teacher at Berklee College of Music, and Joe Porcaro, father of Jeff Porcaro of Toto fame.  He has played in lots of top 40 bands in Boston and Los Angeles and, in 1977, he moved to Honolulu where he played with Jimmy Borges, Carol Kai, Maria Muldaur, and Bobby Enriques.  After moving to Maui in 1983 he performed with Hawaiian steel guitarist Henry Allen, and George Benson and visiting artists such as Mose Allison and Greg Karukas.  Howie opened shows for Kenny Loggins, Tuck and Patti, and was in the band for Howie Mandel's comedy show. 

 Trumpeter/keyboards player Paul 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 worked with some of the biggest names ever to grace the stages of Reno and Las Vegas.

 Every Sunday Jazz Maui presents Sunset Jazz featuring an all-star line-up of local and visiting professional jazz musicians in the upstairs open-air pavilion and offers great live jazz music and sunset views. During the concerts, the Chocolate Factory presents 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.

 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.

Part of the Jazz Maui 2024 Maui Music Series, Sunset Jazz is supported by Hawaii Tourism Authority Community Enrichment Program.

 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.###