Jazz Maui presents Sunset Jazz  f featuring the Jeff Hellmer  Quartet playing straight-ahead jazz along with band members’ originals at the Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Factory in Lahaina. Joining keyboardist Jeff Hellmer are Paul January on trumpet, Dave Graber on bass, and Howie Rentzer, drums. Sunset Jazz features great live jazz and panoramic sunset views along with chocolate/beverage pairings. Seating is limited and often sold out so advance ticket purchase is required at https://www.mauichocolate.com/pages/sunset-jazz or Jazz Maui.org.

 Straight-ahead jazz is a genre of classic jazz, rooted in tradition, with improvisation, swing, and melodic invention. Sets include original compositions by pianist Jeff Hellmer and by trumpeter/keyboardist Paul January. Some of the originals were recorded on earlier CDs Jeff released, while others are relatively new.

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.

Keyboard and trumpet 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 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.

 David Graber, upright and electric bass, originally from Winnipeg Manitoba Canada,  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 MacEwan Community College (and was awarded the Edmonton Jazz Society Scholarship). He has played with artists such as Sheryl Renee, Larry Coryell, Eric Marienthal, Willie K, Skip Martin, Donald Harrison, Steve Turre, Jimmy D,  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.

 Held in the upstairs open-air pavilion, Sunset Jazz showcases a variety of jazz styles performed by different professional musicians each week.  During the concerts, the Chocolate Factory features a carefully curated wine, spirits and beer list, award-winning chocolate, and chocolate sommeliers to assist with pairings.

 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 Sunset Jazz 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 Jazz Maui presents Sunset Jazz every Sunday and special concerts, clinics and classes held at various venues around the islands. Selected performances presented by Jazz Maui are live-streamed on the organization’s website: www.JazzMaui.org.  Jazz Maui supports the Pau Hana Series at the Chocolate Factory every Friday in Lahaina.

 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.

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