FOR RELEASE:  May 12, 2025

Jazz Maui presents Sunset Jazz featuring vocalist Sheryl Renee, bassist Dave Graber, drummer Howie Rentzer, and keyboardist/trumpeter Paul January. Seating is limited and often sold out so advance ticket purchase is required at www.JazzMaui.org or https://mauichocolate.com/pages/sunset-jazz

 Always an audience favorite, Sheryl Renee’s dynamic versatility comes from a lifetime in and around the entertainment business.  She moves effortlessly between music genres, artistic avenues, and her entrepreneurial pursuits. She is a vocalist, actress, entertainer, and producer. 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. She recently won the 2024 Broadway World/Hawaii Best Cabaret/ Concert, for “Sheryl Renee Salutes” tribute show series at the ProArts Playhouse, which is sponsored by Jazz Maui, ProArts Playhouse and Sheryl Renee Productions.

 David Graber, upright and electric bass, is originally from Winnipeg Manitoba Canada and now lives with his wife, Emelyn, in Maui. He 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. He has performed on recordings and has written for Mel Bay’s Bass Sessions. Dave 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.

Keyboardist/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.

 Every Sunday Jazz Maui presents Sunset Jazz features an all-star line-up of local and visiting professional jazz musicians in the tropical ambience of the Chocolate Factory’s upstairs open-air pavilion and offers great live jazz music and sunset views. During the concerts, the Chocolate Factory’s Chocolate Sommeliers are on hand to assist with pairings from a carefully curated wine, spirits and beer list along with three flights of chocolate and beverage pairings for purchase. Pairing beverages with chocolate adds a new dimension of discovery and enjoyment to the tasting experience and between the list of beverages and 24 different types of chocolate the possibilities are endless.

 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, 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.