PRINCEVILLE – The Kaua‘i Concert Association, in conjunction with the W.S. Pete Robinson Memorial Fund and St. Regis Princeville Resort present the Third Annual Red Clay Jazz Festival at 4 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of St. Regis Princeville Resort overlooking Hanalei Bay.
Proceeds from KCA concerts including the Red Clay Jazz Festival benefit the KCA Scholarship Fund, which provides musical instruction to Kaua‘i music students. Over the last five years KCA has given over $25,000 in scholarships to Kaua‘i music students.
KCA plans to grow the festival into a pre-eminent jazz event for the state, a press release states.
“That was Pete’s vision,” said KCA Jazz Festival Chair Judy Arrigo.
The concert will commence in the mid-afternoon with a Kaua‘i jazz ensemble featuring bassist Wil Lydgate and his all-star ‘ohana. Headlining artists include legendary saxophonist Ernie Watts; Rhythm Summit including Noel Okimoto; taiko master Kenny Endo playing original jazz with taiko drums, and virtuoso guitarist Peter Sprague.
Sprague has produced or played on over 190 recordings. He’s played with such greats as Art Pepper, Hubert Laws, Chick Corea, Alfonse Mouzon, Al Jarreau and Sergio Mendez. Sprague will perform in a trio with his brother Tripp, who performs on saxophones and flutes.
Rhythm Summit features Endo (taiko, percussion, bamboo flute), Okimoto (drums, vibraphones, percussion) and Dean Taba (bass). Endo is one of the leading personas in contemporary percussion and rhythm. He is at the vanguard of the taiko genre, continuing to pave new paths in this Japanese-style drumming after 30 years as a career taiko player. He partners with Okimoto, among Hawai‘i’s most innovative jazz drummers and composers. Bassist Taba helps hold down the bottom for this rhythmically-innovative ensemble. Two-time, Grammy-Award-winner Watts is one of the most versatile and prolific saxophone players on the music scene. In a diverse career that has spanned more than 40 years, he has been featured on over 500 recordings by artists ranging from Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa, always exhibiting his unforgettable trademark sound.
Premiere tickets for this outdoor event are $85 and include a picnic meal and two beverages plus lawn seating for the concert. Tickets for the concert only are $45 dollars. Bring folding chairs as no seating is provided. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Tickets are available at kauai-concert.org or the following ticket outlets: Borders Books, Music & Movies, Lihu‘e; Magic Dragon, Princeville; Island Soap & Candle Works, Koloa; Kaua‘i Music & Sound, Kapa‘a; North Shore Pharmacy, Kilauea; Talk Story Bookstore, Hanapepe; and Aloha-n-Paradise, Waimea.
Kaua‘i Concert Association began in 1974 with a mission to bring world-class music to Kaua‘i. The organization started with two concerts per year and currently presents an eight-concert season with a wide variety of classical, dance, jazz and world music. KCA provides classical and modern performing fine arts and musical-education opportunities.
