COURTESY OF JOHN KOLIVAS
John Kolivas, left, Dan Del Negro, Adam Baron and Tim Tsukiyama are the Honolulu Jazz Quartet.
Jazzed-up performers
The Honolulu Jazz Quartet has played a lot of places these last two years, but HJQ leader, co-founder and bassist John Kolivas admits that this weekend's two-nighter downtown is something special.
"In a way, it's our first solo, full-length concert," Kolivas explained earlier this week after returning from a vacation that included stops in New York City and some time with his in-laws. The ARTS at Marks Garage is a relatively small space, but it offers an alternate performance venue for the band.
Honolulu Jazz Quartet
Where: The ARTS at Marks Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Ave.
When: 8 p.m. today and tomorrow
Tickets: $18 advance (available at Borders Ward Centre) and $20 at the door
Call: 521-9699
"We'll be trying some different things (and playing) in front of an audience that's there to listen rather than drink."
This may be the last time local audiences will see the HJQ play in such a small space, at least for a while. Things have been moving fast for the group since its long-anticipated debut album, "Sounds of the City," was released last fall. One career highlight was opening for James Ingram when he sang with the Honolulu Symphony in October. Another was celebrating the successful launch of the album with a party/concert at Kapono's that turned out to be one of the best jazz events of the year.
The big news now, though, is about some behind-the-scenes accomplishments that are perhaps unprecedented for a local jazz group -- in recent years anyway.
First, Kolivas secured a deal with a mainland record distributor to represent the HJQ in getting the album into U.S. record stores and other venues. Second, he's made the connections necessary to get the album heard by programmers at mainland jazz radio stations. While it doesn't guarantee airplay, if all goes well, the quartet's music may be more widely heard this spring.
"We had approached a couple of distributors here and they just weren't into doing the jazz thing, so getting a distributor on the mainland to recognize us gave us a shot in the arm. Now we're aiming at about 240 stations. (That campaign is) supposed to start sometime in February."
The next step is coming to terms with hiring a full-time manager. Up 'til now, Kolivas has been "pretty much handling everything."
"The group does want to tour, so right now, we're interviewing managers. I met one in New York who seems really well connected, but we have to take our time and make sure that we get the right one. (Representatives of) several festivals have requested our CD and they're checking it out, too, so there's some good possibilities there."
THE HJQ'S first recorded project was "Remembrance," a CD single inspired by 9/11. "Sounds of the City" took longer than expected to be released, but was well worth the wait. It was received as a welcome reaffirmation of the enduring value and appeal of clean, acoustic jazz.
And, when it comes to concept and repertoire, Kolivas says that the HJQ has always been a group project.
"I guess it started with my idea, but it was because of their cooperation, wanting to do it and play jazz and be creative and establish a sound, that made it work. Even though I'm the leader, everyone has input also."
Pianist Dan Del Negro and saxophonist Tim Tsukiyama round out the other founding members in the band, with drummer Adam Baron taking over for Richie Pratt when work started on the album.
"Richie was great because he was old school and a real straight-ahead drummer (with) a good vibe. Adam is that way, too, but more versatile with the modern jazz playing, like the drummers that work with Wynton Marsalis and people like that," Kolivas said.
He added that the group has gotten great support from fans and players alike in the local jazz scene.
"The jazz community has been really supportive, and also the other musicians like Noel Okimoto, Bruce Hamada, Steve Jones and Gabe Baltazar. All those guys have been really positive, so that's why I feel that our group is kind of a continuation of the fine jazz heritage that Hawaii has. It's always been a small bunch of people that are into it, but there's always been a nucleus of people -- listeners as well as musicians."
He adds that he considers Baltazar, who attended the HJQ party at Kapono's, as the benchmark for what island jazz artists can aspire to.
"I look at (Gabe) as a mentor, in that he set a very high standard for jazz musicians in Hawaii. He's always been the level that we've tried to reach."
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