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Hurricane Jasmine blows
into town to release record

JASMANIA 2005: Jasmine Trias and her self-titled debut album are off to a great start. Fans turned out en masse Tuesday for the in-store autograph sessions during the day. Many more bought CDs at the Borders booth manned by Les Honda and his crew during Trias' free show/autograph session at Kapono's that evening. Tom Moffatt, Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts President Alan Yamamoto, John Detz, Alan Arato, and concert promoter Nikki Robinson were among the music industry folks who caught Trias at Kapono's. Kutmaster Spaz handled the musical duties there while Trias signed autographs ... The album is also a big step up for Aaron Kimura and Aloha Music International. Trias' label picked AMI over several other Hawaii-based distributors to handle national distribution ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Robin Shou, who celebrates today ... and Melveen Leed (Monday) ...

DON'T MISS THIS: "Mad Hot Ballroom" is an unlikely but thoroughly entertaining film about the experiences of fourth and fifth grade New York City public school kids as they participate in a school-sponsored ballroom dance competition. The story focuses on kids from three of the 60 participating schools. It shows kids who might be classified as "at risk," or who are still struggling to speak English as a second language, developing a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem through dance. The kids' candid comments about dancing and each other add some great down-to-earth comic moments. The teachers' observations on the changes they see in the kids add another dimension, and it doesn't take a Ph.D. in Education to see that kids here could benefit from a similar program. "Mad Hot Ballroom" may be the best movie you'll overlook this year .... Thanks to Leonard Piggee for suggesting it ...

MORE MOVIE STUFF: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is one of those rare family films that dazzles kids while slipping in enough subtle humor to entertain teens and adults. Johnny Depp plays Willy Wonka as a lovable child-like soul reminiscent of Pee Wee Herman or Edward Scissorhands. The supporting cast is excellent as well. Give the producers extra points for avoiding the lame toilet humor and kicks-to-crotch stuff that taints so many "kids films" these days. The film opens tomorrow ...