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Jazz legends of Hawaii to participate in Waikiki Beach Walk concert series


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POSTED: Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Three of Hawaii's legendary jazz performers will be featured as part of the Waikiki Beach Walk's music concert series, Na Mele No Na Pua, at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Jimmy Borges, one of the islands' most iconic performers, is a Frank Sinatra aficionado who sings it all—jazz, Broadway, American songbook classics and contemporary tunes.

Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Gabe Baltazar is a stalwart on alto saxophone, having made his reputation as a member of the forward-looking Stan Kenton Orchestra, and his version of “;Stairway to the Stars”; with Kenton is considered by many critics to be the definitive interpretation of that jazz standard.

And pianist Betty Loo Taylor rounds out the bill. In June she received a Hoku award for jazz album of the year for “;For All We Know,”; a collaborative effort with singer Joy Abbott.

The free event takes place in the Grand Lanai of the Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk, 2375 Kuhio Ave. Call 921-2345.