Artists

Since galvanizing the instrumental music world with its unique East meets West approach in the late 70s, Hiroshima has always kept its eye on a distinctive One World philosophy which seamlessly blends Asian and North American culture to reflect both cultural and spiritual connections. This year marks 20 years since the band's unique combination of distinctively Japanese elements-June Kuramoto's classical flavored koto, Johnny Mori's booming taiko drum-with funky pop, urban and jazz sensibilities first hit the instrumental music charts, and 25 years since saxophonist and East L.A. native Dan Kuramoto, along with June, first formed the ensemble.

Hiroshima's website

Cyril Pahinui, the son of musical legend, Gabby Pahinui, is, in his own right, one of Hawai'i's most gifted guitarists and singers. Cyril has twice played at Carnegie Hall, has contributed to two Grammy Award-winning albums, received several Hoku Hanohano Awards, and recorded on more than 25 Hawaiian musical releases. As a slack key guitarist, Cyril's technical virtuosity, rhythmic adaptations, and instrumental harmonics impart the soul of Hawaiian music, and his beautiful, emotive, and well-recognized voice renders an intimate picture of his Pacific island home.

Cyril Pahinui's website

The parallels between Old West gunfighter and guitarslinger are obvious. Both have fast hands and both take the stage. The calling card of British-American blues-rock guitarslinger Colin John sums it up nicely, with the phrase, "Have blues, do travel." Musically, Colin John is a bona fide triple threat. His singing is full-bodied and soulful, delivered with a passion and intensity hardly matched by most and doubtlessly exceeded by few. His guitar playing is freewheeling and intense but firmly grounded in the blues idiom and his songwriting skills are complex and mature.

Colin John Band's website

At 21 years of age, Brittni Paiva (pi –VAH) is the preeminent female 'ukulele player from Hawaii. Affectionately referred to as the 'ukulele darling, Brittni is a native of Hilo, on the Big Island. She is a multi-award winning, multi-instrumentalist with a prodigious gift who is wholeheartedly embraced by a global audience.

Brittni Paiva's website

Scores of songs written with timeless lyrics captured the beauty and magic of our Hawaiian Islands. Favorites in the islands such as Waikiki, Blue Hawai'i, Beyond the Reef, Ke Aloha, Holo Holo Ka'a, Moonlight and Shadows, Sweet Leilani, Ho'omanawanui, Lani, Sands of Waikiki, Aloha 'Oe, Ho’omalimali E and many others are the songs that were the very essence of our land of "aloha" and its people who lived it. The music of the Islanders will take you back to the days of Territorial Hawai'i when the pace was gentler and the islands tunes wafted through the night air. The Islanders will do a swinging island rhythm and follow that with a haunting romantic tune. Sweetness and swing, nostalgia and memories. The Islanders bring to you the "Classic" music of our paradise isles.

Alan Akaka and the Islanders' website

Maggie has been a consummate musician since her early childhood as a keyboardist and vocalist. From winning a scholarship to Interlochen's summer music program and placing in the concerto competition there as a teenager, she has performed throughout the West Coast, opening concerts for jazz and blues greats: Dave Brubeck, Crusaders, and Taj Mahal. Her writing style encompasses her training in classical music and jazz and blues. She performs regularly on the Big Island and hosts a weekly Sun. jazz radio show on KONA FM and KHBC. She is joined here with Paul Lindbergh, sax man extraordinaire.

Maggie Herron Trio's website