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Musicians' Association Of
Hawaii /Local 677
Jazz Improv Magazine (V7N3)
Review by
Paul Sakion
HONOLULU JAZZ QUARTET
TENACITY - HJQ Records 2007.
www.honolulujazzquartet.com.
Tenacity, Real Old Style, Midlife, "The
Indians," Honolulu Hang, Wayne's Bounce,
Chillin' at the Crib, The Keez is in the Car,
Are We There Yet?
PERSONNEL: John Kolivas, bass; Tim Tsukiyama, tenor
and soprano saxophone;
Dan Del Negro, piano; Adam Baron, drums
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Jazz and Honolulu? What ever
happened to island breezes, Hula music, and endless miles of perfect
beaches?
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How can jazz be
thriving without the grit and intensity of a New York or Los Angeles scene?
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It ain't easy, but the
Honolulu Jazz Quartet (HJQ) has been making it happen
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for over six years
through hard work and Tenacity, their second album
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Encouraged by national
acclaim for their first album, Sounds of the City,
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and the attention of jazz
writer Nat Hentoff (Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and many
others),
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HJQ showcases the
compositional and improvisational skills of four top session players.
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Kolivas' talents particularly
shine in varied pieces such as the title track
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"Tenacity", "Midlife", "'The
Indians'", "Wayne's Bounce",
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and "The Keez is in the Car"
(named for pianist Geoffrey Keezer).
Other tracks, such as "Honolulu Hang" by Del Negro,
could just have easily been named
"Brooklyn Hang" with its Afro-Cuban feel, soaring
sax lines, and exciting piano improvisations.
Closing out the album, Tsukiyama's "Are We There
Yet?" combines his
smooth sax work with an underlying funky groove to
great effect.
Overall, Tenacity has staying power. Listen
to it straight through or get it "a la shuffle"
and you'll find it to be an excellent experience.
Better yet, escape the mainland and enjoy HJQ in
Honolulu.
You might find jazz just as enjoyable with a warm
ocean breeze drifting through a
Waikiki nightspot, and the only umbrella you will
need will be in your Mai Tai!
Review by John Berger:
ISLAND MELE - November 9, 2001, Honolulu Star-Bulletin Section D6,
FEATURES@STARBULLETIN.COM
"Remembrance"
Honolulu Jazz Quartet
Kolivas Productions
"The Sept. 11 attacks hit John Kolivas hard. His years in New York were
some of the happiest in his life. Adding to the impact was the fact that
his wife worked for two years on the 59th floor of One World Trade
Center. This CD-single is his requiem for victims and their survivors. (A
portion of proceeds go to the New York State World Trade Center Relief
Fund.) It's a superb debut by his Honolulu Jazz Quartet as well.
Vocalist Anita Hall joins the HJQ in a hauntingly beautiful expression of
loss and solace. Hall's rendering of poet Robert Pennybacker's lyrics is
exquisite, and the HJQ supports her perfectly. "Deanna," a melody Kolivas
wrote for his wife, is lighter and gives each member of the group -
Kolivas (bass), Dan Del Negro (piano), Richie Pratt (drums) and Tim
Tsukiyama (sax) - room to move." (end of review)
PRESS RELEASE:
HONOLULU JAZZ QUARTET Releases Debut CD: "Remembrance", A Tribute to The
Victims Of The World Trade Center Tragedy
Led by Honolulu bassist John Kolivas, the HONOLULU JAZZ QUARTET has just
released their debut CD, entitled "Remembrance". The title song, with
music by Kolivas and lyrics by his brother Robert Pennybacker, is a
tribute to the victims of the September 11th World Trade Center tragedy
and their families and loved ones. The bossa nova jazz composition is
sung by Honolulu vocalist Anita Hall.
Says Kolivas: "New York has always been a special place for me. It's
paradise for a musician. Moving there from Hawaii at age 21 was a dream
come true. My eight years in the Big Apple were some of the happiest and
most fulfilling years in my life: playing on Broadway, playing jazz,
attending my brother Nick's graduation from New York University and
dinner to follow at Windows on the World. I proposed to Deanna, my wife
of 12 years, at the Tavern on the Green in Central Park, and I found my
spirituality--all in New York City. What happened on September 11th was
devastating to all of us. My wife worked on the 59th floor of One World
Trade Center for two years. We wept as we thought of all those
victims--real people, their families and friends. Fortunately for me, I
had an outlet. Writing music became a therapeutic exercise which helped
me deal with the tragedy. My brother, Robert Pennybacker, a poet and TV
director, upon hearing the melody played by the HJQ, offered his creative
input in the form of lyric, and "Remembrance" was born."
A portion of the proceeds from the CD sales will be donated to the
families of the victims of the September 11th attack. (the first $300
gross sales will be sent directly to the New York State World Trade
Center Relief Fund in Albany, New York, to add to the $100 already sent
by the HJQ from the proceeds of our September concert. After that, a
percentage will be sent to the fund.) All those involved in the
production of "Remembrance" hope that the CD will be a source of healing
for those touched by the tragedy.
The second cut on the 2 track CD is "Deanna", another Kolivas original
composition, this time an instrumental highlighting the talents of
Kolivas, pianist Dan Del Negro, saxophonist Tim Tsukiyama, and drummer
Richie Pratt.
Kolivas received creative input on the production of the CD from Hawaii
recording artist Kapono Beamer, a long-time collaborator with Kolivas.
"Because of the beauty of her singing voice," says Kolivas, "Anita Hall
was the perfect vocalist to bring "Remembrance" to life."
The Honolulu Jazz Quartet has been in existence for only six months and
is already considered one of the most progressive, inventive jazz groups
in Hawaii, drawing record crowds to their performances at Studio 6 in the
Musicians Association of Hawaii building. Their upcoming performances
include Wednesday, November 21, 2001, 8:00PM at Studio 6 and Friday,
January 4, 2002, 5:30PM at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand.
Honolulu Jazz Quartet personnel:
John Kolivas--bassist and group leader. Kolivas has performed with Herb
Ellis, Richie Cole, Bud Shank, Woody Shaw, Jimmy Rowles, George Benson,
Grady Tate, Gabe Baltazar, Azure McCall, Betty Loo Taylor, and Flip
Nunez. He performed on Broadway in The Tap Dance Kid and Big River and on
tour with The Pirates of Penzance and the Gregory Hines Show. John is a
member of the Honolulu Symphony and can be heard with Hawaiian artists
Keola Beamer, Kapono Beamer, and Keali"i Reichel.
Tim Tsukiyama--saxophonist. Tim is a local boy who attended the
prestigious Berklee College of Music and has played with the likes of Ray
Charles, The Temptations, C&K, and Kalapana. He is a member of the Royal
Hawaiian Band.
Richie Pratt--drummer. Richie hails from Kansas City, Kansas. He arrived
in New York as a lineman for the New York Giants. Pratt was the original
drummer for Sophisticated Ladies on Broadway. He was a member of the New
York Jazz Quartet (which included Roland Hanna and George Mraz) and has
toured with such legends as Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter, and Michel
Legrand.
Dan Del Negro--pianist. Dan was born on the south side of Chicago and his
musical career is steeped in the traditions of that great jazz town. He
also has extensive experience in musical theatre, having performed with
touring companies of Les Miserables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat, and Miss Saigon. Dan is currently performing with Na Leo
Pilimehana and Keahi Conjugacion.
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