Hawaii International Jazz Festival: Swingtime Hana Hou!

What's better than gorgeous tropical weather and endless white beaches on the islands of Hawaii? How about some music of the jazz variety? The 13^th annual Hawaii International Jazz Festival will be held on August 4 and 5^th, Friday and Saturday in 2006. It is the perfect summer event for jazz lovers. The fact that the festival is being held in a tropical paradise is an additional bonus.

The Hawaii International Jazz Festival is designed to entertain, as well as educate, both tourists and residents on the musical art of Jazz and its influences on the development Hawaiian music. You will be able to enjoy concerts that feature different styles of jazz, including Hawaiian indigenous jazz. Started in 1993 by Abe Weinstein, this two-day event is regarded as one of the eleven major festivals on the islands of Hawaii.

The festival begins in at 10 the morning with a free jazz clinic, available on both days. The clinic is designed to demonstrate the different varieties of jazz and their historical significance. After the demo, you will be able to engage in an open discussion with the presenters, including the musicians.

The main event is a concert that spans two nights in the Hawaii Theatre located in Honolulu, on the island of O'ahu. There will be three acts on each night beginning at 7, featuring different thematic tributes to the jazz art form. Featured musicians include the Freddy Cole Quartet, who will be performing a Tribute to Nat King Cole, The Four Freshman, who will be performing the jazz classics, and Scott Martin, who will perform his music with a Latin twist. In addition, local artists will introduce you to the influences of jazz in Hawaiian swing music. Other guest stars will fill out the two evenings with lively vocal and instrumental harmonies.

If you find yourself to be free of engagements the day before, you can even take part in an exclusive event on August 3^rd. Meet Freddy Cole Quartet and the award winning Groove Society before the festivities officially begin. It will no doubt be a memorable experience for jazz lovers all over the world. Did I mention it's in Hawaii?

Tickets for the concert can be ordered at the Hawaii Theatre Center Box Office (808-528-0506). Prices range from $25 to $50, with discounts available for theatre members, seniors, military service personnel, students, and two-day packages. For more information on the festival, you can call (808) 941-9974.