Grammy award-winning jazz artist, Experanza Spalding once asked, “If you don’t already know about jazz music, how would you be exposed? How would you get an opportunity to find out if it spoke to you?” The Volcano Arts Center offers that opportunity monthly at its summer “Jazz in the Forest” concert series that kicks off June 27 with performances at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Grammy award-winning jazz artist, Experanza Spalding once asked, “If you don’t already know about jazz music, how would you be exposed? How would you get an opportunity to find out if it spoke to you?” The Volcano Arts Center offers that opportunity monthly at its summer “Jazz in the Forest” concert series that kicks off June 27 with performances at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
This month’s concert features a performance by Grammy nominee, John Kolivas. Kolivas is founder of the Honolulu Jazz Quartet and is one of Hawaii’s premiere bassists and jazz composers. He will join the Volcano Art Center Jazz Ensemble with musical director Jr “Volcano” Choy on trumpet, keyboard and vocals, Reggie Griffin on guitar, Brian McCree on bass and Bruce David on drums.
In addition, Moon Brown will perform during the June 27 performance. Moon Brown developed his soulful sound on sax when growing up in Philadelphia, and was a mainstay in the Big Island jazz scene for many years.
Keahi Conjugacion, a Na Hoku Hanohano, Hawaii Music Award and Grammy-nominated international jazz recording artist with a distinct musical personality, was slated to perform June 27. However, Conjugacion will not be able to take part in the performance because of a medical condition.
“Keahi really wants to perform and will be available as soon as her health issues are resolved,” said Fung Irvine, who is Conjugacion’s spokeswoman.
The “Jazz in the Forest” series continues with performances on July 25 and Aug. 29.
Mike Nelson, Volcano Arts Center executive director, joined the nonprofit last December and said he is always looking for ways to give back to the community. He explains how the Volcano Arts Center supports and perpetuates music.
“As the new executive director, one of my goals was to find new things we could do to enhance the art center, and at the same time create more things for the community,” said Nelson. “One of those things was music, so the organization decided to support the Ka’u band group, and Volcano Choy, who is now our official music director for the Volcano Arts Center, goes down there to teach kids music.”
After Ka’u schools had eliminated music programs, it left them with musical instruments sitting around idle for years not being utilized.
“The (Volcano Arts Center) board elected to spend some money and write a grant to get some of the instruments refurbished so the kids could start learning music,” said Nelson. “Volcano Choy then volunteered to work with us and go down to the school on Mondays and Wednesdays and teach the kids how to use those instruments. That expanded into doing a jazz performance once a month at the (Volcano) Art Center, and using those proceeds toward continuing music education in the schools. That’s where it’s evolved.”
Choy, who is now the music director for the arts center, got his nickname, “Volcano” back in his 20s when on a USA tour with Columbia Records. One of the music critics referred to his music on the trumpet as an “erupting Volcano who hails from Hawaii,” and it’s now been his nickname for the past 25 years. He now goes by either “Volcano,” or simply, “Jr.”
“Volcano Choy is the lead musician for Jazz in the Forest, and has coined the phrase, ‘The Volcano Jazz Ensemble,’” said Nelson. “The local community has embraced it with open arms and loves it. It also gives us another opportunity to provide something back to our community. We have different artists that have already appeared, and different artists that have plans to put on a summer series. In the July performance, we’re going to do a themed show as a tribute to Miles Davis. Volcano Choy is going to have some of his musician friends come up and do stand-ins and create a different atmosphere for us.”
Jazz in the Forest is an opportunity to experience jazz at it was mean to be — in an intimate, up-close-and-personal setting.
“The idea is to do it once a month,” said Nelson. “It will be the last Saturday of each month through the summer, and then the fall series begins — we’re going to bring that back to life with the same schedule. People love it. We can only have 80 seats in any performance. Because it’s a limited house, it creates a real close, face-to-face, living room kind of environment. It’s a great interaction that goes on.”
Volcano Art Center is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to nurturing creative discovery, learning and sharing through arts education and artistic development. Volcano Art Center develops, promotes and perpetuates the artistic, cultural and environmental heritage of Hawaii’s people through the arts and education. It is located at 19-4074 Volcano Road within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees may apply.
Two shows will be offered June 27, with a matinee at 4:30 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the matinee are $15 for VAC members ($20 nonmembers); tickets for the evening show are $20 for VAC members ($25 nonmembers). To purchase tickets, call 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartscenter.org.