The Greg Shirley Duo plays five nights a week at Honu’s on the Beach Restaurant at the famous King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel overlooking Kamakahonu Bay. ADVERTISING The Greg Shirley Duo plays five nights a week at Honu’s on the
The Greg Shirley Duo plays five nights a week at Honu’s on the Beach Restaurant at the famous King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel overlooking Kamakahonu Bay.
Greg recently took some time to tell Big Island Entertainment Scene about the duo, which consists of himself on guitar and vocals and alternating drummers including Bo Wade, Jim Summey and Paul Coffin.
Q: How do you describe your music to people?
A: “We strive to create the perfect ambiance for scenic, romantic dining pleasure.”
Q: Who would enjoy your music and why?
A: “Everybody who can appreciate fine musicianship, dynamic arrangements, and musical stylings not heard anywhere else around here.”
Q: When did you start playing and what inspires you to continue playing?
A: “I started self taught when I was 15 or so, borrowing my older brother’s guitar and song books when he wasn’t home, learning to play to CSN and America and Beatles, later getting into Jazz/Rock Fusion, and then real Jazz, then into Latin guitar, with side projects into the rock world along the way. What keeps me playing? there’s always more to learn, always ways to improve.”
Q: What are your musical influences and why?
A: “For guitar, Santana, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Segovia, for Bass, Ron Carter, Ray Brown, for Vocals, Mark Murphy, Frank S and Tony B, Why? they’re the best to learn from.”
Q: How do you hope your music makes people feel?
A: “When they hear my music I hope people can escape from their daily routines and stresses and relax and enjoy life a little more.”
An interesting fact or something about the Greg Shirley Duo?
“The duo is an ever-evolving musical endeavor sometimes more Latin, sometimes more pop, sometimes more jazz, well, there’s always elements of jazz in there, I just can’t help myself. Being at Honu’s five nights in a row every week I try to keep it different and some variety so the staff doesn’t get bored of the same stuff every night.”
Contact Greg Shirley Duo by email to jazzygreg@earthlink.net.
