Na Ali'i Big Band
2012-2013 Big Band, courtesy of Eveline Wunder Photography
The Na Ali'i Big Band is Maui’s premier ensemble for traditional and contemporary big band-style jazz and swing. Ranging from Basie to Maynard, this after-school course focuses on the stylistic elements of jazz music as well as improvisational soloing.
The Na Ali'i Big Band is also a course in which students can try out new instruments. In the past, the group has had many students successfully transition from nontraditional jazz instruments such as the flute, clarinet, horn, tuba, and violin to the standard big band instrumentation: trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass, drums).
The Big Band begins twice-a-week rehearsals at the conclusion of marching season and performs at least nine times throughout the year: at the three Winter Concerts in December, the Valentine's Swing Dance fundraiser in February, the Upcountry Music Festival in March, the Spring Concert at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in April, the KKHS Student Arts Integrated Showcase in April, the Aloha Concert in May, and as part of Jazz Maui's Jazz Week every summer. In addition to these nine staples, the Na Ali'i Big Band performs 10-15 additional concerts throughout the year per request from the community and local businesses.
In recent years, the Na Ali'i Big Band has collaborated with the following guest musicians: trumpeter Michael Lenke (Ray Charles, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson), saxophonist/flautist/composer Robert Spittal (Gonzaga University Director of Music), saxophonist David Fague (UNT One O’Clock Lab Band, Gonzaga University Director of Jazz), pianist Tommy James (Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, the Temptations), trumpeter Valery Ponomarev (Jazz Messengers, Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton), eight-time Po’okela-winning vocalist Shari Lynn (George Shearing, Brothers Cazimero, Jimmy Borges), Grammy-winning trombonist Dave Glenn (Gerry Mulligan, Diana Ross, retired Whitman University Director of Jazz), saxophonist Tim Ishii (UT-Arlington Director of Jazz), trumpeter Jim Seeley (Ray Charles, Jim Seeley/Arturo O’Farrill Quintet) & two-time Grammy-winning percussionist Arturo O’Farrill (Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
The Na Ali'i Big Band is also a course in which students can try out new instruments. In the past, the group has had many students successfully transition from nontraditional jazz instruments such as the flute, clarinet, horn, tuba, and violin to the standard big band instrumentation: trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass, drums).
The Big Band begins twice-a-week rehearsals at the conclusion of marching season and performs at least nine times throughout the year: at the three Winter Concerts in December, the Valentine's Swing Dance fundraiser in February, the Upcountry Music Festival in March, the Spring Concert at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in April, the KKHS Student Arts Integrated Showcase in April, the Aloha Concert in May, and as part of Jazz Maui's Jazz Week every summer. In addition to these nine staples, the Na Ali'i Big Band performs 10-15 additional concerts throughout the year per request from the community and local businesses.
In recent years, the Na Ali'i Big Band has collaborated with the following guest musicians: trumpeter Michael Lenke (Ray Charles, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson), saxophonist/flautist/composer Robert Spittal (Gonzaga University Director of Music), saxophonist David Fague (UNT One O’Clock Lab Band, Gonzaga University Director of Jazz), pianist Tommy James (Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, the Temptations), trumpeter Valery Ponomarev (Jazz Messengers, Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton), eight-time Po’okela-winning vocalist Shari Lynn (George Shearing, Brothers Cazimero, Jimmy Borges), Grammy-winning trombonist Dave Glenn (Gerry Mulligan, Diana Ross, retired Whitman University Director of Jazz), saxophonist Tim Ishii (UT-Arlington Director of Jazz), trumpeter Jim Seeley (Ray Charles, Jim Seeley/Arturo O’Farrill Quintet) & two-time Grammy-winning percussionist Arturo O’Farrill (Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
2011-2012 Big Band, courtesy of Trish Barker Photography
