­­­­Boyz II Men are back again

February 12, 2015

The most successful R&B group of all time, Boyz II Men returns to Maui for a special Valentine's weekend show Sunday night in the Castle Theater.With more than 60 million albums sold worldwide, scoring three of the longest-running No. 1 pop singles in history, these multiple Grammy Award winners found instant fame with their 1991 debut, "Cooleyhighharmony."Highlighted by lush, soulful ballads, it included the classic hits "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" and "Motownphilly."With their irresistible sound described as "hip-hop doo wop," Boyz II Men's star kept soaring with the ...

Journey through the Blues

February 5, 2015

One of the finest exponents of acoustic blues performing today, Eric Bibb recently released an exceptional album dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Focusing on African-American history, from slavery to emancipation and the hardships of sharecropping to the civil rights struggle, "Blues People" has been widely praised.The Seattle Post Intelligencer raved, " 'Blues People' is an extraordinary musical documentary. Bibb is masterful at promoting social justice without being too preachy, at providing moments of exhilaration as well as contemplation and deep emotion with fine ...

Cowboys of Hawaiian music

January 29, 2015

Calling themselves the Rough Riders, three of Hawaii's most esteemed musicians, Henry Kapono, Brother Noland and John Cruz, have teamed for a series of momentous concerts debuting Friday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.The trio first got together informally last spring to just hang out. "We didn't really play, we just talked story and got to feel good about each other," Kapono explains. "I've been wanting to do something like this for a while. Then when we did 'Back in the Day,' and we all agreed we should do something.""Back in the Day" was a special concert spearheaded by Kapono ...

Blue Eyes

January 22, 2015

Judy Collins performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets are $35, $45, $55, and $65 and are available at the box office, by calling 242-7469 or online at www.mauiarts.org.It's not uncommon for Judy Collins to be in a store or a coffee shop and hear Crosby, Stills & Nash's classic "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," which Stephen Stills composed for her. Decades since its release, Collins still feels touched when it's played."It's interesting to hear that song because it continues to be a hit," says Collins, calling from her New York City home. ...

Yo-Yo Ma

January 15, 2015

The world's greatest living cellist will likely mesmerize his sold-out audience when he performs at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater on Jan 22."Yo-Yo Ma isn't Superman, he just seems like it," lauded a concert review in the San Jose Mercury News."During the cellist's recital, one had the sense that nothing can go wrong when he performs. It's his ease and soulfulness, a unique combination."Ma will present an all-Bach program, which will include "Suite No. 1 in G Major," "Suite No. 5 in C Minor" and "Suite No. 3 in C Major."An astonishing prodigy, as a young child he ...

Busy with the blues

January 8, 2015

A towering master of blues, Taj Mahal was just nominated for a Grammy Award for his collaboration with Gregg Allman on a live version of the classic "Statesboro Blues," featured on the album "All My Friends: Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman."A few months earlier, the legendary Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, film composer and multi-instrumentalist was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Nashville."Taj Mahal was world music before there was such a thing," Keb' Mo' proclaimed, introducing his hero at the ceremony."I've been performing for over 50 years, and to ...