Known as the “Lady with a Golden Voice,” Sheryl Renee will share her artistic vocal Jazz stylings on Sunday, April 14 at Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate Factory in Lahaina. BRUCE FORRESTER photo

The Maui News

Jazz Maui presents Sunset Jazz from 5-7pm on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at the Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Factory, 78 Ulupono Street in Lahaina featuring vocalist Sheryl Renee along with keyboardist Paul January, drummer Howie Rentzer, and bassist Dave Graber. Sunset Jazz concert attendees must be 21 or older and have a valid photo ID. Seating is limited and often sold out so advance ticket purchase is required at https://mauichocolate.com/pages/sunset-jazz or www.JazzMaui.org.

The dynamic versatility of vocalist Sheryl Renee comes from a lifetime in and around the entertainment business. An audience favorite, she moves effortlessly between music genres, artistic avenues, and her entrepreneurial pursuits. She is a vocalist, actress, entertainer, and producer. Known as the “Lady with a Golden Voice” she has shared the stage with some of the best talent in the world including Candi Staton, Larry Dunn, Freda Payne, String Cheese Incident, The Contribution, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra conducted by the late Marvin Hamlisch. Sheryl performed the national anthem for President Barack Obama and her vocals have been featured on countless recordings and commercials.

Keyboards player Paul January got his first paying gig when he was 11 years old, playing piano for a children’s fashion show in Denver, Colorado. By 1972 he was attending music school, teaching piano and trumpet, and working every weekend. He spent the next 46 years playing in various spots around Reno and Tahoe, as a single performer playing jazz, standards, and pop, or with groups as large as 17 playing everything from funk to big band jazz. He has had the privilege of working with some of the biggest names ever to grace the stages of Reno and Las Vegas, and has made many friends along the way.

Drummer Howie Rentzer has played in lots of top 40 bands in Boston and Los Angeles and in Honolulu where he played with Jimmy Borges, Carol Kai, Maria Muldaur, and Bobby Enriques. On Maui he has performed with Henry Allen, George Benson, Mose Allison, and Greg Karukas. Howie has opened for Kenny Loggins and was in the band for Howie Mandel’s comedy show.

David Graber, upright and electric bass, received his Bachelor of Music in jazz studies, with distinction, from the University of Calgary (and was awarded the Margaret Locke Scholarship for strings). Dave graduated from Grant Mac Ewan Community College (and was awarded the Edmonton Jazz Society Scholarship). He studied privately with Gary Willis from Tribal Tech and Charles Banacos of the New England Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music. David has performed music (including jazz, Latin, and contemporary styles) in festivals throughout western Canada and the USA including aboard Carnival Cruise Lines and has played with artists such as Larry Coryell, Eric Marienthal, Delfeayo Marsalis, Fareed Haque, Mark Gabriel Hasselbach, and Glen Goto to name a few.

Held weekly in the upstairs open-air pavilion, Jazz Maui’s Sunset Jazz features a different line-up of world-class live jazz music accompanied by chocolate/beverage pairings. Concert goers can enjoy selections from an extensive wine, spirits and beer list along with three flights of chocolate and beverage pairings for purchase. Some classic pairings such as ports and reds are offered as well as others that are unexpected such as sake and tequila. Chocolate sommeliers are on hand to assist with pairings or imbibers can create their own.

Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate, through its Chocolate Laulima program, supports local nonprofit organizations such as Arts Education for Children Group/Jazz Maui. Proceeds from concert ticket sales benefit Jazz Maui’s music education programs.

Jazz Maui, a branch of the 501(c)-3 nonprofit Arts Education for Children Group (www.aecg.org), provides opportunities for participation in high quality jazz music education and performances. Throughout the year The Jazz Maui 2024 Maui Music Series presents Sunset Jazz every Sunday in Lahaina, outstanding visiting virtuosos in a bi-monthly concert series in Kihei, and special concerts, clinics and classes held at various venues around the islands. Jazz Maui supports Jazz Night at the Empanada Lady in Wailuku and “Sheryl Renee Salutes” at ProArts. Selected performances presented by Jazz Maui are live-streamed on the organization’s website: www.JazzMaui.org.

Sunset Jazz, part of the Jazz Maui 2024 Maui Music Series, is supported by the Hawaii Tourism Authority Community Enrichment Program.

For tickets visit https:// mauichocolate.com/pages/sunset-jazz or JazzMaui.org and for more information text (808) 283-3576 or email info @aecg.org.