Maui film producer creates tribute to Kris Kristofferson

Kenneth K. Martinez Burgmaier wears many hats as a film director and producer and as a music festival creator. His latest work is taking him to film festivals worldwide to promote his tribute to singer-songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson, who lived in Hana. Photo courtesy Burgmaier productions

He's continuing his annual jazz festivals on Maui, the Big Island, Oahu and Lanai, and his film tribute to actor-singer Kris Kristofferson has been nominated as an official selection at film festivals worldwide.

He also has been asked to produce a documentary on Maui as part of the United Nations' International Jazz Day Festival in April.

Maui resident Kenneth K. Martinez Burgmaier appears to be very busy. However, after more than 40 years in the business, he says he's actually slowing down. While he no longer does the daily entertainment booking at Ocean Vodka Organic Farm in Kula, he is continuing to do a monthly Sunday jazz show there.

Burgmaier, the producer of Hawaiian and jazz music festivals as well as award-winning documentaries, has done some serious work ranging from his Jazz Alley TV features to tributes to Quincy Jones and now Kris Kristofferson.

Burgmaier received two Billboard Music Awards for his Jazz Alley TV Series and an Emmy for his work as an audio engineer and principal of Jazz Alley TV Inc. for his national PBS film, "Kiho'alu Keola Beamer," about slack key music.

Burgmaier operates his own independent production company, hiring his freelance talent, including camera operators, sound engineers, lighting directors, editors and graphic artists.

The work has enabled him to pick projects and travel to more than 60 countries. His Jazz Alley TV is syndicated on the BET and BET Jazz networks.

The pair of tributes stemmed from his relationships that grew over the years.

In fact, the Kristofferson documentary started about 10 years ago as Burgmaier recalled working with Kristofferson, who was entertaining at a fundraiser in Hana for the Hawaiian nonprofit group 'Ohana Makamae at the time.

Burgmaier interviewed Kristofferson at his home and directed and produced a film about the Hana event. DVDs were sold as a fundraiser for the group.

The new feature film tribute, "Kris Kristofferson: One Man One Voice," is an outgrowth of the initial interview.

Kristofferson actively helped the Maui community at these kinds of events; one was to raise money for a heart transplant for an 11-year-old girl from Hana.

He and country western singer Willie Nelson, who also has a home on Maui, played music at a fundraiser for the girl in 2002.

The Kristofferson tribute has been accepted at film festivals in Berlin, Sweden, Rome and Santa Fe as well as the World Film Festival in Cannes, France.

Burgmaier said the documentary hasn't had its premier in Hawai'i.

"We want to definitely do something," he said.

Burgmaier has also directed and produced a tribute to music producer Quincy Jones through a project sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute and Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz in Washington, D.C.

His sci-fi film "2307: Winter's Dream" opened in 13 cities and was distributed by Netflix, Amazon Prime and iTunes.

Burgmaier, a Native American who's part Hopi and Navajo, also produced some 20 Hawaiian documentaries including "Hawaiian Breath of Aloha" and "Nona Beamer Malama Ko Aloha" about Nona Beamer's effort to bring back the Hawaiian language.

"My Hopi and Navajo bloodline inspire me to develop these projects," he said.

Burgmaier, who is originally from Colorado where he helped his family run a Mexican restaurant, said he likes living on Maui with his family and parents, and he enjoys taking quiet hikes and camping in the forest and along the coast.

"Family is a must," he said. "It grounds me."