(Honolulu) 'OHANA is the debut CD by Hawaii's first-call drummer, Noel Okimoto. 'OHANA (RSCD 1026) features not only his drumming but also his all-around percussion skills and compositions. The sidemen are a Who's Who of Hawaii's best jazz musicians with special guests, saxophonist Gabe Baltazar, pianist Makoto Ozone, and trumpeter Tiger Okoshi.
Noel's 30 year career (he's 44), includes performances in Hawaii, the U.S. mainland, and overseas with noted jazz artists such as Freddie Hubbard, the Woody Herman Orchestra, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Ernie Watts, Barney Kessel, Sadao Watanabe, Ronnie Cuber, Jon Faddis, Joanne Brackeen, Nestor Torres, Terumasa Hino, Linda Hopkins, Bud Shank, Gene Harris, Take Six, and Herbie Mann.
He furthered his career by studying music at the University of Hawaii, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion. During the day he attended the university and at night he performed with Gabe Baltazar, former lead alto saxophonist with Stan Kenton. Okimoto was a member of Baltazar's group for five years.
In Hawaii Noel has played and recorded with everyone from Don Ho, Jimmy Borges, ukulele virtuosos “Ohta San", Jake Shimabukuro and Lyle Ritz, as well as contemporary artists like Peter Moon, Daniel Ho, Kapono Beamer, and the Kaau Crater Boys.
Besides being a virtuoso on the drumset, Noel is an accomplished orchestral percussionist, jazz vibist, composer, and clinician. Since 1988 Noel has been the percussion section leader of the world famous Royal Hawaiian Band. This band was established in 1836 during the Hawaiian Monarchy.
Label: Roy Sakuma Productions
To order online: www.booklineshawaii.com
For more information contact All About Jazz.
