Artist: Noel Okimoto

Noel Okimoto's 'OHANA is the solo debut for Hawaii's premier jazz drummer and one of Hawaii's resident world class talents. In 2004, 'OHANA swept the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and also the Hawaii Music Awards "Jazz Album of the Year". National jazz magazine, Downbeat, gave "Ohana" it's best rating of 4 stars among all other jazz releases in Hawaii. Jazz Times Magazine quotes " Noel Okimoto is a forceful swinger and creative player as well as a prolific composer and multi-instrumentalist... undeniable talented and incredibly versatile..." Okimoto has established a distinguished career with his intense and brilliant chops behind the drum kit and also his diverse skills on the piano, vibraphone, marimbas and other assorted instruments in the percussive family. This multi-dimensional CD displays Noel's innovative original compositions of latin jazz, contemporary funk and fusion, straight ahead jazz, and bossa nova. To help him make his musical statement, Noel has gathered his longtime friends, a distinguished cast of extraordinary musicians from here and around the world who make up his musical family, his 'ohana. Featured are internationally renowned artists Makoto Ozone on piano and trumpeter Tiger Okoshi. Among the musicians gathered on this musical gem is saxophonist and mentor Gabe Baltazar, high school friends Allen Won who toured and recorded with the world renowned classical saxophonist Harvey Pittel, and trumpeter Eric Miyashiro who toured with Noel in the Woody Herman Orchestra.