LIHU‘E — Jazz keyboardist and composer Lao Tizer and his guitarist Jeff Kollman return to Kaua‘i for a performance Sunday benefiting the Hawai‘i Children’s Theatre. “He’s fabulous,” said Debra Blachowiak of HCT. “I call him a prodigy.” The show begins
LIHU‘E — Jazz keyboardist and composer Lao Tizer and his guitarist Jeff Kollman return to Kaua‘i for a performance Sunday benefiting the Hawai‘i Children’s Theatre.
“He’s fabulous,” said Debra Blachowiak of HCT. “I call him a prodigy.”
The show begins at 3 p.m. Sunday at Birdie’s Cafe, at the Kukuiolono Golf Course in Kalaheo.
A native of Boulder, Colo., Tizer is the front man of his self-titled band, TIZER, which was nominated in 2011 for Jazz Group of the Year at the Oasis Jazz Awards. Over the past few years, TIZER has taken its multi-faceted vibe around the globe, galvanizing thousands of events, including the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, the Joy of Jazz Festival in Johannesburg, the Dubai Jazz Festival, Barbados Jazz Festival and many others, according to their website.
The band’s diverse resume includes performances alongside Zappa Plays Zappa, Jethro Tull, Isaac Hayes, Al Jarreau, Spyro Gyra, George Benson, Soulive, Babyface, Bruce Hornsby and Robin Thicke.
Tizer said his sound incorporates “a lot of different flavors,” including jazz, rock and funk.
“It’s basically like jazz world fusion,” he said.
Tizer has visited Kaua‘i and performed here a number of times, first in 2005.
“I’ve probably played out there at least five times,” he said. “I love the island and have a lot of friends out there. We’re really excited to be coming back.”
In fact, Tizer has not performed on any other island in Hawai‘i. While he one day hopes to make it to Big Island, up until now it’s been “Kaua‘i or bust,” he said.
“Kaua‘i is a very special place … something I connected to really deeply.”
Kaua‘i provided Tizer with the inspiration for “A Hui Hou,” a song featured on his 2006 album “Diversify.” He said he is looking forward to his upcoming five-day Kaua‘i getaway and that his audience Sunday is in for a great time.
Tickets for Sunday’s performance cost $35 for inside seating, $25 for rim seating.
Pupus and refreshments are included in the ticket price. Coffee, beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Proceeds will benefit the Pono Players and Ethan Shell Scholarship programs at HCT.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.hawaiichildrenstheatre.com or call 246-8985.
• Chris D’Angelo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-0441 or lifestyle@thegardenisland.com.
