Music makes a difference in people’s lives, and so do musicians.
This weekend, there were at least two different benefit concerts on Kauai that raised funds for the island’s flood relief and recovery. Musicians like Jack Johnson of Oahu traveled from other Hawaiian islands, while others traveled from as far as the Caribbean, such as members of legendary reggae band The Wailing Souls, to share their support.
Musicians are an integral part of every community; their efforts can help with recovering from disaster, and their tunes can expedite healing from the trauma. Musicians can be students, teachers, doctors, police officers, business owners, museum curators and even newspaper reporters. These players of instruments share their artistic expression of life through the sounds they create. Some are professional performers too, but most are regular people you interact with everyday, like colleagues, friends and family.
Kauai Island Singers Showcase gives local singers a chance to develop their repertoire and skills by presenting them in performances with professional musicians. Their upcoming Latin and The Blues Concert this Saturday will showcase the musical talents of several Kauai musicians at 7 p.m. in Kapaa’s All Saints Church Gym. The free concert features vocalists Dhyana Dunville, Phil Zeidner, Susan Higgins, Augusto Leal, Melissa Mojo, Mary Ellen Kopitzke, Diana Leone, Lee Miller and Siri Shabad, along with Hank Curtis on piano, Marty Leonard on drums and Laine Griffith on sax.
The show presents a musical juxtaposition of two synergistic genres, as nine vocalists present 20 iconic songs from soulful blues to cool bossa novas and from sizzling sambas to moving merengues. These local musicians are opening hearts one song at a time, especially while dealing with all of life’s many challenges that we face every day.
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John Steinhorst, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at (808) 652-5024 or jsteinhorst@thegardenisland.com
