Jazz with Noel Okimoto and Dean Taba

Jazz with Noel Okimoto and Dean Taba
Thursday, February 18  10:00am
Hosted by Kaunoa Senior Center
Register here

Born and raised in Honolulu, Noel Okimotohas been playing professionally since the age of ten. Noel’s primary instrument is the drum set, but he is also an accomplished orchestral percussionist, vibraphonist, composer, and clinician. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion from the University of Hawai‘i.

Noel has played in Hawai‘i, the mainland US, and internationally with Freddie Hubbard, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Richie Cole, Bill Watrous, Ernie Watts, Bud Shank, Barney Kessel, Lew Tabackin, Sadao Watanabe, Wynton Marsalis, Take 6, David Benoit, Henry Mancini, and Nelson Riddle, among others. He was also a member of the Gabe Baltazar Group for five years, and is the percussion section leader of the historic Royal Hawaiian Band. Okimoto recorded an award-winning jazz CD in 2004, entitled ‘Ohana, that received a 4-star review in Downbeat magazine and positive reviews in other national and international publications.

Dean Taba is a freelance bassist, composer, producer, and educator living in Honolulu. He began his musical studies on the piano at the age of 6 and played french horn at Stevenson Intermediate and McKinley High School and with the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony. It was a desire to play in the high school jazz band that introduced him to the bass and improvised music.

He is now back home in Honolulu performing, teaching, recording, and producing some of Hawai‘i’s most influential and innovative artists. He is also very excited to be directing the University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa Jazz Ensemble, Hawai‘i Youth Symphony Jazz and Jazz+ programs, and Pacific Music Institute Jazz Summer Intensive.