DeShannon Higa
DeShannon Higa
Hometown: Hilo
High school graduated from: Kaimuki High School
Family life: Married to Rocky Brown.
Musical occupation: Jazz musician, trumpet player, composer, arranger, band leader, electronica musician.
Where can you be spotted? thirtyninehotel on Thursdays with my band, gr00ve.imProV.arTiSts. I call it Jungle Jam at 10 p.m. It’s a full band complete with drum circle, singer, emcee and turntables, and of course, me on trumpet, percussion and keyboard. Coming next month, G.I.A. trio will play downtempo music at Hanohano Room on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., I think. The details are still being figured out. Also next month, I’m putting together a jazz quartet at The Dragon Upstairs doing New York-style neo-bop Monday nights at 8:30 p.m. I can also be spotted occasionally at the Honolulu Club on its Jazz Wednesdays, or performing with Rocky Brown in her folk/pop trio.
Musical accomplishments? Performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, in New York City. I traveled around the world playing in a show band aboard the Princess Cruise Line ships. I played with the Royal Hawaiian Band, Honolulu Symphony Pops, among others. Backed up or opened for artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Temptations, Bette Midler, Coasters, Drifters, Burt Bacharach, Frankie Valli, Don Ho, Wayne Newton, Joe Williams, Hal Linden, Donnie and Marie Osmond, Diana Krall, among others.
What is it that you love about music? It is essential to living; it is an undeniable part of us. Babies learn to speak by listening to and memorizing tones. Music expresses the inexpressible - what our hearts are saying, when words are simply not enough. I can’t imagine a day without it.
Upcoming projects: I’m on Raiatea Helm’s upcoming CD, and currently producing my own CD. Also, I’m collaborating with New York musicians on a project.
Contact info: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or myspace.com/deshannon
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