The Summer Jazz Journey series continues with an evening of deeply rooted, forward-moving jazz led by trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader DeShannon Higa, joined by Quadpod and featuring vocalist Rocky Brown.
Higa is one of Hawaiʻi’s most distinctive jazz voices—a trumpeter equally at home in hard-swinging post-bop, groove-based modern jazz, Latin colors, funk, and more exploratory electric textures. His career has taken him from Hawaiʻi to New York and beyond, with performances in major venues including Birdland, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Radio City Music Hall. As a composer and arranger, he has written for a wide range of ensembles and currently serves as an official composer and arranger for the historic Royal Hawaiian Band. His musical world is broad: sophisticated but never stiff, modern but still connected to melody, groove, and emotional clarity.
For this concert, Higa brings together his jazz quartet Quadpod, an ensemble built on conversation, risk, and trust—essentials in jazz. The group features Patrick “Paka” Whitehead on piano and keys, Mark Tanouye on bass, and Abe Lagrimas Jr. on drums. Together, they move through bebop, hard bop, post-bop, funk, Latin, soul, and original music with the kind of flexibility with the ease of seasoned and gifted musicians. It is alive, interactive, and built in the moment.
Drummer Abe Lagrimas Jr. brings a remarkable musical range to the bandstand. Known internationally as a drummer, vibraphonist, ʻukulele artist, composer, educator, and Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner, Lagrimas has worked across jazz, Hawaiian music, world music, and contemporary creative settings. His drumming brings both fire and elegance—deep pocket when the music needs to sit, explosive lift when it needs to fly.
At the center of the evening is Rocky Brown, whose voice carries decades of experience across Broadway, jazz, folk, pop, R&B, and American song. A former member of the Broadway cast of Miss Saigon, Brown brings theatrical depth without overstatement, soul without gimmickry, and a storyteller’s instinct for lyric and phrasing. She has performed on major stages, recorded in both the Philippines and Hawaiʻi, and built a respected career not only as a performer but also as a voice teacher and mentor through her successful vocal studio. Whether singing a jazz standard, a folk-inflected ballad, a pop classic, or something more soulful and blues-drenched, Brown sings with warmth, nuance, and lived-in musical honesty.
This 80-minute concert will showcase the many sides of these artists: original compositions, reimagined standards, deep grooves, lyrical ballads, spontaneous improvisation, and the unmistakable sound of musicians who know how to listen. Expect a night that honors jazz tradition without treating it like a museum piece—music with history, heart, humor, swing, soul, and a few surprises.
Set in the beautiful acoustic space of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, DeShannon Higa + Quadpod featuring Rocky Brown offers an evening for serious jazz listeners, longtime fans, and anyone who simply loves great musicians making real music together.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of live music at our upcoming jazz concert! On Sunday, August 17, don’t miss ʻUkulele Around the World, a global musical adventure led by Cynthia Lin on ʻukulele and vocals, Abe Lagrimas, Jr. on ʻukulele, and Shawn Conley on bass. This unique concert will showcase songs in a variety of languages, highlighting the ʻukulele’s versatility and charm across cultures.
Come listen to violinist Duane Padilla and guitarists Sonny Silva and Joe Zyac pay tribute to Stéphane Grapelli and “Django” Reinhardt’s backstage experiments at the Hotel Claridge in Paris in 1934 by performing their favorite tunes from the iconic Quintette du Hot Club de France. Joined by Bobby Igano on lap steel guitar, this group will bring their unique “Hot Club of Hulaville” experience to this event!
Renowned pianist Ethan Capone, joined by Mark Tanouye, bass, and Abe Lagrimas Jr., drums, presents an evening of jazz classics and innovations. This must-see event will take you on an exciting musical journey, keeping your ears happy and your hearts full!
Experimenting with the collective sound of saxophones, vibraphone, and drumset, “Vibin’ with Allen, Abe, and Noel” will take you on a new journey for your ears. The legendary musicians, Allen Won, Abe Lagrimas, Jr., and Noel Okimoto will offer you a unique experience with a feast of jazz standards and original compositions.
Member of Royal Hawaiian Band member DeShannon Higa is also a bandleader and visionary. He has assembled and is currently performing with two bands of his own creation. He will share the sultry sounds of his trumpet along with his ensemble, Quadpod. This neo-bop quartet will be joined by a special guest on vocals. DeShannon’s styles of music range from jazz to Latin/salsa to modern electronica and hip hop. He resides in Honolulu with his wife, former Broadway performer, from the original cast of Miss Saigon, Rocky Brown, with whom he also performs.
Join Hawai‘i jazz masters Duane Padilla on violin, Benny Chong on ‘ukulele, and Byron Yasui on bass as they present an evening of string-based swing music. Together, they explore what might happen if French jazz violinist Stephane Grapelli and American violinist Stuff Smith accidentally met in a Waikīkī night club and were asked to jam “island style.”
Jazz is back at Lutheran Church of Honolulu, and you’re invited to enjoy all the swinging sounds of our summer lineup! Take a musical journey with us as we celebrate summer with some of Honolulu’s finest jazz musicians, live in the intimate outdoor setting of the Hörmann Courtyard.
’Tis the season for live Christmas music. In this festive iteration of our new jJazz series, join us for a night of Donny Hathaway, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Wham!, and other festive tunes you might not expect to hear at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. Joining our LCH Jazz Trio will be local trumpet legend DeShannon Higa and a few surprise vocalists.