When you stop and think about it, downtown Honolulu is the biggest sandbox in Hawaii for our state’s most creative minds to play in.

During regular business hours, towering office buildings contain hundreds — if not thousands — of people working very hard to come up with the next big thing in their respective industries. At night, the focus turns to numerous music venues in the neighborhood that present both live music and DJs with enough talent to spin more than just the same old mainstream radio hits.

Last weekend at the Dragon Upstairs, five like-minded musicians came together for the first time in public to present a “unity of jazz and hip-hop” called Dragon Chase. Every Friday through July 2, they’ll share their new musical adventure with bar patrons from 10 p.m. until about 1 a.m. Cover is $5 at the door.

From an event posting on Facebook by Dragon Chase founder Ikaika Tecson:

Featuring:
Brian “B-Cap” Capobianchi – one of my favorite MCs/Vocalists with an ear for improvisation and an unusual taste for beer.
http://www.facebook.com/briancap

Randy Wheeler – on the tenor sax.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=805991682

Back-Up Trio:
Kapono Nailiili on drums/vox
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1092424144

Mark Tanouye on Bass
http://www.facebook.com/mtanouye

Ikaika Tecson on keys
http://www.facebook.com/ikejams