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Jazz Quartet marks 10 years with CD release and party

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THIS ONE’S FOR DOLLY: “I still remember my mom telling me I should form my own jazz group, and egging me on to do it,” John Kolivas said. “She also encouraged me to try out for the Honolulu Symphony, which I did in 1997. She was a force of nature.” Not only did Kolivas form the Honolulu Jazz Quartet, he also became a symphony bass player, just as his late mom, Dolly Kang Lott, wished. The HJQ marks its 10th anniversary with a performance at Gordon Biersch Wednesday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m, and the release of a CD that includes past recordings. HJQ members are Kolivas, on bass; Dan Del Negro, piano; Tim Tsukiyama, sax; and von Baron, drums. The album, “Honolulu Jazz Quartet – Remembrance / Live at the Triple Door,” features numbers played at Seattle’s Triple Door music club on HJQ’s 2007 West Coast tour. The CD also includes “Remembrance,” a song with vocalist Anita Hall, recorded in 2001, for those who lost their lives on 9/11. It was written by Kolivas, with lyrics by his brother, Robert Pennybacker. The album is dedicated to their late mom …

CARL AND his wife JIM Smigielski marked their 33rd wedding anniversary at Alan Wong’s last Friday with their good friends Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass fame and his wife, singer Lani Hall, who live in Hawaii part time. Also celebrating with them were Emme Tomimbang and Jim Burns, who just returned from a nostalgic trip to Glacier National Park in Montana where Burns was a seasonal park ranger 50 years ago. He noted the biggest change, saying, “There are female park rangers now!” …

RESTAURANT industry vet David Nagaishi has stepped into the general manager’s position at Wolfgang Zwiener’s Il Lupino and is again teamed with chef Nicola Sayada. “It’s just great working with Nic again,” David said. They worked together in the 1980s when David held management positions at the Black Orchid and Nick’s Fishmarket. Before coming to Il Lupino in Royal Hawaiian Center, David held top management positions at Ocean House, Don Ho’s Island Grill, Neiman Marcus Restaurants, Bali By the Sea, Pier 7 and Aqua …

SINGER Kalani Kinimaka, 73, died July 7 in a hospital in Wailuku, Maui, after suffering two recent strokes, according to information received from his son, Kimo, and brother, singer Iva Kinimaka. Kalani made a name for himself singing in Waikiki clubs in the 1960s and ’70s and on the “Hawaii Calls” radio show. He had a rich golden voice and specialized in romantic ballads. The handsome Hawaiian had small roles in movies filmed here and also made appearances on the original “Hawaii Five-0.” He later moved to Maui to be closer to his three sons and grandchildren. He continued his career on the Valley Isle, singing at weddings, vow renewals and ocean burials. Condolences to his family members …

Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
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