When crooner Jimmy Borges joins maestro Matt Catingub in a Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra pops concert Thursday at Blaisdell Concert Hall, he will celebrate more than the music of Frank Sinatra and the great American songbook.
Borges has done this repertoire with flair and excellence many times before; some Catingub arrangements are from Borges’ song list while he was jamming and jazzing at the ol’ Trappers lounge.
But there will be another special element. "I’m very happy and honored to be the first pop/jazz artist to sing with our spanking-brand-new Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra," said Borges. See, the veteran entertainer will be the center of musical and medical synergy; his liver surgery a year ago at Kaiser Permanente Hospital is the reason.
Several months ago Janet Liang, CEO of Kaiser, was approached to sponsor an HSO concert; she was firm on throwing support only to health care issues, not ever for concerts — until she examined the performance schedule.
"She asked to see the lineup, and when she saw my name, she said, ‘I think we’ll make an exception this time and sponsor the Jimmy Borges concert.’" When Borges heard about this partnership of music, medicine and moolah, "it brought me to tears. Kaiser embraced me and saved my life when no one else gave me much hope, and now they’re embracing my musical life to sponsor my concert." And yes, the medical team (Drs. Ryan Takamori and John Watabe) and other hospital honchos will be rooting in the audience. "How blessed can one person get?" said Borges — a poster boy for surviving the odds. …
Borges also revealed that an unnamed member of the new symphony group inquired, "If I go and have my operation at Kaiser Hospital, will they guarantee that I’ll sing like you when I get out?"
By the way, three hours after the concert is pau, Borges turns 77, a happy milestone of a birthday. …
HERE ‘N’ THERE: When attorney Jeff Portnoy was in Omaha for a meeting, he took in the Omaha Nebraska Symphony’s "rock" concert because the aforementioned Catingub was conducting, with songstress Anita Hall featured. Portnoy, president of the board at Manoa Valley Theatre, noted that Hall’s bio included her MVT credit "The Honky Tonk Angels." To hear Hall sing, check out the Borges pops concert, where she is a guest artist. …
The gents of ManoaDNA — dad Lloyd Kawakami and sons Nick and Alex — head to Japan this week to participate in the Hiroshima/Hawaii Sister-State 15th-anniversary celebration. ManoaDNA will give two shows, at a private reception for government officials, dignitaries and their guests, and a public performance at the Hiroshima Carp vs. Tokyo Lions major league baseball game in front of 30,000 rabid baseball fans. "Isn’t it funny that I’ll watch my very first MLB baseball game in Japan?" said Lloyd. After Hiroshima the group treks to Yokohama for a pair of shows. …
AROUND TOWN: Cheesa Laureta, who made her mark on NBC’s "The Voice" this past season, checked out another voice — Lani Misalucha, at the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber’s Magic of Polynesia showroom, along with her musical director-brother, Troy Laureta, and their parents. Cheesa looks up to Misalucha as a role model, and the pair chatted after the show. …
And Bernie Bayot, Bruno Mars‘ mom, also caught the Misalucha show with daughter Presley Hernandez and her mother. They met Misalucha, whose maiden name is Bayot, and discussed their possible ohana ties, since Filipino roots run deep. …
A speedy recover to Emme Tomimbang, hospitalized at the Queen’s Medical Center. Her "Emme’s Island Moments: ‘Hawaii Five-0′ Revisited" airs at 7 p.m. Thursday and 9 p.m. Saturday on KGMB9. …
DATEBOOK: Makana‘s "Return to Waikiki" show, from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays, is back at the International Market Place, where buffet dinner service starts at 6 p.m. The singer-guitarist explores the origins of hula kahiko and the Hawaiian music renaissance of the 1970s; and yes, his slack-key artistry is one of the draws. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
