Presenting, Hawaii Pops

Bandleader Matt Catingub announced Tuesday the formation of a new organization, Hawaii Pops, which will pre­sent music in a variety of forms, from orchestral to big band to small ensemble.

“This is a dream come true for me today,” Catingub said at a news conference at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, the planned venue for most of the organization’s performances. “Our premiere season will run from this September all the way until May of next year. We’ll probably be able to fit in a lot of things you haven’t even had a chance to experience in the past model.”

Catingub outlined three “distinct concert experiences” that the organization plans to stage:

>> Orchestra performances, featuring an approximately 40-instrument group, at the convention center ballroom.

>> “Big band” performances featuring about a dozen musicians, possibly backing a local or visiting solo artist or group, which will be held in the smaller theaters within the convention center or around the state.

>> Small groups, such as trios or quartets, at venues such as the Lewers Lounge at the Halekulani, which has agreed to sponsor a “Live at Lewers” series of concerts.

Catingub was especially enthusiastic about the orchestra performances, which will be held at the convention center ballroom and will feature “full food, full beverage — very important — and two dance floors,” he said. “We are not going to be presenting concerts; we will be presenting events.”

The music itself will run the gamut of Catingub’s interest and ambition. Last year, for the inaugural season of the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra, he orchestrated and conducted the symphony in events ranging from arrangements backing Hawaiian-style singers Raiatea Helm and Amy Hanaialii, to the more Sinatra-like stylings of Jimmy Borges and Jim Nabors, as well as indie rock group Vertical Horizon.

“I’ve always said for years that ‘pops’ means anything you kind of want it to mean,” Catingub said.
Catingub emphasized that Hawaii Pops is not intended as a competing organization to the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra, which plans to pre­sent a pops series in the spring of 2014. He said he informed orchestra leaders of his plans and that if anything, Hawaii Pops might prove beneficial by providing more employment for symphony musicians.

“It is not meant to compete, but to enhance our arts in our city and our state,” he said.

One concert already in the works will feature tunes from the James Bond films, which piqued the interest of Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who was in attendance at the news conference and spoke glowingly of the organization’s potential. Abercrombie said he saw the first Bond film, “Dr. No,” in Waikiki and noted that he knew Harold Sakata, a local wrestler who starred as henchman Oddjob in “Goldfinger.”

Abercrombie said he expects Hawaii Pops will help revive “Hawaiian jazz,” mentioning artists such as Catingub’s mother, Mavis Rivers, Anita O’Day, Renee Paulo, Jimmy Borges and Gabe Baltazar — all nationally recognized performers with strong ties to the islands.

“We have this tremendous tradition of jazz in the islands, and of performers who are in the first rank,” Abercrombie said. “Hawaii Pops is going to bring all that back.”

The organization, which plans to announce its season in June, has linked up with several well-known names and organizations. Board members include major arts philanthropist Carolyn Berry, former Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona, former University of Hawaii Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and attorney Richard Turbin. Sponsors include the Halekulani, the Star-Advertiser, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment, KITV4 and Hawaii News Now.

Catingub has led pops orchestras in Glendale, Calif., New Mexico, New Hampshire and Las Vegas, and has guest-conducted pops orchestras throughout the mainland, Canada and Japan.