When Loretta Ables Sayre returns to Blue Note Hawaii on April 1 — her 60th birthday — she’ll have a treasure of a present: Robert Cazimero.
He agreed to join her in song at the Outrigger Waikiki Resort showroom, in a long overdue reunion. Ables Sayre fondly recalls a previous gig together.
“He and I did a concert of love songs on a Valentine’s Day 25 years ago at Unity Church, and it was magical,” she said. “Since then, we’ve always wanted to do something like that again.”
Having read here recently how Cazimero struggles to assemble a show, “I thought I would ask him to be my guest and all he has to do is sing a few beautiful songs and my musicians will back him up; they know every song written in the American Songbook,” Ables Sayre said. “And he said yes!”
Cazimero’s comment: “Not only am I going to be in the audience (to watch), but I will be her guest on stage!”
Musicians will be Jim Howard on piano, Darryl Pellegrini on drums and Dean Taba on bass.
Cazimero’s own birthday is March 20 — he’ll be 69 — and he traditionally parties for a good month. So on April Fools’ Day, “We are going to make it a huge birthday celebration,” Ables Sayre said. For reservations, call 777-4890 or visit bluenotehawaii.com. …
MORE JAZZ & BLUES NOTES
The Shari Lynn Trio will perform jazz and blues at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace. Jim Howard on piano and John Kolivas on bass provide music. Dinner service from 6:30 p.m. Call or text 351-0901 or visit musicatmedicis.tix.com …
NAME-DROPPING
At the recent Saint Damien Food and Wine Festival at Bishop Museum, comedian Frank DeLima (Damien class of 1967) was bestowed with the Damien Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Indeed, he’s put Damien on the showbiz map. …
It was as much a chef gala as it was Roy Yamaguchi’s 30th anniversary, celebrated at his flagship Roy’s Hawaii Kai Restaurant on Feb. 9. The restaurant became a bilevel, indoor-outdoor grazing center: Everywhere you looked, there were chefs like Ed Kenney, Alan Wong, George Mavrothalassitis and Lee Anne Wong, prepping and sharing mini portions of their specialties. Like, chef Mavro prepared 40 of his signature onaga in a salt crust. And for good fortune, a Chinese lion dance troupe welcomed the Year of the Dog. …
NIGHT OF HAWAIIANA
The Beamer-Solomon ohana, resources for a cachet of Hawaiian songs, dances and moolelo (stories) for nearly 160 years, will be celebrated and remembered in the 9th annual halau recital from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Kahilu Theatre on the Big Island.
With roots linked to the artistry of Helen Desha Beamer, Tita Beamer Solomon and Louise Beamer, the event also will pay tribute to the late Mahi Beamer, who died last summer at 88.
Waimea’s Penny Keli‘i Vredenburg will host a silent auction of six personal Beamer-Solomon instruments, restored like new. Proceeds will benefit E Hula Mai Kakou, the halau’s nonprofit support group. Tickets will be available at the door. …
LET IT B
Hawaii’s Bette Midler has vacated the Harmonia Gardens of “Hello, Dolly!” at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, succeeded by Bernadette Peters.
Question: Do you now have to be a B to tackle “Dolly”? Betty Buckley will portray Dolly Levi in the show’s national tour starting Oct. 2 in Cleveland.
And lest you forget, Barbra Streisand starred in the 1969 movie version of “Dolly!” And all are Tony winners, though Streisand’s is for lifetime achievement. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
