Blue Note Hawai‘i’s Grand Opening Features the Rebirth Brass Band

A splashy party brings boldface names, Jimmy Borges and Henry Kapono in the audience and New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band on stage.

January 15, 2016

Don Wallace,

Photo: AdStreamz, Inc.
Brian Gilhooly and HONOLULU Magazine editor Robbie Dingeman.
Photo: AdStreamz, Inc.
Photo: AdStreamz, Inc.
David Carey president of Outrigger Hotels.
Photo: AdStreamz, Inc.
Vicki and Jimmy Borges, Haumea Hebenstreit and Alan Yamamoto.
Photo: AdStreamz, Inc.
Henry Kapono, Glenn and Debbi Weinberg, Lezlee Ka‘aihue (far right).
Photo: AdStreamz, Inc.
Olena Heu, Gaylord Holomalia and Mona Wood-Sword.

Photos: AdStreamz, Inc.

Cool is maybe not the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Waikīkī, but with the opening of Blue Note Hawai‘i in the old Society of Seven showroom at the Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort, it looks like we’ll all be sharpening our tour-bus-avoidance and parking garage skills. A connoisseur’s dream of a nightclub, with a glam-grotto look and eerie lighting, the Blue Note started in New York City in 1981 and now, thanks to a booking strategy that keeps top artists in rotation between satellite clubs in Tokyo, Milan, Beijing and Nagoya, sets the bar for the rest of the world. So how did we get so lucky?

“We were thinking about how we could create a buzz in this building,” recalls Outrigger Enterprises Group president and CEO David Carey, as a crowd of people who all seemed to know each other serpentines past and into the club on a Wednesday night. “And somebody knew somebody who knew the guy who runs The Blue Note.”

Outrigger is known for its top-to-bottom commitment to local culture and music—tell the valets you’re here to see Uncle Cyril at the Kani Ka Pila Grille and they’ll treat your beater with love (won’t even change your radio station, even if it’s on HPR). But, says Carey, “Feedback from our customers consistently mentions that there’s nothing to do here at night. Now, we know that isn’t true—we have very capable entertainers who play the same show for 10 years. But we know what the customer wants today: something new and innovative.”

Traditionally, Hawai‘i has taken advantage of one-night-stands from big-time musicians who enjoy stopping over in Honolulu en route to gigs in Asia; many of them find playing a show or two here both profitable and relaxing. With the arrival of a jewel in the jazz crown, though, Honolulu can bid to become a music destination all its own.

Certainly Wednesday’s crowd seemed ready. Singer Jimmy Borges, bravely facing terminal cancer, took a break from the documentary on his life and received a steady stream of friends and well-wishers. Henry Kapono did the same in a nearby booth. In fact, threading between tables and booths was like attending a reunion of boldface names from a Wayne Harada column—with Harada on hand as well.

Outrigger’s Carey took the stage after an introduction by Steven Bensusan, whose father, Danny Bensusan, founded the Blue Note on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village and was sitting in the power booth. Sketching in the history of the hotel—which occupies the site of the original Outrigger Canoe Club—Carey described how, in 1969, “this room was a lobby conference room. We decided to turn it into a showroom and hired a group of young Filipino guys, the Society of Seven, who turned a four-week engagement into four decades.”

But, he added, “Times change. This is the next chapter of music in Hawaii. We’ll always have local music at Duke’s and the Kani Ka Pila Grille, but with the Blue Note Entertainment Group we’ll combine local and global music.”

The 300-seat club’s extensive renovation has already evoked raves from musicians and aficionados who’ve come to the preview shows by Maya Azucena, Jake Shimabukuro and New Orleans’ (and the Treme District’s) Rebirth Brass Band. The sightlines are unobstructed and the effect is intimate, elegant and, thanks to that subterranean blue lighting, very cool. Like its New York namesake, Blue Note Hawai‘i is a place for homestands of several days, which allow musicians to settle in and explore their repertoire—a fan’s idea of heaven will be to attend multiple performances.

Those who know the Gotham club may marvel at the space and comfort—patrons no longer are jammed in knee-to-knee, as at the Bleecker Street original—but will recognize the Blue Note formula of name performers, surprisingly good food (from a full-service restaurant) and well-fortified drinks. Full restaurant service begins at 5 p.m., with shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

For Grand Opening Week, saxophone sensation Kenny G took the stage; he’ll hold it through Sunday. Next up is the Roy Hargrove Quintet, one of the most exciting, hardest-driving contemporary jazz groups in the world—and a New York Blue Note favorite (Jan. 18–23). Another world-class act, guitarist Earl Klugh, moves in Jan 26–31.

Keeping in the Blue Note’s reputation as one of the most romantic dates in the world, Valentine’s Week will see Dee Dee Bridgewater taking up residence on stage (Feb. 9–14); reservations here are definitely recommended.

Vowing to make music happen 365 days a year, Blue Note Hawai‘i also has big dreams of a Sunday Gospel Brunch and late-night jam sessions where local musicians can sit in with visiting groups. Sounds pretty cool to us; in fact, we admit we’re kind of jazzed.

Blue Note Hawai‘i, 2335 Kalākaua Ave. at the Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort. Kenny G performs tonight, Jan. 14, through Jan. 17, with shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m.; premium tables $85, loge tables $65; tickets at bluenotehawaii.com, or 777-4890.