Hawaii Tribune-Herald Island Beat Thursday, March 2, 2017 11 JAZZ From page 2 songs and gypsy jazz, the combination that was made famous during the ’20s and ’30s in Paris by Reinhardt and Grappelli. “It’s literally a trip to France but way cheaper,” says Mehling. “We feature our French singer Isabelle Fontaine. We are an instrumental band, but every once in a while we would ask Isabelle to sing a song and it always brought down the house.” The event kicks off with hors d’oeuvres, patisserie and beverages donated by AJ & Sons Catering, Akmal’s Indian Kitchen, Big Island Delights, Big Island Juice Co., Café Pesto, Hilo Bake Shop, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Ken’s House of Pancakes, Le Magic Pan, Moonstruck Patisserie, Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine, Short n Sweet Bakery, Sodexo Campus Dining Services, Sweet Cane Café and Wiki Fresh. The concert and dancing start at 7:30 p.m., and guests can take to the Performing Arts Center stage themselves or sit back and enjoy the music from the comfort of a theater seat. “The planning committee thought it would be great fun for the patrons to have a chance to be on stage as well,” says PAC manager Lee Dombroski. “The idea of doing a dance party came up and the Hot Club of San Francisco was a great choice. Swing dancing and the gypsy jazz sound are so infectious, how could people not have a good time?” The proceeds from the event will benefit the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center Scholarship Fund, as well as the center’s educational outreach programs. “The fundraising aspect of the event is of paramount importance to the Performing Arts Center, especially now with funding for the arts being cut rapidly,” Dombroski says. “The proceeds will help to ensure that we are able to continue providing artistic, educational programs for the schools in our community free of charge. This event is followed by a second performance at 7 p.m. Friday at Kahilu Theatre, as the Hot Club of San Francisco wows with “Cinema Vivant,” a show that revives the art of pairing vintage silent films with live gypsy swing. The group will play, matching every movement on the screen with characteristic virtuosity, passion and humor. Before World War I, European filmmaker Ladislaw Starewicz pioneered stop-action animation, creating a never before-seen movie experience. An obscure cult hero, two Starewicz films are featured in “Cinema Vivant”: “The Cameraman’s Revenge,” a piece about the marital troubles of beetles, and “The Mascot,” an adventure story about lost toys.” Also, American Charley Bower’s film, “There It Is” will be showcased. This film is a whimsical comedy about a mysterious occurrence investigated by Scotland Yard. “‘Cinema Vivant’ is sort of a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Mehling says. “I guarantee there’s nowhere else you can go to see silent films with gypsy jazz.” Mehling’s high school friend started the San Francisco Silent Film Festival and helped Mehling develop his idea to put his music together with silent films. “This show deals with the pioneers of animation, the people who came before Walt Disney,” he says. “It’s a show for all ages. We’ve been touring it about six years now and everyone really seems to love it. I did a lot of research to find something that could work well as a show because gypsy jazz doesn’t fit well with every kind of film.” Mehling’s mom had a Reinhardt record when he was little and Mehling says he would put the needle back on the record over and over again. “I just loved the music so much,” he recalls. “I grew up during the time of the Beatles which was a band all about guitars, and this band is very guitar-centric, too.” When he got older and would play Reinhardt’s music, audiences would always respond positively, Mehling says. “Bringing audiences something that they like is what everyone wants to do as an artist,” he says. “The music moves me so much, I can convey my love of the music to Courtesy photo the audience. They either love it or they really like it.” Says Kahilu Theatre executive director Deb Goodwin, “It’s art in the moment — sure to uplift and inspire.” Tickets for “Meet Me In Paris” at UH-Hilo PAC are $45, available at the box office at 932-7490 or by ordering online at artscenter.uhh.hawaii. edu. Tickets for “Cinema Vivant” at Kahilu Theatre are $68, $48, $38 and $20, available for purchase by calling 885-6868 at the box office from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.kahilutheatre.org. The Hot Club of San Francisco has regular weekly shows in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information about the group, visit hotclubsf. com. Email Katie Young Yamanaka at BIVHawaii@gmail.com. The Hot Club of San Francisco has regular weekly shows in the San Francisco Bay area.
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