Monday Jazz Night
Article and photos by Léo Skelton
Upstairs View of Kukuau Studio
At 6 p.m. on a Monday evening, campus life at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo subsides. Many students retreat to their dorms after dinner and prepare for the next day. Some go to work, study at Campus Center, or even go to explore the town. A select few however, know of a space of escape from the college stress. This space is none other than KukuAu Studio, a small live music venue on Kukuau Street. Every Monday night at 6 p.m., jazz musicians gather at the KukuAu Studio to put on what they call a “Jazz Jam.” Here’s the twist: the performers rarely, if ever, rehearse their songs. Each song relies heavily on freestyle, building the melody with the addition of each instrument. On the wall to the left of the stage hangs a sheet of paper where song requests can be made by those desiring to join in on the jam. Local musicians often bring their own instruments to play alongside the regular performers–including singers.
Left to Right: Turongo Henare-Ruruku, Jake Goode, Léo Skelton, Cameron Johnson
One frequent singer at the Jazz Jam is Selaria. Selaria is an independent vocalist, instrumentalist, and educator. Her own music and covers can be found on most music sites such as SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music and more. Her mission is to use her music to teach languages such as English and Japanese. At the KukuAu Studio, she regularly performs popular jazz tunes such as “Take the ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington. Singers of various backgrounds can join the Jazz Jam by requesting a song. In addition to the stage, KukuAu Studio features a small dance floor that is open to audience participation. Although the dance floor may be crowded, there is plenty of room to dance with friends, partners, or by yourself. It is a prime location to let loose and dance your worries away. As an added bonus, those on the dance floor get an up-close view of the stage and the performers!
No need to worry if performing or dancing isn’t your thing! KukuAu Studio offers seating areas at both the entrance and on the second floor for your leisure. With a valid ID, attendees 21 and older can also enjoy the bar located to the left behind the dance floor. As with any event where substances such as alcohol are permitted, it is advisable to exercise caution and safe consumption. Drinks may be brought anywhere throughout the studio, but smoking is restricted to the designated smoking room by the bar.
The most enticing aspect of the Monday night Jazz Jams is that they are free of entry and open to the public. The studio also livestreams these weekly events through their Youtube channel (@KukuauStudio) for those who are unable to attend in person. Whether streaming online or attending in person, any form of participation keeps the studio alive! To further support the studio, they accept donations and offer drinks as well as merchandise for purchase.
Something to consider when attending is to have an open mind–,this allows an opportunity to network and explore new connections. Whether in the second story seating area or at the heart of the dance floor, there is bound to be another friendly face to cross paths with. At the Studio, people of all backgrounds and walks of life gather for a common interest. The Jazz Jam serves as a connection between everyone—performers, dancers, and casual enjoyers. As 9 p.m. rolls around, the performers bring the night to an end where audience members rejoice in a “consensual hug” - a term commonly used by one of the musicians. All you have to do to join the fun is show up, and you’re bound to have a great time!