The Fusion Makes Its Big Debut at Capitol Modern

Photo: Courtesy of Capitol Modern

This year just got more exciting with the addition of Friday Night Tempo, a new, high-energy concert series at Capitol Modern. Join music lovers every third Friday of the month to enjoy live performances from a wide spectrum of genres and styles on the Sculpture Garden stage.

Capitol Modern has teamed up with three incredible partners: Nicholas Kaleikini with The Fusion, Aloha Got Soul presenting Home Grown and DeShannon Higa’s Subtonic Orchestra. They will rotate each month with unique collaborations featuring a diverse mix of guest musicians. As always, admission is free for the museum’s special events, and all ages are welcome.

SEE ALSO: Your Ultimate Guide to Concerts and Live Music in Honolulu

Nicholas Kaleikini. Photo: Credit Pawel Nuckowski

Nicholas Kaleikini will kick off the very first event with The Fusion. “In an ever-growing and expanding industry, musicians, entertainers, and performers continue to push the boundaries,” says Kaleikini. The Fusion will serve as a fresh, dynamic platform for musical possibilities. “Whether it be the introduction of new instruments, the collaboration of genres or the blend of unexpected sounds, new music and styles are born through joining these things together. The Fusion embraces this blend of ideas and styles in creative and innovative ways.”

Kelsea Armstrong (right, Photo: Credit Nickolas Esopenko) and Scott Ohtoro (left, Photo: Credit Renee Kitano)

The inaugural event on Jan. 19 will feature hip hop DJ and producer Scott Ohtoro, along with jazz vocalist Kelsea Armstrong, guitarist Gilbert Batangan, hip hop artists Illnomadic and Nicholas Kaleikini himself on saxophone. Ohtoro is also owner of Zenbu Records and performs with the Super Groupers.

“I love his unique style of incorporating Japanese cultural influences and elements of jazz into his hip hop productions,” says Kaleikini. “I have been fortunate to have collaborated on a few of his tracks and always admired how he consistently collaborates with a variety of artists in both his live performances and productions.”

Kaleikini believes that The Fusion will be a catalyst for amazing things to come. “I am looking forward to guests experiencing a musical journey that pushes the limits of creativity through blending styles, sounds, and in some instances, cultures,” he says. “Possibly symbolizing something on a global scale, seeing and hearing widely different things come together to create some kind of harmony has the potential to be very powerful.”

The Fusion, Jan. 19, 6 to 9 p.m., free admission, Capitol Modern, 250 S. Hotel St., capitolmodern.org, @capitolmodern

Lisa Shiroma is a correspondent for Capitol Modern and an artist and art educator. She is the former owner of the Capitol Modern Museum Gallery Shop, which she ran with partners Aly Ishikuni-Sasaki and Travis Sasaki from Mori by Art + Flea.