Duane Padilla

STATS Rank: 17,519 Views: 1,209

Born: June 30, 1974 Primary Instrument: Violin

Violinist Duane Padilla began his musical career much in the “traditional” way. Beginning classical violin lessons at age 4, he went on to earn a Masters Degree from Yale University and a Bachelors Degree from Northwestern University. While still a student, he earned fellowships to perform with the National Repertoire Orchestra and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra. In 1995, he founded the highly acclaimed chamber ensemble The Gemini Duo, semi-finalists in the Concert Artists Guild Competition in NYC. In addition to a busy touring schedule, The Gemini Duo won outreach grants from Chamber Music America and the American Federation of Musicians and earned positions on the Connecticut Commission on the Arts Performing Artist Roster and the CMA Rural Residency Artist Roster.

Following his university studies, Duane’s musical journey led him to a 15 year career as an orchestral musician, first with the Waterbury Symphony and New Haven Symphony Orchestras and later with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.

Duane began to explore a broader musical world in Honolulu. As a member of the Honolulu Symphony Pops Orchestra, he performed with a “who’s who” list of the jazz world which included: Diana Krall, Chris Botti, Dianna Reeves, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Dave Koz, Monica Mancini Elvis Costello, Victor Wooten, Rosemary Clooney and countless others. Intrigued by the idea of jazz and improvisation, Duane began sitting in with some of Honolulu’s hottest local jazz artists. In 2009, he founded his own ensemble, the Hot Club of Hulaville (HCOH), a ”jazz manouche” band centered around 30’s era swing and the music of Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grapelli. HCOH is quickly becoming one of Honolulu’s hottest bands. Honolulu Magazine voted the ensemble Best Band for Hire in 2011. Their debut album “Django Would Go!” topped the Roots Music Reports’s national radio & internet airplay chart at #1 and won The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts most prestigious Na Hoku Hano Hano Award for Jazz Album of the Year.

Duane’s imaginative improvisations are attracting the attention of artists beyond jazz. He has been seen performing Texas Sock Hop swing with Academy of Western Artists Female Performer of the Year Devon Dawson. At Hawaii Public Radio’s Saturday afternoon concert series, he has joined various visiting guest artists in concerts as diverse as Hindustani Ragas and Celtic reels and gigs. His playing is also featured on the albums of numerous Hawaiian Pop stars, including, Amy Hanalii Gilliom, Uluwehi Gurrerro, and Kapala.

Also a gifted music educator., Duane is currently on the violin faculty at the Punahou Music School. He has served as President & on the Board of Directors of the American String Teachers Association Hawaii Chapter, Suzuki Talent Education of Hawaii & Suzuki Association of Hawaii. Previously he taught at the Bethwood Suzuki School & the Tabor Community Arts Center, where he implemented a “Suzuki Violin in the Schools” program for K-3 at the Wintergreen Magnet School and several schools in the Branford CT public school system.

Awards:

Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Jazz Album of the Year 2011 with Hot Club of Hulaville

Last Updated: August 24, 2012

Review of Sentimental Swing Honolulu Star Advertiser, June 22, 2011 by Jon Berger Padilla stretches wings, strings “Sentimental Swing” Duane Padilla (self-published) Here’s another album that the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) might have a hard time classifying when time comes to prepare the ballot for the 2012 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Is it jazz or instrumental? And, although violinist Padilla is a founder and leader of the Hoku Award-winning group Hot Club of Hulaville (Jazz Album, 2011), this is officially a solo project, so can he go for most promising artist as well? Wherever it ends up on the Hoku ballot, this is beautiful and imaginative work. Americans tend to think of the violin either as a classical music instrument or as the fiddle of country fame, but so much for conventional perceptions. Padilla applies his violin to a collection of 10 American pop classics from the pre-rock era �” “Body and Soul,” “Autumn Leaves” and “Embraceable You,” to name three. He shares the spotlight with pianist Tennyson Stephens, while Stephen Jones (aka Steve Jones) provides unobtrusive support on acoustic bass. It’s an all-star trio, and Padilla’s violin makes it something fresh and unusual for the local jazz scene. What’s more remarkable is that Padilla describes the project in the liner notes as “a celebration of ‘ideas of the moment’” that was recorded live and without rehearsals. The three musicians stretch out on songs they all know, playing in a style “somewhere between Frank Sinatra and Stephane Grappelli.” The project gets off to an excellent start with “How High the Moon.” The contrasting textures of violin and piano are clearly displayed in the opening bars; then Padilla steps back a while to let his sidemen shine. Stephens’ solo intro on “Cry Me a River” sets an appropriately somber mood that Padilla builds then builds on with the emotional tones of the violin. There’s a nice change of tempo along the way before the trio brings the tune to a satisfying conclusion. Padilla strikes a deceptively jaunty tone on “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” in an arrangement that brings Jones’ bass to the fore and gives Stephens well-deserved time in the spotlight as well. It is one of the best numbers in a superb set. “Our Love Is Here to Stay” is a joyful delight as well.

Primary Instrument:
Violin

Location:
Honolulu, HI

Willing to teach:
Beginners

Credentials/Background:
Violin Faculty Punahou Music School, Honolulu, HI Masters Degree - Yale University Bachelors Degree - Northwestern University Past President/Board Member Hawaii American String Teachers Association Suzuki Association of Hawaii Suzuki Talent Education of hawaii

Clinic/Workshop Information:
Introduction to Improvisation for Classical String Orchestra Programs, junior high, high school, and college levels

Sorry, no recommendations at this time.

Please Sign Up or Log In to send your inquiry.

Sorry, no events found. Submit one now.

Your events will appear at the following locations: Jazz Near You, the weekly Jazz Near You email, the Jazz Near You app, the Jazz Near You calendar widget and this page.