June 27, 2026 | The Lounge - 1st Show (5PM) | Island Pulse: The Music Worlds of Abe Lagrimas Jr. with DeShannon Higa

🎶 Jazz Up Close presents
Island Pulse: The Music Worlds of Abe Lagrimas Jr.

Curated & Hosted by DeShannon Higa

For this special edition of Jazz Up Close, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Abe Lagrimas Jr. brings an intimate and genre-blending evening of music to Kapono’s at The Lounge, exploring the many influences that have shaped his unique musical voice.

Equally respected as both a virtuoso drummer and ʻukulele artist, Abe moves effortlessly between Hawaiian music, jazz, Brazilian rhythms, funk, fusion, neo-soul, and modern improvisation. Through original compositions, inspired arrangements, and personal storytelling, Island Pulse traces a musical journey rooted in Hawai‘i while reaching far beyond its shores.

Curated and hosted by DeShannon Higa, the evening unfolds in two distinct moods: Roots - highlighting melody, culture, and the expressive warmth of the ʻukulele, and Expansion - opening into groove-driven fusion, Afro-Cuban rhythms, dynamic improvisation, and Abe’s explosive rhythmic creativity behind the drums.

Set in the intimate atmosphere of Kapono’s at The

Lounge, this special performance offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience two of Hawai‘i’s most respected jazz voices up close where virtuosity, groove, and island soul come together in real time.

Genre: Jazz / Hawaiian / Brazilian / Fusion / Neo-Soul / Contemporary Instrumental

About Abe Legrimas Jr.

Abe Lagrimas, Jr. is a musician, composer, educator, and author who plays the drums, vibraphone, and ukulele professionally. He graduated from Berklee College of Music and competed in the worldwide and highly prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition. He has performed with Kamasi Washington, David Benoit, Eric Marienthal, Donald Harrison, Eddie Henderson, Big Daddy Kane, and Jake Shimabukuro among many other artists. As a solo ukulele artist, Abe is a multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award recipient and won in 2022 for Ukulele Album of the Year. He has released multiple albums in the United States, Japan (Universal Music), South Korea (Sony Records), and his music has been featured on Hawaiian Airlines. Abe is also an active educator teaching private lessons and workshops, is an instructor for Fender Play, the Hawaii Youth Symphony, and is an integral part of Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective, a non-profit whose mission is to help build ukulele programs in Hawaii's schools. He is the author of Jazz Ukulele: Comping, Soloing, Chord Melodies (Berklee Press/Hal Leonard).

About DeShannon Higa

DeShannon Higa
A celebrated Hawai‘i jazz artist, DeShannon Higa is known for his expressive trumpet and flugelhorn work, blending jazz sophistication with island soul. His career spans international stages, recordings, and collaborations that have made him a cornerstone of Hawai‘i’s jazz community.

About JazZ Up Close

JazZ Up Close is an intimate live music experience curated by celebrated Hawai‘i trumpeter DeShannon Higa, bringing world-class musicianship into a setting designed for deep listening and connection.

Each performance explores a unique musical theme—ranging from jazz traditions and global influences to soulful grooves and contemporary interpretations—brought to life through DeShannon’s expressive trumpet and thoughtfully selected guest artists. With every show, audiences are invited into a close-up musical conversation where rhythm, improvisation, and storytelling unfold in the moment.

Presented in The Lounge’s intimate atmosphere, JazZ Up Close offers a rare opportunity to experience live music the way it’s meant to be heard—up close, personal, and alive with energy and connection.