The 2022 Jazz and R&B Show is a musical concert that has been carefully planned out to be an event that focuses on bringing musicianship to the forefront of the show. Often times, the band and music is sometimes regarded as ambience music or plays a supporting role in the background but this concert will really showcase the level of musicianship that our local musicians here in Fiji have to offer. The show is comprised of a one and a half hour of hard hitting music with a selection of R&B covers from the likes of D'Angelo's selection, some funk number covers by Vulfpeck, and some Jazz selections by Miles Davis which is sure to give the audience's ears a treat! Our musicians and artists for the night have been preparing and practicing hard for this show so be sure to catch each of them perform a solo number during the Jazz set list!
We have a stellar line up featuring Fiji's very own guitar virtuoso Tom Mawi, Fiji's rising R&B star Saki Kaloumaira, Bill Ram on Bass, Conrad Kwan on rhythm guitar, Sami Mawi on keys, Isireli Vulaca on drums, and a special appearance by Ben Masirewa on rhythm guitar.
Get to know our musicians:
Back up Vocalists
Tom Mawi (or simply ‘Tom’) requires no introduction in the Fiji music scene. With over six decades of service to the music industry, Tom shows no sign of slowing down as he prepares to join a young lineup of upcoming musicians on the 28th of January.
Born in the village of Namena, Tailevu in 1943, Tom grew up in a family with nine brothers, all of which were musically talented. His interest for the stringed instrument began at a very young age. Watching his older brothers play the ukulele, Tom would always want to learn and share the joy of playing the instrument with them. Tom shares jokingly that since he was the youngest, his older brothers use to hide the ukulele in the house as they despised of him playing with it. However, when his older brothers left the house for fishing trips or to the city during the day, he would franticly search all over the house to find the ukulele, play it for a little while before returning it to the hidden location. It was this initial interest for the instrument that created a ‘snowball’ effect on his musical journey for the many years that followed.
Upon moving to Suva in the late 1950s with his family, Tom and his older brothers began performing around the Wailekutu area. It was not long until Tom started his professional music career at the Golden Dragon nightclub in the 1960s joining the Dragon Swingers band lead by Ken Janson Ho. In 1963, he made his first official trip out of Fiji to New Caledonia to perform with other international musicians. Throughout the years, Tom has toured and performed in other countries such as France, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
Tom’s musical ability on the guitar, however, did not come easy. Although musically talented without formal training, Tom spent many hours and late nights listening and practicing to jazz records at the Dragon Music store. There were nights where he would request the owner to stay in the store until sunrise to listen to all the records and practice. Jazz guitar greats such as Wes Montgomery and Barney Kessel heavily influenced Tom and his playing style on the guitar. Throughout his career, Tom had used his thumb to pick the strings of the guitar, similar to the above mentioned artists. This technique allowed him to have a similar guitar tone as the records he was listening to.
With over sixty years of music in his veins, Tom has always remained a humble and kind-hearted gentleman (with a dash of wittiness). To sit down with Tom and listen to his stories, it could take more than a day to encapsulate the plethora of events his musical journey has taken him through. Despite major health setbacks in recent years, his belief in God, perseverance and willingness to continue his musical journey, is a character that is greatly admired by many in the Fiji music industry and by the community.
Sami Mawi is known by many in the local music scene as the son of Fiji Jazz Legend, Tom Mawi, and an accompanist with his wife Annie Mawi. However, standing alone, Sami is can easily be classified as one of the top pianists in Fiji with his extensive knowledge of the piano and soloing. Sami has played with the likes of many of Fiji’s biggest music names such as Michelle Rounds, Ken Jenson and alongside his father in many local and international contexts. Sami gained much of his interest in piano from Church, when he heard the different types of instrumentality in various praise and worship teams from players such as Keli Livai and secular inspirations like the well-known, Tui Ravai. Sami found Jazz to be of a particularly big interest to him because of the nature of Jazz, and how although it may sound easy to the naked ear, inside there is much more instrumentation, dynamics, tone, rhythms and timbres taking place which makes the artform unique from other genres of music.
Isireli Vulaca has played the drums since the age of twelve and is known for his versatility and love of
working in different musical contexts.
Izzy (as he is known to his friends) has family links to Mualevu, Vanuabalavu and Lawai, Nadroga
however lived in the United States for the majority of his childhood, teenage and early youth years.
Being a drummer was a natural choice as his father (a musician) played the piano and his older brother
picked up on the bass guitar. Izzy began his practice on exercise pads prior to playing an actual drum kit.
Izzy's main influences stem from funk/soul as he was introduced to James Brown when starting out.
Attributes he gained from playing to James Brown records was the ability to keep a steady timing and creating a solid foundation for the band.
Izzy had spent eighteen years developing his craft on the drums with the guidance of his father (who also plays the drums) before spending another twelve years learning guitar as a hobby.
Izzy has an impressive resume as he has toured and played drums for artists such as Sammy J, Dorinda Clark-Cole, George Fiji Veikoso, and so forth.
In college, Izzy participated in the big band ensemble playing jazz standards. It was from here that he gravitated towards jazz and developed the skill of swing drumming. Izzy mainly draws inspiration from the classic Miles Davis records and the artists approach to musical creativity and pushing boundaries when it comes to live performances.
Outside of music, Izzy occasionally enjoys following politics as he believes that good politics and
governance can change a country's economic trajectory for the better. Izzy is passionate about music as it has the ability to promote change in a community. It can lift spirits and create togetherness. He shares that if music is utilized effectively, it can become a powerful tool for
change.
Viliame Talalima Ram (Bill ‘Bass’ as he is known to friends and family) hails from Nakasaleka, Kadavu and grew up most of his life in Kalabu, Makoi and Namadi Heights.
Bill was introduced to music at a very young age as his father, Johnny Ram, was a musician and worked extensively with locally acclaimed artists and musicians such as Seru Serevi, Georgina Ledua, Laisa Vulakoro and so forth. As his father played the guitar, Bill naturally started learning the guitar until discovering the bass guitar. Bill began learning songs by ear and learning fundamental chords and scales from his father. It was not long until Bill began playing bass around the local music scene at the age of 14.
Bill was also surrounded by musically talented cousins that each played an instrument. This enabled him to develop his technical skill and the ability to understand the dynamics of a band. Bill’s musical inspirations growing up were songs his father used to practice to. These were music from the 60s’, 70s’, 80s’ and 90s’. Genres ranged from pop, classic rock, funk, soul and R&B, reggae, country and so forth. Apart from being a session bassist, he formed a band with his cousins in his teenage years to which they began playing punk rock and participating in music shows. Bill later grew to appreciate funk music to which he began learning the ‘slap’ technique and continued to perfect it until present. He then started learning jazz music to which it developed his musical creativity and enabled him to have a deeper understanding of instrumental arrangements.
Bill has worked with a list of locally acclaimed artists and musicians such as Savuto Vakadewavosa, Aggie Vakaloloma, as well as overseas artists such as Fiji born Paulini Curuenavuli and Laisiasa Utovou. Bill also worked in New Zealand with Every Nations church as well as the local music scene in Auckland before returning to Fiji for family commitments. In early 2015, Bill formed the Suva based band ‘The Gang Fiji’ together with Apisalome Tuiekubu with the vision to reshape the culture of music in Fiji and to bring back quality live music to the local music scene. It was here which he undertook the role as the music director / bassist for the band; arranging and orchestrating their sound and style.
Bassists that impacted and inspired Bill and his playing style are Mark Peric (Planet Shakers), Ethan Farmer, Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Verdine White (Earth Wind & Fire), Jaco Pastorius and Sharay Reed.
Sakeasi Kaloumaira(also known as Saki) began singing in church at a very early age. Growing up in a family of eight siblings, there was always music in the house as his father played the piano in church while his older brothers had a band. This left Saki with no choice but to naturally gravitate towards music.
Saki hails from the village of Uluibau, Moturiki (province of Lomaiviti) however grew up most of his life in Namadi Heights, Suva.
His family had moved to various locations of Suva over the years but this did not stop him from pursuing his passion – music.
Having a reserved personality, Saki felt more comfortable being in the background but had to quickly develop the confidence to perform in front of people when he began singing professionally. He joined a Suva based band 'The Gang' in late 2015 to which he was given lead vocal roles. Being pushed out of his comfort zone, Saki immediately began noticing the power and impact that singing had on the people around him. The way it changes the atmosphere in the room and put smiles on peoples’ faces is what motivated him to continue.
Singing and performing has now become a part of Saki’s life as he uses it almost as an escape from reality, an avenue to vent and as a form of self-therapy. His early inspirations were his father and his older brothers that had a band called Blackjacks while he was growing up in Namadi Heights. Saki later developed an ear for artists such as Luther Vandross, Freddy Jackson, Prince, Anita Baker, Teddy Pendergrass, D'Angelo and so forth. He is also heavily influenced by George 'Fiji' Veikoso being one of the pioneers of the 'island reggae' genre but also paved the way for pacific island musicians and artists that followed after.
Saki also developed the skill to play guitar, piano and bass through personal practice, learning from his older siblings and taking basic piano lessons from Pastor Ben Morrison (Kingdom Creative Arts School). However, he reiterates that his primary instrument and natural talent is to sing.
It is worth mentioning that Saki holds a Bachelors of Science Degree and is currently working to complete his Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change at the University of the South Pacific. If he isn't occupied with music, he is usually found either reading or tutoring undergraduate science students. And of course having a few beers on the weekends!
Conrad Kwan, from Lakeba, Lau, started on his musical journey at the young age of 9 with a ukulele gifted to him at age 5.
Music was something that came to him naturally as he enjoyed listening to music with his family, and particularly with his father who would go through his vinyl collections on many Saturday mornings. Conrad said that it was through this combination of listening for the different types of instrumentation on various records while also learning the guitar meticulously, that acted as the key ingredients towards developing an ear for learning and playing music.
Conrad, known to many musicians in the Fiji music scene as the lead-guitarist of the local sensation, The Gang, stated that his early guitar-learning stages started with the help of his uncles showing him a few chords on the ukulele, to which he then expanded later on by listening to and learning from music that appealed to him. Some of his influences include Earth, Wind, and Fire which he believes had a powerful impact on his musical perspective due to the presence in their sound and stunning arrangement of instruments in their records. Conrad mentioned that guitar players such as John Scofield, Mike Stern, Scott Henderson to John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Brad Delson (Linkin Park) as having influenced his musical taste and style of playing. He has equally drawn inspiration from different instrumentalists such as Joey DeFrancesco, Jeff Lorber, Bob Mintzer and Michael Brecker for their ability to provide melodies that guitar players don’t usually use / apply.
Conrad believes that perseverance and dedication are some of the most important qualities that make a great musician, while also understanding that learning music is a life-long journey and that musicians must always continue to perfect their craft. This, Conrad says, is exemplified in part through his creative process in practicing, where he usually works on specific aspects of his playing and tries to develop various techniques to overcome obstacles that he may come across. Conrad also mentions that the best way of being able to grow as a great musician is to focus on the application of certain ideas in different musical contexts.
Outside of his interests in music, Conrad enjoys watching rugby or boxing, and also relaxing over a few drinks with his mates on the weekends.
Peni Rokotuibau Masirewa (known to friends as ‘Jibi Bendrix’ or simply Ben) grew up most of his life in Suva. Ben has paternal links to Vunivivi, Nausori Koro and maternal links to Bau.
Ben’s early inspiration was his father that played the guitar. He shares that his father had a generous voice whenever he’d strum the guitar and sing. This eventually impacted Ben to become more involved with music. As for the guitar, Ben shares jokingly that it was the keen interest in a girl that prompted him to pick up the guitar and learn "Eve 6 - Think Twice" to impress her.
Ben’s father introduced him to guitar players such as Eric Clapton, George Benson and Jimi Hendrix. He studied his father for a while before venturing into his own music and developing his musical attributes. There were various forms where he learned to play the guitar from such as the internet, attending live music events and his peers that also played guitar.
In 2015, Ben met a great musician friend, Adrian Narayan, that taught him the most valuable lesson – ‘how to listen’. This lesson further developed his ability to learn the mechanics of playing music and to express himself with his own unique voice on the instrument. Ben later formed a band, 4 Quarters, with like-minded musicians and friends. It was here where he developed musical communication, arrangements and band dynamics.
Ben shares that the guitar has always been his primary instrument as it provides him a voice to speak through it musically. It also provides him the ability and versatility to create anything he wishes on a musical level. Ben’s guitar playing style is heavily influenced by guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, Gutherie Govan and Tim Henson. These guitarists inspired Ben to write, play with freedom, adopttechnical aspects and most importantly to love the instrument.
When it comes to practice, Ben is quite regimental as he plans out a list of songs to practice for gigs before jumping into the technical aspect of his playing and discovering new ideas.
Apart from music, Ben enjoys training with his sparring partners in combat sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts, muay thaiand kickboxing.
Ben believes that it is important to have the ability to listen to the other musicians and to the crowd because at the end of the day music is a language, a medium to communicate emotional information.
Back Up
Paulini Bautani also known as Lini or Pau hails from Nananu ,Namena Tailevu with maternal links to Nayavu ,Wainibuka. She was born in Suva and spent the first few years of her childhood in Taveuni as her father had taken up a job position there. When she and her twin sister were toddlers, her mother used to teach them nursery rhymes and they would sing while their mother recorded them on cassette tapes. What inspired her to become a vocal performer from a very young age was watching on tape an
ABBA concert that her grandmother had. She says that watching the group perform and sing their hearts out on stage with so much passion and confidence instilled in her the dream to also perform on stage. Paulini has many people who have influenced her positively and encouraged her to continue to sing and perform including her late father who passed away in 2019 who would express how proud he was of the places she’s been to through singing, her twin sister Jane who continues to be a confidence builder in Paulini, and Mr Iglese Ete who became a great mentor and father figure to her. Paulini loves to put a smile on people’s faces with her singing. Outside of music, Paulini loves to cook, read and watch ASMR videos.
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