We believe that, as Arkansas becomes an increasingly diverse and multicultural state, it is imperative that young Arkansans become familiar with it's expanding musical heritage. Historically, Arkansas musicians have been at the forefront of blues, jazz, and popular music. This heritage is largely unknown or underappreaciated by most Arkansans as is the music from our newer Arkansans. With growing Polynesian populations in northwest Arkansas and growing Hispanic populations statewide, our experience with both cultural groups, as well as our expertise and involvement with the heritage of American jazz, blues, and popular music, uniquely qualifies us to broaden many musical horizons. Classroom work focuses on music history, techniques, appreciation, and performance. Students learn to listen to non-mainstream music in it's own terms, and with their hands and voices, they experience a communicational sharing in the performance. Lisa Ahia Gazaway and Gary "El Buho" Gazaway are available together or separately for individually tailored programs. Available to conduct teacher workshops.

Lisa Ahia Gazaway and Gary "El Buho" Gazaway bring to Arkansas students a deep knowledge and well of experience with a variety of American musical forms. A Native Hawaiian, vocalist Lisa Ahia began performing shows with her father Samuel Ahia, one of Hawaii's premier jazz guitarists and Polynesian entertainers, when she was eight years old. Since that time, she has been performing traditonal Hawaiian and Polynesian music as well as American jazz standards for audiences from Honolulu to Nashville. She is an accomplished performer on the Ukulule, a small Hawaiian guitar, and has been featured as a musician, vocalist, narrator and Hula instructor for some of the major Polynesian shows in Hawaii. Lisa also has a deep heart-felt love for American jazz standards. Her beautiful lush velvet voice delivers a unique artistic quality to every song she sings. With depth and emotion, she sings the melody and lyrics with her special phrasing and interpretation. Some of Lisa's favorite vocal influences are Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McCrae, Shirly Horn, Johnny Hartman, Chet Baker, and Tony Bennett. Internationally known trumpeter Gary Gazaway is originally from Pocahontas, Arkansas. At an early age, he was influenced by the region's rich musical heritage of blues, soul, rockabilly, folk, country, and jazz. He has worked extensively in New York, Miami, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Hawaii, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. He has performed or recorded with a long list of diverse Latin and American artists including Israel Lopez, Machito, Celia Cruz, Flora Purim and Airto, Hugo Fattoruso and OPA, Toninho Horta, Wagner Tiso, Jaco Pastorius, Herb Alpert, Jon Hendricks, Ornette Coleman, Robert Palmer, Stevie Ray Vaugaun, Joe Cocker, The Memphis Horns, Steve Winwood, The Committments, George Jones, Delbert McClinton, Phish, Sector Nine, and has performed on 3 multi-platinum major label recordings. As "El Buho", a nickname fondly bestowed to him by musicans in South America and translates as The Owl, he tours and performs regularly. Early on, he studied with Howard Dunn in Pocahontas, and at Arkansas State University with Don Minx, Jared Spears, Tomas Williams, and John Alexander.