Musician siblings Felipe (from left), Estaire and Sal Godinez have formed a new trio on Maui specializing in Latin and Brazilian-flavored jazz. With Estaire on congas, Felipe on bass, Sal on piano and all three on vocals, the Godinez Family Trio will perform Saturday at the Empanada Lady Restaurant and Lounge and Monday at the Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate Factory. PETER HARMON photo
Reunited on Maui, multitalented musician brothers Sal and Felipe Godinez and sister Estaire Godinez have formed a new group, the Godinez Family Trio, specializing in Latin and Brazilian-flavored jazz.
With Estaire on congas and vocals, Felipe on bass and vocals, and Sal on piano and vocals, their extensive, collective resumes include performing with George Benson and Prince, and on Maui with Amy Hanaiali’i and John Cruz. They will perform at Wailuku’s Empanada Lady Restaurant and Lounge today and the Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Factory in Lahaina on Sunday.
“It’s something we’ve always wanted to do, play as a family once again,” Estaire explained. “Felipe came here years ago to play with Sal, then he went back to the Mainland. Now we’re all here again and we wanted to do a band together.”
As for as their repertoire, “it will be a mix of songs Sal does with his trio and songs I do with my trio, and Felipe’s music is amazing, just beautiful.” Covers will include songs by Brazilian legends, Flora Purim and Elis Regina, and Al Jarreau.
“We do an arrangement of Sting’s ‘Fragile’ as a salsa with some Spanish lyrics,” added Sal. “And we do some Adele songs with a Latin feel, and a salsa arrangement of ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ by the Beatles.”
Before moving to Maui, Estaire’s journey included 14 years of playing around Europe and later touring with Prince and jazz legend Benson. She spent about a year as a percussionist and background singer with Prince’s New Power Generation, followed by five years with Benson.
An acclaimed percussionist, her passion for playing was seeded through salsa dancing.
“I was singing and dancing and did a lot of hand percussion,” she recalled. “I seriously started playing congas in Europe and I toured with well-known people in Spain.”
Reviewing one of her albums, Latin Jazz Network praised: “Once in a blue moon you’ll find an artist who is magnificent in the vocal department, a superb percussionist, writer and arranger of music with all of these aspects of artistry being almost second nature.”
The oldest of nine brothers and sisters from the East Bay Area, Sal has played on Maui since 1983.
“I came for three weeks and it turned into 40 years,” he recalled.
A versatile keyboardist adept at a broad range of music from classical to jazz and Latin, he was once featured in a New York Times article on Maui spotlighting his playing at Wailea’s Four Seasons Resort.
Initially passionate about playing classical music, he began taking lessons from a piano teacher from Mexico.
“I started when I was around two and a half, and my brothers and sisters ended up following in my footsteps,” he said. “I was a classical snob. All I played was classical music.”
Expanding his horizons, he was working at Caesars in Tahoe when his brother Carlos called him from Maui.
“He said, ‘Our band leader is leaving for three weeks. You want to come front the band for awhile?’ So I bought a one-way ticket.”
A long creative collaboration with Hanaiali’i began at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua some 26 years ago.
“She had gotten back from college and was auditioning there,” he recalled. “Her thing back then was musical theater and Whitney Houston. She did very little Hawaiian. We did a couple of covers by the Cazimeros.”
When she teamed with Willie K, Sal began recording with the two.
“Then later on, within the last 10 years, I’ve also done several recordings with her as well,” he said.
These include the albums “Nostalgia,” and her most recent recording “Kalawai’anui.”
In the last few years he has collaborated with Cruz playing at the Pro Arts Playhouse every first and third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.
“I love his original music,” he said.
He recalled an epic gig on Mauna Kea.
“Back in 2019, John Cruz, Amy and a few other Hawaiian acts were touring the Big Island,” he said. “We drove to Kona, and on the way over, we stopped and performed for the Hawaiian protesters at Mauna Kea. It was just beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.”
Also occasionally playing with Cruz and Willie K in the past, Estaire has released the albums “Live at the Dakota” and “This Time.” She is currently recording her third album, dedicated to her mother.
“It’s all of her favorite Mexican songs,” she explained. “They’re all Mexican songs I’m arranging, and I’m hoping to have it done by the summer.”
For the upcoming shows, the Godinez siblings will be augmented by drummer Duke Gadd, son of legendary drummer Steve Gadd (Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton).
“He’s an amazing drummer,” said Sal.
The Godinez Family Trio perform at the Empanada Lady Restaurant and Lounge from 6 to 8 p.m. today with a $15 cover. Call (808) 868-4544 for reservations. They play the Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Factory from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $25. Tickets are available at www.mauichocolatetour.com/sunset-jazz/. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Jazz Maui’s music education programs.
Musician siblings Felipe (from left), Estaire and Sal Godinez have formed a new trio on Maui specializing in Latin and Brazilian-flavored jazz. With Estaire on congas, Felipe on bass, Sal on piano and all three on vocals, the Godinez Family Trio will perform Saturday at the Empanada Lady Restaurant and Lounge and Monday at the Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate Factory. PETER HARMON photoToday's breaking news and more in your inbox
The Maui News Maui County Department of Finance Director Scott Teruya was placed on administrative leave on last ...
Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, formerly on Front Street in Lahaina Town and destroyed by the fire, announced the ...
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3UoqWer6NjsLC5jqecsKtfobykrctmpZ6vo2R%2FcX6SaGdrZ6SntrB5zp9krZmcmru1ecaom6Kmla96tLXBpaCnn6Niv6bBzaKrnpxdpLtuucCuoGg%3D