Nick Gertsson

Nick has been playing guitar professionally guitar for 25 years. A graduate of G.I.T (Guitar Institute of Technology) in Los Angeles, he’s recorded many CDs and worked closely with Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Danny Spitz (Anthrax) and John Macaluso (Yngwie Malmsteen) among others. He currently teaches here at Easy Music Center.

Walter (Keoni) Carvalho

Recognized Slack Key Guitar Master by the State of Hawaii on the Culture and the Arts, and the Hawaii State Legislature for his Perpetuation of Hawaiian slack Key for 20 yrs for Hawaii’s Department of Education. Keoni graduated from Kailua High School and University of Hawaii and went on to play with the U.S. Army Band and later played with the former Windward Symphony Orchestra. He performs professionally, both solo and with his group Ho’omanalo. Keoni has recorded with several Hawaiian Groups and appeared with the late Raymond Kane on his instructional guitar DVD. He performed throughout the Hawaiian Islands with the State Cultural Expansion Program for the Univerisity of Hawaii and held solo performances in Auckland, New Zealand. Keoni offers instruction for Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Ukulele and Electric Bass, specializing in Music Theory, Slack Key, Jazz and the Blues. Keoni mostly teaches out at the Pearl City store.

von Baron

Raised in Kansas City, von Baron studied drums, percussion and music at both the University of Missouri at Kansas City and then at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He studied Classical, Jazz, and Brazilian music extensively, three styles of music that form the foundation for his breakthrough New Age music on steroids. Influential instructors include, Jeff Hamilton, Todd Strait and Joe Hunt. von Baron completed his undergraduate education in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Since early 2000, von Baron has called Honolulu, Hawaii “home.” His career in music includes performing and recording with local, national and international artists of many genres including, The Honolulu Jazz Quartet, Tennyson Stephens, Benny Golson, Geoffrey Keezer, Shelly Berg, Doug MacDonald, Yasuko Hayakawa, John Clayton, Gerald Clayton, Don Ho, Bruce Hamada, Noel Okimoto, Yoshiaki Miyanoue, Bop Tribal, Herb Ota Sr., Ginai, Theresa Bright, Michael Ruff, Gabe Baltazar, Conrad Herwig, Matt Catingub, the Honolulu Symphony Pops, Mihana Souza, John Valentine, Show Brazil!, Jill Cohn and many others. von Baron also teaches privately and conducts drum clinics regularly in partnership with Easy Music Center Hawaii. Clinics can be viewed on YouTube at von Baron Music Videos.von Baron also has two solo albums, Pangaea (2007) and Souljourner (2009). For more information about von Baron and his music please visit www.vonbaronmusic.com.

Darryl Pellegrini

Ohio native Darryl Pellegrini earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and jazz from Youngstown State University and his Masters Degree in Music Performance from Manhattan School of Music. Throughout his career in New York City, Darryl has toured and performed with numerous jazz greats such as the Woody Herman Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, John Faddis, Larry Corryell, Don Grusin, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Milt Jackson, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, Joe Lovano, Lew Tabackin, Toshiko Akiyoshi, John and Bucky Pizzarelli and Harold Danko to name a few. He has also toured and recorded with Chuck Mangione, Mike Longo and the New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble, and Scott Whitfield Big Band East. Currently, Darryl is recording and performing with The Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii and tours and records with Amy Hanaiali’i. After 20 years of freelance performing, subbing and touring for Broadway in such hits as The Lion King, Fosse, Swing, Kiss of the Spider woman, 42nd Street, West Side Story, City of Angels and recording for numerous Commercials, Television, Movies, and Cartoons, Darryl now happily teaches, performs and resides in Hawaii with his wife and child.

Steve Jones

Acoustic and Electric Bassist / Composer / Arranger / Recording Engineer
Stephen Jones has been in a life long resident of Hawaii. Stephen has over 37 years of experience as a professional musician and over 17 years as a professional recording engineer. He has performed and recorded with Hawaiian stars such as Jimmy Borges, Betty Loo Taylor, Jake Shimabukuro, Na Leo Pilimehana, Kapono Beamer, Kealii Reichel, Raiatea Helm, Aaron Sala, Gabe Baltazar, The Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii, and Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom. He has also performed with Jazz greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Bobbie Hutcherson, Tiger Okoshi, Gene Harris, Ernie Watts, Bud Shank, Terumasa Hino and Monica Mancini. Currently he is performing with the Honolulu Symphony Pops, The Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii, Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom and as a freelance bassist. In 1991 he branched out and began working as a producer / recording engineer. He is currently working with Bryan Kessler at Wire & Wood Music, a recording studio and music production company founded 1999. In 2004 he released his first solo recording “The Steve Jones Collective, Vol. 1.”

Check out his website at http://stevejonesbass.com/

Josh Kaye

A message from Josh:

My name is Josh Kaye and I am excited to be the new keyboard teacher at Easy Music Center. I moved here from San Francisco less than two years ago and have really enjoyed settling into the music scene here in Honolulu. After growing up in the Baltimore area and receiving my B.A. in piano, I worked as a jazz pianist/keyboardist in the Bay Area for twelve years and released a latin jazz cd a few years back (you can check it out at cdbaby.com/jkquartet). Since moving here, I’ve been gigging pretty much nonstop and even produced/arranged another cd featuring a local songwriter and a number of great local musicians (available at cdbaby.com/joshuakaye).

I enjoy playing and teaching music of all styles – jazz, classical, pop, rock, funk, reggae, Hawaiian, Latin, r&b, blues, etc. (music really is the universal language!) and invite students of all levels (the journey is great from the beginning on…). Whether you want to play keyboards in a band, write songs, or play solo piano (why not do all three?) I am here to help you develop your craft and help you get where you want to go with the keyboard.

Jason Rathyen

Jason Rathyen has been teaching guitar for ten years. He plays in various bands around the island, performing rock, blues, funk, country, reggae, and folk. He has had several television appearances and recently co-composed and engineered the theme music on the television show Entertain Me. Having studied advanced music analysis at the University of Hawaii, he teaches music theory while teaching guitar, and applies it to various styles to suit the student’s needs.

Ka’ili Wells Jr.

Garrett “Ka`ili” Wells Jr. has been playing the `ukulele since he was 3. He has played solos, duos, and with bands at birthday parties, weddings, funerals, talent shows, school events, and competitions. He won the “16-18 Year-Old Division” at Duke’s Ukes Contest with an original song, and placed 3rd in the “19 and Older Division” for his rendition of Mozart’s “Turkish March.”