Island Breeze is the celebrated release from three artists with strong ties to Hawaii and its natural beauty. This is brilliantly reflected in twelve original songs that allow each performer to shine. Find more about the artists at: www.jeffpetersonguitar.com www.rileylee.net www.kennyendo.com Musical Clips may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ywXcXkkuDc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoPdgruqmbw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELHcqOB3wGc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJpSV9qGH6k ARTIST PROFILES JEFF PETERSON Recognized as one of Hawaii’s most versatile musicians, Jeff Peterson is at the heart of the Hawaiian music scene today. His passion for the guitar has allowed him to shine as a solo artist and has given him the opportunity to collaborate with a wide variety of artists from Hawaii, across the US, and abroad. His focus on Slack Key guitar, classical, and jazz music has allowed him to develop a unique and transcendent voice on the guitar while being deeply rooted in the traditions of his Hawaiian heritage. He has contributed to two Grammy Award-winning recordings and has been honored with three Na Hōkū Hanohano Awards in Hawaii. 
His latest solo CD Maui on My Mind was recognized as the Slack Key Album of the Year in 2010. His latest release features his songwriting, performing, and producing on Amy Hanaiali`i and Slack Key Masters of Hawaii. The groundbreaking recording features a collaboration between Jeff, Amy Hanaiali`i, Cyril Pahinui, Dennis Kamakahi, Sonny Lim, and Chino Montero. Five of his songs including Hawaiian Skies were featured in the film The Descendants starring George Clooney. RILEY LEE Riley Lee began playing shakuhachi (bamboo flute) in Japan in 1971, studying with Chikuho Sakai until 1980, and has been a student of Katsuya Yokoyama since 1984. He was given the rank of Dai Shihan (grand master) in 1980. Riley has a BA and MA in music from the University of Hawaii and received his PhD degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Sydney. He has published scholarly articles and book reviews in leading national and international musicology journals. He has been instrumental in creating a professional presence of traditional Japanese music in Australia and has made over fifty commercially released recordings since 1980. Riley was the first non-Japanese to play taiko professionally, touring internationally with Ondekoza (now called Kodo). In 1995, he co-founded with Ian Cleworth, Australia's dynamic Japanese festival drum group, TaikOz which has since become one of Australia's premier performance groups, acclaimed both at home and in Japan. KENNY ENDO Kenny Endo is a recognized leader in the American taiko community both for his deep connection to traditions in Japan as well as his drive to use tradition as a foundation for innovation. From an early age, he studied drumming, particularly jazz and rock. He first experienced taiko in the early 70s, and joined Kinnara Taiko, and the San Francisco Taiko Dojo before embarking on a decade long odyssey to study with the masters in Japan. He became the first non-Japanese national to receive a natori (stage name and master’s license) in hogaku hayashi. classical Japanese drumming. He was a professional member of the famed O Edo Sukeroku Taiko, has an M.A. in ethnomusicology from the University of Hawaii, and formed the Taiko Center of the Pacific in 1994 with his wife, Chizuko. Endo has traversed the world over performing and sharing his art.