82 year old Gabe Baltazar is the product of a Japanese mother and a Filipino father. He is also a jazz hero of the Hawaiian islands. As an American he served his country in war and after that wound up in Sunny LA where he gigged with Paul Togawa, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Charlie Mariano among others. After Lenny Neihaus left he wound up as the exclusive alto-sax man for the Stan Kenton Big Band starting in 1960. His career unfolded in many prolific ways with Dizzy and Moody and Oliver Nelson. He has kept his mind and spirit young and we are thankful for that.

For the Birds!

JF