Longtime JAZZIZ subscriber and ambassador Jeff Dashefsky and his wife set off from San Diego to Honolulu over Memorial Day weekend with plans to enjoy a special evening of music by guitar legend Lee Ritenour at the Blue Note Hawaii. But their trip took an unexpected turn before even leaving the ground.
As their Hawaiian Airlines Flight 15 sat on the runway, a fellow passenger reported a bomb threat, claiming another person had an explosive device. The situation escalated quickly: the FBI, Harbor Police SWAT, and bomb-sniffing dogs swarmed the plane, forcing the evacuation of all 293 passengers and 10 crew members. After a tense 5.5-hour delay and the arrest of 35-year-old Navy technician John Stea, who was charged with making a false threat, the all-clear was given. The Dashefskys re-boarded and made their way to Oahu, shaken but undeterred.
Their perseverance was rewarded.
That evening’s sold-out show at Blue Note Hawaii was nothing short of electrifying. Lee Ritenour, joined by an international lineup of world-class musicians, delivered a performance that transcended genres and borders.
The Band:
- Lee Ritenour – Guitar (USA)
- Otmaro Ruiz – Piano & Keys (Venezuela)
- Munir Hossn – Bass & Vocals (Brazil, based in Miami)
- Wesley Ritenour – Drums (USA/Brazil)
Together, this versatile quartet brought a seamless blend of jazz, rock, Brazilian, acoustic, and more—mirroring Ritenour’s own genre-crossing legacy. Songs from his latest collaboration with Dave Grusin, the lush and rhythmically rich album Brasil, stood out alongside classic cuts from his catalog.
A crowd favorite was the 1981 Top 15 pop hit “Is It You?”, which came together in a uniquely spontaneous way. During soundcheck, Ritenour decided to include the tune and asked bassist Munir Hossn, a talented vocalist, to take the lead. Munir agreed—but then realized the original key was too high for his range. The band quickly decided to transpose the entire song down a third, which posed a real challenge given the tune’s complex chord changes. As Ritenour shared later, “We weren’t reading any music, just relying on ears and intuition… but these guys are so good, they made it work—and it came off perfectly.”
Other standout moments included: the heartfelt and lyrical “Waltz for Carmen” (a beautiful showcase of Ritenour’s gentle and melodic touch), a dynamic and evocative rendition of “Stoneflower” (from Ritenour’s Twist of Jobim, breathing new life into the Antonio Carlos Jobim classic) and a powerful tribute to the late George Duke with “The Village” (bringing the crowd to a collective hush and then to their feet).
Each musician added something distinct; Otmaro Ruiz, now a respected educator at both USC and UCLA, delivered keyboard work that was both technically brilliant and emotionally resonant. Munir Hossn, with his charismatic stage presence and unmistakable bass style, reminds Ritenour of the first time he met the legendary Abraham Laboriel, “Virtuosity, originality, and a completely unique look and vibe—you know Munir when you hear him.” Not the least of which, Wesley Ritenour, Lee’s son, has become very much his own artist driving the band with a commanding and fluid touch that revealed why he’s quickly becoming a go-to drummer on the global stage. The vibe in the room was electric—a packed house, a receptive audience, and a band at the top of its game. The music was joyous, soulful, and celebratory—a perfect contrast to the day’s earlier turbulence. Lee pointed out after the show, “Otmaro’s from Venezuela, Munir’s Brazilian and based in Miami, Wesley is half-Brazilian, and me… still hanging in there in LA. It’s truly an international band—and I love that.”
For the Dashefsky’s what could’ve been a weekend derailed by fear became, instead, a powerful reminder of music’s ability to unite, uplift, and deliver unforgettable beauty—especially in the hands of artists like these.
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Photos by: Jeff Dashefsky
