There are concerts. There are festivals. And then there are experiences that stay with you long after the last note is played.
Aloha Jazz Fest 2026 was one of those experiences.
From August 20–23, Honolulu became the backdrop for a celebration of contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, soul and R&B as artists from across the country and around the world came together at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.
The setting was beautiful. The music was exceptional. And the lineup was built for listeners who appreciate musicianship, groove and the art of simply letting the music breathe.
But don’t just take our word for it.
Grander Media was there to see it—and capture it.
All images accompanying this feature were captured by Grander Staff Photographer Ronald Parker of Durham, North Carolina, whose lens documented the artists, performances and energy of Aloha Jazz Fest 2026. Parker’s work gives Grander readers a visual seat inside the festival, capturing moments that words alone simply can’t recreate.
And there were plenty of moments worth capturing.
The 2026 lineup brought together an impressive collection of contemporary jazz and soul artists, including Kim Waters, Pieces of a Dream, Mike Phillips, Lin Rountree, Kayla Waters, Andrea Lisa, Ilya Serov, Althea René, Rebecca Jade, Oli Silk, Saxl Rose, SOAR (Sounds of April & Randall), and Dee Lucas.
That’s not just a lineup.
That’s a musical conversation spanning generations and styles.
Kim Waters brought the experience of a veteran saxophonist whose career has helped shape contemporary jazz. With more than three decades in the business and a catalog spanning jazz, R&B and pop, Waters remains one of the genre’s most recognizable voices.
Pieces of a Dream connected the weekend to the roots of contemporary jazz. The Philadelphia group, formed in 1976 and mentored by the legendary Grover Washington Jr., helped establish the sound that would eventually become a cornerstone of smooth jazz.
Then there was Mike Phillips.
Known for his energetic saxophone performances, Phillips has never been confined to one musical lane. His résumé includes work with Michael Jackson, Prince and Stevie Wonder, demonstrating the kind of versatility that makes him a natural fit for a festival designed to cross musical boundaries.
Lin Rountree, the artist known as the “Soul-Trumpeter,” brought his unmistakable combination of trumpet, soul and contemporary jazz. With numerous Billboard hits and No. 1 singles, Rountree has become one of the prominent voices carrying soul-jazz into a new generation.
Pianist and composer Kayla Waters added another layer to the weekend with her sophisticated blend of contemporary jazz and modern production. Her Billboard success has established her as one of the genre’s most compelling newer-generation artists.
But Aloha Jazz Fest also created opportunities for artists to step outside the traditional solo-performance format.
Andrea Lisa and Rebecca Jade performed together as a duo, bringing their individual talents together in a performance that highlighted the chemistry that can happen when two distinctive artists share the same musical space. Their pairing added another dimension to the festival, blending vocals, soul, jazz and musicianship into a shared performance.
Ilya Serov and Oli Silk also joined forces as a duo, bringing trumpet and keyboards together in another collaboration that demonstrated the festival’s willingness to create unique musical moments rather than simply move from one individual set to the next.
Those collaborations were part of what made the weekend feel less like a standard concert series and more like a true musical gathering.
Then came Althea René, whose flute-centered sound continues to challenge expectations about what a contemporary jazz instrumentalist can do.
And if you wanted energy, Saxl Rose delivered it.
The Baltimore saxophonist has developed an audience through high-energy performances and a modern approach that reaches well beyond traditional jazz circles.
The duo SOAR—Sounds of April & Randall, featuring vocalist April May Webb and trumpeter Randall Haywood, brought together elements of jazz, gospel, soul and R&B.
And Dee Lucas added his own signature saxophone sound to a weekend already packed with some of the genre’s finest instrumentalists.
But Aloha Jazz Fest wasn’t just about standing in front of a stage.
It was about the entire experience.
One of the weekend’s highlights was the Sunset Jazz Cruise, where guests were treated to live music while taking in the Waikiki coastline. Saxl Rose, Art Sherrod and Kelley Andre were among those featured as part of the cruise experience.
Then came the Signature All White Party, giving festivalgoers one more night to dress up, celebrate and enjoy the music in an atmosphere that felt distinctly Hawaiian.
And that’s perhaps what makes Aloha Jazz Fest different.
It understands that music isn’t always meant to be rushed.
Sometimes it’s meant to be experienced.
A saxophone solo against a Hawaiian sunset.
A trumpet floating over an ocean breeze.
A vocalist connecting with a crowd.
Friends traveling from different parts of the country and meeting in one place because they share the same soundtrack.
That’s the magic of a destination music festival.
And through the photography of Ronald Parker, Grander Media was able to preserve some of that magic.
Parker’s images don’t simply document who performed. They capture the expressions, movement, atmosphere and personality that make live music different from anything you can experience through headphones.
You can listen to a recording anywhere. But you can only experience a moment once.
That’s why documenting events like Aloha Jazz Fest matters.
For Grander Media, it’s another opportunity to tell the stories behind the music and shine a light on the artists, musicians and cultural experiences that deserve to be remembered.
Aloha Jazz Fest 2026 brought together established stars, international talent and emerging voices for four days of music in paradise.
And if this year’s festival proved anything, it’s that contemporary jazz is far from standing still.
It’s evolving. It’s traveling. It’s bringing people together.
And sometimes, it sounds even better with the Pacific Ocean in the background. ~ Doug D. Sims
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