Dayan Kai

SHORT
Dayan Kai is a Maui-based singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist known for blending folk, blues, jazz, Hawaiian, and global roots traditions into a distinctive musical voice. With a powerful vocal presence and an unusually broad instrumental palette, Kai creates performances that move easily between intimate storytelling, instrumental virtuosity, and improvisational exploration.

A rare multi-instrumentalist, Kai performs on acoustic and resophonic guitars, ukulele, violin, mandolin, piano, keys, accordion, harmonica, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, bass, and a wide range of drums and percussion. This diversity allows his solo performances to feel like a small ensemble, with shifting textures and sounds that keep audiences engaged throughout the performance.

Kai’s songwriting reflects a deep appreciation for traditional roots music while remaining stylistically fluid. His original compositions weave together elements of folk narrative, blues expression, jazz harmony, and global rhythmic influences, creating songs that are both thoughtful and emotionally resonant.

Based on the island of Maui, Kai performs both as a solo artist and in collaboration with other musicians including John Cruz, Keith Greeninger, Joe Craven, Wilmont Kahaiali'i, Jimmy Dillon, Tempa & Naor,  Zonky Jazz Band, Hot Club of Spokane, Rockabilly Space Force, 'Ulu Maika, and countless others. Whether appearing on festival stages, in concert halls, or intimate listening rooms, he brings a spirit of musical exploration and authenticity that reflects a lifetime dedicated to music.

LONG
Born on the island of Maui, Dayan Kai’s family moved to California when he was a small child so he could attend public school (from Maui he would have been sent a special “school for the blind” on the island of Oahu). Dayan spent most of his childhood in the San Juan Bautista area of Central California, with regular trips back to Hawaii to be with his grandmother Paulina, who got him started with piano and figured out he had perfect pitch. She also taught him how to ride waves.  

In California, his family supported his classical and Suzuki musical education, starting with piano lessons at the age of two. Candace Fozzio taught him music in his most formative years, spending hours upon hours to learn braille so she could teach him to read music. His school music teacher, Mr. Miatta, gave him private sessions once a week and turned him onto America’s most precious gift to the world: jazz. 

Paralleling his study of jazz came his education in the world of Latino music and theatrical production with Teatro Campesino under the direction of Luis Valdez. Here he learned much more about the history of native people in the Americas and the plight of the farm worker. Here he was able to deepen his understanding of racial inequality and the true meaning of solidarity. He even got to shake the hand of United Farm Workers leader César Chavez.  

Graduating from high school early, Dayan moved to the Santa Cruz area to attend Cabrillo College where he would study with jazz trumpeter/arranger Ray Brown, World Music Composer Lou Harrison, and Latin Percussionist Michael Strunk. Dayan also had the opportunity to study with mandolin master David Grisman at the local Mandolin Symposium. 

At age 17, Dayan Kai began to sing and play with the Blues Houndz, the house blues band at Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz, CA. Around 19 Dayan formed the band Water with Art Alm and Steve Uccello, an eclectic jazz-soul-Americana group that would continue to play for the next decade. Water played solo shows and also backed up various artists including Keith Greeninger and Russell Brutsche. 

Over the next decades he would come to play with a significant range of individuals, bands and ensembles, including  award-winning singer/songwriters Keith Greeninger and John Cruz, Joe Craven, Nina Gerber, Chris Webster, Freebo, Jimmy Dillon, Martin Simpson, Chuck Brodsky, Alice DiMicele, David Jacobs-Strain, Doug Pettybone, the Juan Sanchez ensemble, Hot Club of Spokane, Rockabilly Space Force, Zonky Jazz Band, Bakra Bata, iDrive, Clan Dyken, Achilles Wheel, the Uccello Project, the Naked Bootleggers, Aaron Ford, Right Means Left, Nancy Cassidy, Melissa Crabtree, Steven Graves, Michael Gaither, John Smith, Dennis McGregor, Soplavientos, Harmony Grits, Bluegrass Jihad, and many others. He has recorded and performed with Cookie Marenco at Blue Coast Records solo and in collaboration with Keith Greeninger. He also co-wrote, produced, arranged, and performed on "The Tractor Song" with Chris McDougall, which appears in the movie Animal Crackers. 

Upon his return to Maui in 2013 Dayan Kai performed music for ‘Ulalena and served as the Musical Director and multi-instrumentalist for “Burnin’ Love,” an Elvis Presley tribute show that was the number one show in the state of Hawai’i for several years.  Since the show ended in 2018 he has toured regularly as a solo artist and also in collaboration with Keith Greeninger. He also toured Australia with Melissa Crabtree.

In June 2019, Dayan released solo album “To Be Free” (engineered by Keith Greeninger) that highlights his rich vocals and sublime acoustic guitar. Since then he has released three singles as a solo artist: "Losing Our Way," "Can You Give It Back,' and "Think It Under Again" and one, "That's the Train I'm On," with Jimmy Dillon. 

He currently plays on Maui as a solo artist, in collaboration with John Cruz, with ‘Ulu Maika (Wilmont Kahaiali’i & Jason Jerome), Tempa & Naor, and with a many other local artists. He also tours regularly on the mainland of the USA solo, in collaboration with Keith Greeninger, and with various jazz bands in eastern Washington. 

Dayan Kai’s golden spirit and deep insight into the human condition combined with his virtuous musicality and soulful voice make him a beloved singer/songwriter and top-notch band member. His words, wisdom, humor and talent deeply touch crowds across the world. 

Discography

Dayan has self-produced and released three singles and seven solo albums including “To Be Free,” “Resonate,” "Treat A Stranger Right," "Livin' Like A Rat Again," "The First Twelve Years," "All Kai," and ”Songs of Sunday," as well as two albums with his former band Water, "Scrape the Sun" and "Look out the Window." Water also recorded "Back To You" supporting Keith Greeninger. 
Dayan Kai and Keith Greeninger recorded the duo album “Make It Rain.”
Dayan Kai is also Blue Coast Records recording artist. 
Dayan Kai co-wrote and performed on the “The Tractor Song,” which appeared in the movie Animal Crackers. 
Dayan Kai has also contributed his talents on a multitude of albums in the folk, jazz & world genres.

Performance Highlights
Musical director for Burnin' Love (number one show in the state of Hawai'i for many years). 
Dayan has played at many notable festivals, including the Kate Wolf Memorial Festival (Laytonville, CA), the Sisters Folk Festival (Sisters OR), the Cobargo Folk Festival (NSW, Australia), the Blue Mountains Festival (NSW, Australia), the Yackandandah Music Festival (Victoria, Australia), Juan de Fuca Festival (Port Angeles, WA), American River Music Festival (Lotus, CA), Strawberry Music Festival (Groveland, CA), High Sierra Festival (Quincy, CA), Art on the Green (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), Sandpoint Music Festival (Sandpoint, ID), Summerfest (Milwaukee, WI), the Folklife Festival (Seattle, WA), the Bummershoot Festival (Seattle, WA), the Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey, CA) and many more.  

Multi-Instrumentalist
A partial list of instruments Dayan plays includes keyboards (piano, organ, accordion), guitars (Spanish classical, six- and 12-string acoustic, electric, and resophonic), other strings (charango, ukulele, bass, 4- and 5-string banjo, mandolin, and fiddle), the single-reed woodwind family and flutes from around the world, trumpet and trombone, conchas, and percussion (trap kit and hand drums [cajon, pandero, doumbec, tabla, and congas]). 

Music Production
Dayan has produced albums for Chris McDougall, Steven Graves, Russell Brusche, Music for Nalio, Matt Conible,  Mike McKinley, Tess Dunn, Quackgrass, and Michael Gaither, the Blue Flames, Matt Conible, Monterey Bay Rockers Three, Nancy Cassidy, The Slac Dragons, and many others. 

Contact Information
To talk with Dayan about show bookings, musical instruction, consulting, session work or producing work, call 808-856-5078 or send an email to info@dayankai.com