DeShannon Higa
DeShannon Higa
Bio
DeShannon Higa is a Honolulu-based trumpeter, composer, and arranger whose dynamic career spans over 30 years across jazz, contemporary, and Hawaiian music. Recognized for his expressive tone, refined musicality, and genre-blending vision, Higa stands as one of Hawaii’s most versatile and respected artists.
He has performed locally and internationally with a wide range of renowned artists, including Johnny Mathis, Wynton Marsalis, Jake Shimabukuro, Michael Feinstein, Jeff Lorber, Henry Kapono, and the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, among many others. His performance credits also include collaborations with the original Elvis Presley band.
An in-demand recording artist, Higa has contributed to film, radio, video games, and a diverse range of artists across genres, including Kesha, The Green, Raiatea Helm, Jimmy Borges, Kalapana, Makana, Mike Love, and Mana'o Company, as well as projects with Aisea and Seven Suns.
He was a featured soloist on the Na Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning album Jimmy Borges, which received four awards including Album of the Year and Best Jazz Album. He is also a founding member of Bop Tribal, whose debut album earned a 4-star review in DownBeat Magazine and won the Hawaii Music Award for Best Jazz Album.
