Pokémon, Zelda and Mario Go Jazz: Christina Sochor’s Album Release at Blue Note Hawaiʻi

If you grew up with a Game Boy or a Nintendo controller in your hands, here’s a midweek night out made for you. Pianist Christina Sochor brings her album release concert for “Not a Phone in Sight” to Blue Note Hawaiʻi in Waikīkī on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The album reworks music from Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario and Animal Crossing as jazz, jazz fusion and neo-soul.

Aloha State Daily reports it’s her first headlining performance at the club.

Show details

• When: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Show at 6:30 p.m., doors at 5 p.m.
• Where: Blue Note Hawaiʻi, 2335 Kalākaua Ave., Waikīkī
• Tickets: $20–$30 through Blue Note Hawaiʻi’s event page. The club says its website and TicketWeb are the only authorized sellers, and all sales are final.
• Seating: First come, first served within each section, with a $20 per-person minimum. Table seating is all ages; the bar area is 21+.
• Parking: The venue page lists $6 validated parking for up to four hours at a nearby hotel garage with its entrance on Kūhiō Avenue.
• Groups of six or more who want to sit together need a group package through events@bluenotehawaii.com, per the club.

Who is Christina Sochor?

Sochor is a classically trained pianist from South Florida. She told Aloha State Daily she started entering classical piano competitions at 10, including Steinway contests, before moving to jazz. She later worked as a traveling pianist on a cruise ship, then settled in Hawaiʻi and now calls Mōʻiliʻili home. (Blue Note’s bio says she’s lived here a little over a year; she told Aloha State Daily it’s been about three years.)

Video game music was part of her playing from the start. As a young pianist, she picked up the game songs quickly. Her Instagram covers of those tunes caught the attention of Game Chops, a national label that specializes in video game remixes and covers. She signed with them. Aloha State Daily reports she pitched the whole project, from the song list to the musicians and the budget, before her first call with the label in December 2025. The music was recorded on Hawaiʻi Island in February, and the album came out Oct. 6. It’s on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp and YouTube.

Blue Note’s event description adds that Sochor sold out two concerts at Hawaiʻi Public Radio earlier this year.

What you’ll hear

Expect songs from the album, from swinging, traditional jazz takes to Latin and more avant-garde arrangements, Sochor told Aloha State Daily. Blue Note’s listing describes a mix of jazz, R&B, neo-soul and gospel arrangements of music from video games, animation and pop-culture film classics.

Aloha State Daily reports she’ll perform with Abe Lagrimas Jr. and Dean Taba. Blue Note’s listing also promises special guests.

Why it’s worth a weeknight

Tickets start at $20, and a Wednesday show lets out early enough for a work night. It’s also a fun crossover pick: jazz fans get a serious band, and gamers get to hear the soundtracks of their childhood played live. It could be a good date night, or a chance to bring along the friend who still hums the Animal Crossing theme. Seating is first come, first served, so plan to arrive close to when doors open at 5 p.m. if you want a good table, and leave time for dinner from the club’s full menu.

Want a preview first? Stream “Not a Phone in Sight” before the show, and follow Sochor on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Sources

• Aloha State Daily, “Mōʻiliʻili musician combines Pokémon with piano” by Katie Helland (Nov. 6, 2026): https://alohastatedaily.com/2026/11/06/moiliili-musician-combines-pokemon-with-piano/
• Blue Note Hawaiʻi event page, “Christina Sochor” (show time, prices, club policies; checked Nov. 7, 2026): https://www.bluenotejazz.com/hawaii/tm-event/christina-sochor/
• Hawaiʻi Public Radio community calendar listing: https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/community-calendar/event/christina-sochor-at-blue-note-hawaii-01-10-2026-21-21-23