NAME-DROPPING: Jeff Peterson, one of Hawai'i's Grammy Award-winning ki ho'alu artists, performed slack key for former President Bill Clinton and actor Pierce Brosnan on two occasions: once, at the Brosnan home outside Hanalei on Kaua'i; the other time, aboard a yacht run by Chad Allenbaugh of the Sailing Club.

"Clinton and I talked about jazz," said Peterson, whose new CD is "Slack Key Jazz," which unites Island-style ki ho'alu with jazz elements. Peterson gave Clinton a CD, and they huddled and exchanged memories.

As the story goes, Clinton was once tested by Duke Ellington on his jazz knowledge: Ellington ascertained whether Clinton knew "Blue Rondo A la Turk,"one of Dave Brubeck's signature tunes, by asking Clinton to hum the bridge — which he did, Peterson said.

Hey, maybe the ex-pres will bring his saxophone with him next time and toot along with Peterson. ...

The Brothers Cazimero are in the midst of finishing a Christmas album — but also prepping for a gig at 8 p.m. Saturday at Wolf Trap's Filene Center, in Vienna, Va., where Robert and Roland Cazimero will feature Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole and band as their opening act. Jon de Mello, CEO of the Mountain Apple Company (distributor for both acts), will be attending, along with Leah and Mark Bernstein. The trio will then journey to New York for some Broadway shows, including "Doubt."

Kamokila de Mello, daughter of de Mello and ex-wife Melinda Caroll, has just started doing publicity for dad's Mountain Apple Company. Kila is 20 and a mover and shaker — a third-generation member of the family. Jack de Mello, the patriarch (Jon's dad, whose Music of Polynesia recordings are legendary), just wound up a visit with Jon and enjoyed some studio time before returning to his Las Vegas base. ...

MAUI WOWIE: Comedian Augie T. has taken Iao Theatre of Maui under his wing by donating part of concert proceeds to the theater's restoration efforts, and recording his next CD, "Made in Hawai'i," at the Iao. The disc is due in November, in time for holiday buying and giving, and Augie is eternally grateful for the support his standup act has had since the issuance of his "Live From the Hawai'i Theatre" endeavor a year go.

"We had one goal," he said of the Honolulu concert DVD, "to reach local people all across the country and to showcase local comedy to people on the Mainland." He has succeeded and continues to build on that goal, expanding his tours to various parts of the nation — plus Guam and the Philippines.

For instance, he has gigs at the Cal State East Bay Theatre Sept. 16-18 in Hayward, Calif.; at Agana, Guam, Sept. 23-25; at the Nordstrom Recital Hall in Seattle, Sept. 30; and at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Ore., Oct. 1. Other dates, including Neighbor Isles, beckon — but Augie also is eager to do shows for the military in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan by year's end. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.