02/20/12

Story by Diane Carroll

Jake Shimabukuro - Ukulele

Hawaiian native Jake Shimabukuro takes ukulele in new directions

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Jake Shimabukuro, who is making a name for himself by playing the ukulele in ways never imagined before, will appear at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 11, in the Carlsen Center's Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College.

Tickets, which are $35 and $25, are available through the college box office at 913-469-4445 or at jccc.edu/TheSeries.

Shimabukuro grew up in Hawaii, where the instrument is popular. His mother played and she encouraged him to try it. He began playing at the age of 4, he says, and "I just immediately fell in love with it."

Today, Shimabukuro has redefined the ukulele. In his hands, the traditional Hawaiian instrument of four strings and two octaves is stretched and molded into a complex and bold new musical force.

On his album, Peace Love Ukulele, Simabukuro seems to effortlessly mix jazz, rock, classical, traditional Hawaiian music and folk. The result is a sound that's both masterful and powerful and unique in the music world.

Shimabukuro started his career by playing at local coffee shops and other venues in Honolulu. When Sony Music Japan showed interest in signing him, he began to think more broadly. His career skyrocketed when a YouTube clip of him performing While My Guitar Gently Weeps in Central Park went viral. It's had more than 8 million views so far.

Since then, he has performed with Bela Fleck and Flecktones, Bette Midler, Yo-Yo Ma, Cyndi Lauper, Ziggy Marley, Levon Helm and other well-known stars. He's also made the television circuit, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The Late Show with Conan O’Brien and The Today Show.

Shimabukuro salutes the ukulele for the numerous ways it has stretched his world.

"If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place," he states.

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