Jake Shimabukuro

We could not love an artist more! Smiles and joy are always in order! "The Jimmy Hendrix of the ukulele", Jake Shimabukuro has done for the uke what Bela Fleck has done for the banjo. Whether you need your spirits picked up or you are wanting to celebrate, nothing like a happy ukulele to fit that bill. And Jake has got to be seen to be believed. His show with us last year was completely joyous! A ukulele virtuoso and composer known for his fast and complex finger work. Made famous by his millions of hits video of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" , his music combines elements of jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, classical, folk, and flamenco. Jake comes from that same process of mixing both island and outside influences, both modern and historical. He's combined the qualities of a long line of virtuoso ukulele players with modern rock musicians to create a sound that's uniquely his own but still firmly grounded in Hawaiian tradition. Growing up in Hawaii, Jake's influences include legendary ukulele players like Eddie Kamae, Ohta-San and Peter Moon. He has topped Billboard's World Music Chart numerous times, been declared a musical "hero" by Rolling Stone Magazine, which also stated: "one of the hottest axemen of the past few years doesn't actually play guitar." He has also won accolades from the disparate likes of Eddie Vedder who states: "Jake is taking the instrument to a place that I can't see anybody else catching up with;" My favorite Jake moment? He does a uke version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. So if that doesn't get you to think outta the box, nothin will!! Come see this amazing young ukulele legend. The ukulele is considered the happiest instrument in the world...so don't worry, be happy!! And yeah I think he does that tune too.