Jake Shimabukuro

Jake Shimabukuro has elevated the ukulele from a beloved Hawaiian folk instrument to a world-class vehicle, fearlessly traversing boundaries and putting his inspired touch on everything from island standards to popular tunes and, most recently, classical symphonic concertos. No wonder Rolling Stone called him “one of the hottest axemen of the past few years [who] doesn’t actually play guitar.” Even Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has voiced his admiration saying, “Jake is taking the instrument to a place that I can’t see anybody else catching up with.”

Shimabukuro can still vividly remember the first time he held a ukulele, at age four. That first brush with musical fate took place in Honolulu, Hawai’i, where Jake was born and still makes his home. Growing up, he studied and played a number of other musical instruments—drums, piano, and guitar. “But none of those instruments spoke to me the way the ukulele did,” he says. “There was something about the uke that was different. Music was my passion, but I had no idea that I could make it as a musician. I always thought that maybe I’d be a school teacher and incorporate music into the classroom, rather than being on a stage performing in front of people.”

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming shows,” said Shimabukuro. “I have a new setup for my electric ukulele that gives me access to new sounds and timbres that I never incorporated before. I’ll be performing lots of new material as well as new arrangements of old songs. A few of my favorite moments in the show include an ukulele and bass duet of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – and a ten-minute version of “Dragon,” which utilizes a looper, analog echoes, finger tapping, and heavy metal distortion. I always try to maintain a balance of traditional music with the edgier modern sounding pieces. Every show is a little different, which keeps things fresh and exciting. The most important thing is everyone has a great time and walks away with a smile.”

His first album of all original songs, Nashville Sessions is one of Jake’s most adventurous, multifaceted and engaging recordings yet. At the suggestion of his manager, Jake went into a Nashville studio this past January to jam with two top Nashville session players, Jake’s bassist Nolan Verner and drummer Evan Hutchings. The result is one of the boldest and most unique ukulele records ever made, and one that will touch the heart of Jake Shimabukuro’s fan base while enticing new listeners from all across the musical spectrum.