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Playing jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, and rock, Jake's mission is to show everyone that his instrument is capable of so much more than traditional Hawaiian music.
A true showman, his performance captivates audiences with intricate strumming and plucking, electrifying, high-energy grooves and smooth, melodic ballads evoking heartfelt emotion.
The first ukulele player ever to be invited to perform at Sydney Opera House, Shimabukuro started to play at the age of four. Although many still have trouble pronouncing his surname (she-ma-BOO-koo-row), he has earned touring dates with artists like Jimmy Buffet, Bela Fleck, Jamie Cullum, Tommy Emmanuel and Diana Krall.
Energy, imagination, and innovation have been key to his success. Evolving from the heavily amplified riffs that earned Jake the reputation as "Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele," now Jake masterfully extracts the pure "clean" natural acoustic sound of the uke, delicately making a single note smile or cry.
From small Honolulu cafes, Jake now plays at top venues such as the House of Blues and The Knitting Factory (LA), Tipitina's (New Orleans), Joe's Pub and B.B. King's Nightclub (NYC), Bumbershoot Festival (Seattle), The Fuji Rock Festival (Japan) and many others.
Jake is featured on Ziggy Marley's Grammy-Award winning Love is My Religion (2006) and contributed to the soundtrack of the Jimmy Buffett-produced film, Hoot. He recently won a Japanese Academy Award for his debut soundtrack effort for the hit film Hula Girl.
For two shows only, Jake will perform original tracks from his most recent CDs, My Life and Gently Weeps, as well as covers from Sarah McLachlan to Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Cyndi Lauper, all delivered in his fun, charming and inimitably sexy style.
"Jaw-dropping instrumental music with the touch and phrasing of a master. Jake is challenging every last preconception about the ukulele." Frets Magazine -- www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Posted March 8th, 2008 by ruzik_tuzik
