Jake Shimabukuro
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Jake Shimabukuro (born November 3, 1976 in Honolulu, Hawaii) is a ukulele virtuoso known for his lightning-fast fingers. His music combines elements of jazz, rock, Hawaiian, and pop.[1]
A fifth generation Japanese American[2], Jake initially gained attention in Hawaii in 1998 as a member of the trio "Pure Heart", playing alongside Lopaka Colon (percussion), and John Yamasato (guitar). While Jake was working at a music store in Honolulu, the group released their eponymous debut album, featuring a sound and style very similar to the Ka`au Crater Boys. The following year, they released Pure Heart 2, which earned them a Hoku award for Island Contemporary Album of the year. John departed for college shortly thereafter, to be replace by Guy Cruz, younger brother of the Ka'au Boys' Ernie Cruz Jr. The group continued to perform together through the summer of 2000, afterwhich Jake decided to pursue a solo career.
He has released an instructional DVD called "Play Loud Ukulele." Shimabukuro has toured with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Jimmy Buffett and most recently in Australia with Tommy Emmanuel.
His influences include Eddie Van Halen, George Harrison, Yngwie Malmsteen, Bruce Lee and Carlos Santana.[3][4]
Jake gained internet popularity from a video of him playing of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by the Beatles in Central Park.
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[edit] Discography
[edit] Pure Heart
- "Pure Heart" (1998)
- "Pure Heart 2" (1999)
- "Pure Heart 2.5 Christmas" (1999)
[edit] Solo
- Sunday Morning (2002)
- Crosscurrent (2003)
- Walking Down Rainhill (2004)
- Dragon (2005)
- Gently Weeps (2006)
[edit] Television
[edit] Japan
- NHK Ongaku Yume Club (音楽・夢くらぶ) - May 12, 2005[5]
- 57th Kōhaku Uta Gassen - December 31, 2006, alongside Rimi Natsukawa[6]
- NHK Live in Shibuya: Instrumental Music Concert, February 22, 2007[7]
[edit] USA
- KHON-TV, Honolulu, Jake Live in Japan - September 2003
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien - December 2005
- Last Call with Carson Daly - February 2007
[edit] References
- ^ Official biography
- ^ Virtuoso more than a novelty act
- ^ Official biography
- ^ Official news
- ^ NHK Ongaku Yume Club via archive.org
- ^ Nikkan Sports
- ^ NHK World Premium Synopsis for February 19-25
[edit] External links
- Official website
- YouTube clip of live collaboration with beatboxer Jason Tom
- Jake Shimabukuro collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
- 2006 Shimabukuro Interview from Modern Guitars Magazine
- 2006 Shimabukuro Interview on NPR
- 2006 Shimabukuro Interview from AsiaXpress.com.
- A biography and listing of Shimabukuro's albums from Sony Music Entertainment Japan
- Youtube videoclip of Jake Shimabukuro playing "While my guitar gently weeps" on the ukulele.
- [1] - Photos from live show
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