Jake Shimabukuro, Hawaiian Ukulele Virtuoso

Vacationing in Kauai this week has afforded me the opportunity to catch up on reading, spending time with family, friends and listening to music; music I might not ordinarily be exposed to. Enjoying an after dinner Mai tai with my sister-in-law Diane, I mentioned that one of my favorite musicians, Futureman of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, had just finished a tour with Hawaii's most famous uke player. "Jake Shimabukuro?", she asked. "Why yes!" I said, "Do you know him?" Diane revealed that Shimabukuro had once performed for her young cancer patients at Capiolani Childrens Hospital in Honolulu. "He was amazing and his music was beautiful. Plus he was really, really fast." I first heard Shimabukuro on the Flecktones' 2003 album, "Little Worlds". His recent video performances on MySpace during Futureman's Black Mozart Ensemble's tour, will convince anyone who sees it, that Shimabukuro is indeed one of the most gifted talents to emerge from these sacred islands.

Though many still have trouble pronouncing his last name and the instrument he plays, Jake Shimabukuro (she-ma-BOO- koo-row) is becoming recognized as one of the world’s top ukulele (oo-koo-LAY-lay) musicians. Renowned for lightning-fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques, Shimabukuro views the ukulele as an “untapped source of music with unlimited potential.” His virtuosity defies label or category. Playing jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, and rock, Jake’s mission is to show everyone that the ukulele is capable of so much more than only the traditional Hawaiian music many associate it.

At just four years of age, Shimabukuro's mother gave him his first lesson. “When I played my first chord I was hooked,” says Shimabukuro, “I fell in love with the instrument.” That love grew into a deep passion to create and innovate. Experimenting with various guitar effect pedals allows Shimabukuro to create sounds never thought possible on the tiny four-string, two-octave instrument. A true showman, his performance captivates audiences with intricate strumming and plucking, electrifying, high-energy grooves and smooth, melodic ballads evoking heartfelt emotion.

Evolving from the heavily amplified riffs that earned Shimabukuro the reputation as “Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele.” Shimabukuro masterfully extracts the pure “clean” natural acoustic sound of the uke, delicately making a single note smile or cry on his new solo album Gently Weeps. “Recently, I've been touring a lot as a solo artist,” says Shimabukuro, “and it was suggested to me that I record an album to directly reflect my live ‘bandless’ set. The songs I chose for this project are tunes I frequently perform at my shows. There are a couple of new ones, but these are mainly songs that I've been playing for a while.”

The highlight of the album is Shimabukuro’s cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Last year, a video clip of Shimabukuro playing this song in Central Park started circulating the internet resulting in emails of support and amazement from across the globe; France, England, Germany, Sweden, and also Australia and Korea where Jake recently signed distribution deals. To date, the video has been viewed over 1.5 million times. Shimabukuro had the honor of meeting Harrison’s widow, Olivia, backstage at his show with the Honolulu Symphony this past November. Afterwards, she described feeling George’s presence with her when Shimabukuro played his rendition of George’s Gently Weeps.

From a modest beginning performing at a local Honolulu café, Shimabukuro has gone on to play famous venues such as the House of Blues and The Knitting Factory (Los Angeles), The Birchmere (Alexandria, VA), Tipitina’s (New Orleans), Joe’s Pub and B.B. King's Nightclub (NYC), The Bumbershoot Festival (Seattle), The Fuji Rock Festival (Japan) and many others. Touring with Jimmy Buffett in 2005, 2006 and 2007 gave Shimabukuro the experience of a lifetime, regularly exposing his virtuosity and amazing stage presence to crowds of over 50,000. Shimabukuro’s first national television performance came in December 2005 on NBC’s The Late Show with Conan O'Brien. In June 2002, Shimabukuro became the first ukulele player from Hawaii to sign with Epic Records International/Sony Music International. Three years later, he obtained a U.S. distribution deal for his Hitchhike Records label.

His selection as the spokesman three years in a row for Hawaii Tourism Japan’s (HTJ) aggressive campaign to market Hawaii to Japan, as well as his frequent tours of the island nation, have also made Shimabukuro a household name in Japan. "Rainbow," a track from Walking Down Rainhill, was selected as HTJ’s theme song as well as the official Honolulu Marathon theme song in 2004. In 2006, Gently Weeps track “Beyond the Break” was selected as the Marathon’s theme song and was played as Shimabukuro crossed the finish line upon completion of his first marathon run.

Shimabukuro’s musical accomplishments are well known throughout the Hawaiian Islands and Japan, though he is perhaps known equally as well for his outgoing personality and warm heart. In his spare time Shimabukuro often visits schools to talk with and play music for the children of Hawaii, hopefully inspiring thousands to put their energy into learning about and playing music.

The State of Hawaii recognized Shimabukuro as an outstanding musician and role model for the people of Hawaii. In 2004 Shimabukuro was named Hawaii’s goodwill ambassador to Japan and received “The Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation” for being an active voice in U.S.-Japan relations at the grassroots level. In a ceremony held on September 4, 2006 Jake Shimabukuro was appointed as the 160th Okinawa-Uchina Ambassador at the Okinawan State House.

Shimabukuro toured with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones (2002, 2005, 2006) and recorded on the band’s aforementioned Little Worlds album. Shimabukuro is also 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. This was a priceless experience for Shimabukuro and gave him the confidence to score the recently released Japanese independent film HULA GIRL. Two songs from the film score, “Wish on My Star” and “Hula Girl” are bonus tracks on Gently Weeps.

Recognized as a virtuoso not only by his audience, but also by fellow musicians and producers as well, Shimabukuro has had the opportunity to perform with and/or open for Diana Krall, Fiona Apple, Bobby McFerrin, John Hiatt, Victor Wooten, Chris Thile, Keller Williams, Tommy Emmanuel, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Les Paul, Jamie Cullum, Kaki King, Stanley Clarke, Blues Traveler, Stephen Bishop, John Craven, Hot Buttered Rum, Radiators, Honolulu Symphony, Chance and Mista D of Nashville’s MuzikMafia.

Energy, imagination, and innovation have been Shimabukuro’s keys to success. He plans to continue recording, performing, collaborating, and staying happy. “I love what I do. I’m forever thankful for music.”

Shimabukuro won't be in the Bay Area until November, when he performs at the Palace of Fine Arts during the SF Jazz Festival. Until then, Mahalo Jake Shimabukuro.

"It IZ What It IZ"... Hawaii's Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Before my arrival in Kauai this week, fellow music lover, friend, (and D1 Supervisor candidate) Eric Mar, turned me on to the song "E Ala E", by "IZ", aka Israel Ka"ano'i Kamakawiwo'ole, one of Hawaii's greatest musical geniuses. The 1995 album featured the political title song "E Ala E" and the moving "Kaleohano". As his career progressed, IZ became known for promoting Hawaiian rights and Hawaiian independence, both through his music (whose lyrics often stated the case for independence directly) and through his life. IZ became famous outside Hawaii when his album "Facing Future" was released in 1993 with his medley of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World", which was subsequently featured in several films, television programs, and commercials.

Kamakawiwo'ole was nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" by his admirers. He was described as always cheerful and positive, and he was best known for his love of the land and of the people of Hawaii. Through his consummate ukulele playing and incorporation of other idioms (such as jazz and reggae), IZ remains one of the major influences in Hawaiian music over the last 15 years.

Israel Ka"ano'i Kamakawiwo'ole was born on May 20, 1959 at Kuakini Hospital in Honolulu to Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwo'ole, Jr. and Evangeline Leinani Kamakawiwo'ole. Wiwo'ole means courage or courageous in the Hawai'ian language. Kamaka may come from kanaka, which means man. IZ was raised in the community of Kaimuki, where his parents had met and married. He began playing music with his older brother Skippy at the age of 11, being privy to the music of the great Hawaiian entertainers of the time such as the likes of Peter Moon, Palani Vaughn, and Don Ho, who frequented the establishment where his parents worked.

In his early teens, his family moved to Makaha, Hawaii. There, he met Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko. Together with his brother Skippy, they formed the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau. From 1976 throughout the 1980s, the Hawaiian contemporary band gained in popularity as they toured Hawai"i and the continental United States and released 15 successful albums.

Sadly, in 1982, IZ's brother Skippy Kamakawiwo'ole died of a heart attack. In that same year, IZ married his childhood sweetheart Marlene and soon after had a daughter who they named Ceslieanne "Wehi".

IZ formed the musical group Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau with brother Skippy plus Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray and Jerome Koko. They recorded No Kristo in 1976 and released five more albums, including the similarly titled Na Mele Henoheno Na Makahiki Mui, helu ‘ekahi and Na Mele Henoheno Na Makahiki Mui, helu ‘elua, which included the famous Hawaiian independence anthem "Hawaii'78", before Skippy's death in 1982. The group became Hawaii's most popular traditional group with breakout albums like 1984's Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha and its follow-up, 1986's Ho'ola. IZs last recorded album with the group was 1991's Ho'oluana. It remains the group's top-selling CD to this day.

In 1990, IZ released his first solo album Ka"anoi, which won him awards for Contemporary Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). Facing Future was released in 1993. Considered his best album by many, it featured his most popular song, the medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World", along with "Hawaii 78", "White Sandy Beach of Hawaii", "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man", and "Kaulana Kawaihae". Facing Future debuted at #25 on Billboard Magazine's Top Pop Catalogue chart. On October 26, 2005, "Facing Future" became Hawaii's first certified platinum album, selling more than a million CDs in the United States, according to figures furnished by the Recording Industry Association of America. On July 21, 2006 BBC Radio 1 announced that "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" would be released as a single.

In 1994, Iz was voted favorite entertainer of the year by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). "N Dis Life" (1996) featured "In This Life" and "Starting All Over Again". As his career progressed, IZ was known for promoting Hawaiian rights and Hawaiian independence, both through his music (whose lyrics often stated the case for independence directly) and through his life.

In 1997, IZ was again honored by HARA at the Annual Na Hoku Hanohano awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Favorite Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Island Contemporary Album of the Year. He watched the awards ceremony from a hospital room.

"Alone In IZ World" (2001) debuted at #1 on Billboard's World Chart and #135 on Billboard's Top 200, #13 on the Top Independent Albums Chart, and #15 on the Top Internet Album Sales charts.

Throughout the later part of his life, IZ's obesity began to take it's toll and at one point he weighed as much as 758 pounds on his 6 feet 2 inches frame. He endured several hospitalizations and on June 26, 1997, IZ died of weight-related respiratory illness, at the age of 38.

The Hawaii State Flag flew at half-staff on July 10, 1997, the day of IZ's funeral and his koa wood coffin lay in state at the Capitol building in Honolulu. He was the third person in Hawaiian history to be accorded this honor (the other two were Governor John A. Burns and Senator Spark Matsunaga) and the only non-politician. Over 10,000 people attended his funeral. Thousands of fans gathered and cheered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at M'kua Beach on July 12, 1997.

On September 20, 2003, hundreds paid tribute to IZ as a 200-pound bronze bust of the revered singer was unveiled at the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center on O'ahu. The singer's widow, Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole, and sculptor Jan-Michelle Sawyer were present for the dedication ceremony.

"E Ala E" has become one of my all time favorite IZ tunes.

Thanks Eric.

Trilok Gurtu's "Twenty Years of Talking Tabla"

"Twenty Years of Talking Tabla" is a 20-year journey through the career of percussionist Trilok Gurtu. Rita Ray of BBC Radio described him as “a serial collaborator” – this carefully chosen compilation shows exactly that side of him. As a world class virtuoso, now in his mid fifties, Trilok has attracted a world class set of collaborators; these started with John McLaughlin in whose trio Trilok flourished as the featured soloist for 4 years, other jazz greats continued this path – Joe Zawinul, Jan Garbarek, Don Cherry, Pharoah Sanders were all attracted to Trilok’s burning sense of rhythm. Of course he is deeply rooted in the Indian tradition, so it is no surprise to see that collaborations also took place with the glitterati of Indian musical society – his mother, Shobha Gurtu, Zakir Hussain, L. Shankar, Shankar Mahadevan and Sultan Khan. World music has become an established genre in which Trilok has further “ploughed his own furrow” to great effect, collaborating with Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo, Neneh Cherry, Tuvan throat singers Huun Huur Tu, the Malian musicians from the Frikywa family and the Italian, Arke String Quartet.

Trilok is obviously obsessed with colours, tones and rhythms while never neglecting melody, and as such, he is a musician who brings passion, vision and craft to his compositions and performances that make them immediately accessible. The sleeve notes below were compiled by Gerry Lyseight, Gaham Lawson and of course Trilok Gurtu. I happily confess that I own virtually all of these albums.

"Shobharock" from Usfret recorded in 1987 Silva Screen Records (CMP)
Twenty Years ago, Trilok released his first solo album Usfret (influencing the likes of Talvin Singh, Asian Dub Foundation and Nitin Sawhney in the process) and formed his own road band in 1988. Shobharock is the opening track and features his mother’s layered vocals over a striding electronic beat alongside compadres Don Cherry on trumpet, Jonas Hellborg on electric and fuzz bass and L Shankar on doubleneck electric violin. TG: “This was the first time I had recorded with my Mum and I had to trick her into doing it as she had never worked with Western drums before. I recorded her parts with only Tabla backing and added the other instruments later. When she heard the finished track she said “Who’s the singer?”. She grew to love the track and through it learned to sing harmony.”

"African Fantasy" from "African Fantasy" recorded in 1999 Mintaka Recordings
Benin’s Angelique Kidjo sings the almost hymn-like title track from 1999’s African Fantasy. Trilok adds the lightest of percussion and Ravi Chary adds to the mood on Harmonium. Nicholas Fiszman brings a gloriously subtle E Bow guitar.TG: “African Fantasy is my arrangement of a song by L. Shankar called Song for Everyone which I originally performed with him alongside Jan Garbarek and Zakir Hussein”.

"Have We Lost Our Dream" from "The Beat of Love" recorded in 2001 Blue Thumb (Universal)
This is a wonderful collaboration masterminded by Trilok: Salif Keita, “the golden voice of Africa” sings a poignant duet with Sabine Kabongo -about his sadness for the future of Africa, lamenting the various States in Africa – listen carefully you can here all the names of the States. Sabine, who had an illustrious career with Zap Mama, answers Salif’s Malian vocal in English. Wally Badarou adds synth and Amit Heri guitar in an exquisite piece.

"Dinki Puriya" from "African Fantasy" recorded in 1999 Mintaka Recordings
You can imagine Trilok and sitar player Ravi Chary watching each other intensely as they perform this intricate conversation between tabla and sitar on ‘99’s African Fantasy CD.

"Expression Of Love" from "Remembrance" recorded in 2002 Universal India
Remembrance was recorded by Universal India in Bombay, it was a coup to get so many respected musicians to appear together; Trilok wrote this track for his mother to perform with Shankar Mahadevan and Sultan Khan. Shobha Gurtu, close to her eightieth year, with a wall full of Government Awards, was offered a duet with Shankar Mahadevan.

He is still a young man who has rapidly become a star due to his wonderful singing in Bollywood films. So for him, this was a chance in a life time, but then to add Sultan Khan too, was amazing. Sultan Khan is the most venerated Sarangi player having accompanied Ravi Shankar and Allah Rakah for many years before succeeding with a solo career. The result is stunning.

"Water Solo" previously unreleased recorded live by Denmark Radio. Engineer Jacob Langkilde, Producer Anders Dohn in Copenhagen in 2003
I first saw Trilok perform live in the late 90s and that show remains one of the best I have ever seen from anyone. Trilok sits/kneals on a carpeted stage surrounded by all manner of percussion instruments, including a bucket of water. Every instrument is there for a reason – none of it is for display or novelty. It can be quite difficult to see exactly how some of the sounds are produced although at another show there was a mirror arrangement above his head angled towards the audience which solved a few musical mysteries. One of the many highlights of that first show was his Water Solo which involves him striking a thin sheet of metal, amplifying the resulting reverberations and slowly submerging the vibration metal into the aforementioned bucket of water - creating an ethereal sound akin to something devised in the legendary BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

"The Other Tune" recorded in 1993 from "Crazy Saints" Silva Screen Records (CMP)
A Joe Zawinul tune featuring the great ex-Weather Report man on keyboards and his trademark vocoder mano a mano with Trilok on drums, tabla and percussion. TG: “Joe had originally planned to record with me for 2 days but we got on so well that 2 days became 10 and then we toured as a duet for a year. I knew that he enjoyed boxing so I originally suggested the duet idea! He wanted me to join his band but I explained that my days of being a sideman ended after working with John McLaughlin. I like to play my way and collaborate with musicians I respect rather that join someone else’s band ”.

"Balahato" recorded in 2006 from "Arkeology" Promo Music
Balahato comes from Trilok’s latest release- Arkeology - recorded with Italy’s Arke String Quartet and has an almost Celtic feel - with Trilok providing both the pulse as well as the percussive vocal against sawing strings. John L Walters puts it well in The Guardian

“These accomplished players mesh and weave in the best 20th-century manner, and violinist Valentino Corvino is a passionate soloist. Their tunes imply Indian, Balkan and Celtic rhythms, in asymmetric time signatures that suit Gurtu down to the last demisemiquaver: he flies around the six-, seven- and 14-beat patterns.”

"Seven Brings Return" recorded in 1998 from "Kathak" Mintaka Recordings
Steve Lukather is one of the world’s most sought after session guitarists, best known for his work with Toto as well as Randy Crawford, Michael Jackson et al and he features here heavily on virtuoso axe. Trilok’s incendiary blasts of percussion and vocal colour an evolving melody. TG: “Seven is a lucky number in many cultures and 7/8 is a favourite time signature of mine. Steve said it was a great time signature to listen to, but really difficult to play but he did a great job”.

"Mother Tongues" Edited to 4:53 recorded in 1989 from "Live at the RFH" JMT Recordings (Universal)
Recorded live at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 27th November 1989 (from which the album takes its title), Trilok was part of legendary guitarist John McLaughlin’s Trio which also features Kai Eckhardt, one of the world’s great bass players and a member of several of Trilok’s own bands. Here three giants of their chosen instruments match each other lick for lick in a literal master class of jazz improvisation. TG: “I have to give great credit to John for sticking to his guns and believing in this project because it wasn’t an immediate success. My drum solo on Mother Tongues attracted lots of praise and after this live album we played to bigger and bigger audiences around the world”.

"Dance With My Lover" previously unreleased recorded live by Denmark Radio. Engineer Jacob Langkilde, Producer Anders Dohn in Copenhagen in 2003
Trilok’s composition originally appeared on “The Beat of Love”, but this is a Live recording two years after the studio album appeared with Sanchita Farruque taking the vocal duties and Celia Reggiani playing keyboards. Ravi Chary, a long-time member of Trilok’s road band, plays sitar. Usually a quiet, dignified man, one can hear that on this performance he was really rocking – in fact it was one of those rare occasions where a classical sitar player stood up and played his sitar like a guitar. The whole performance is really cooking.

"Save Our Children" recorded in 1999 from "Save our Children" Verve Records
Save Our Children is taken from the sax legend Pharoah Sanders’ album of the same name produced by Bill Laswell who captures an incredible Tabla sound for Trilok. It contains a spiritual chorus and African rap. The creator has a master plan - and it involves Trilok.

"Big Brother" recorded in 1999 from "African Fantasy" Mintaka Recordings
Oumou Sangare is Mali’s most high profile campaigner for women’s rights internationally as well as one of their most famous singers. She features on African Fantasy and adds her superb vocal to Big Brother backed by a typically tight, funky band with Trilok chipping in on the vocals. TG: “Africa Fantasy was about bringing together the African and Indian roots of jazz. I had known of Oumou for many years and when I asked her to participate she jumped at the idea. I said she could do whatever she wanted and she turned up at the studio with 2 backing singers and an n’goni player”.

"Once I Wished a Tree Upside Down" recorded in 1991 from "Living Magic" Silva Screen Records
When Trilok recorded his second album “Living Magic”, our serial collaborator was still in his collaborating infancy, yet this duet with Jan Garbarek shows us what is to come. Here Trilok on tabla and percussion duets with Jan’s skipping sax weaving melody lines in and out. An early example of Garbarek’s distinctive sax sound that was to become so popular later on.

"You, Remember This" recorded in 1998 from "Kathak" Mintaka Recordings
A beautiful song, written by Trilok and his mother Shobha, she titled it, so its become a “keepsake” for Trilok. It was inspired by a street musician they came across. Shobha gives a wonderful vocal performance for her son while Kai Eckhardt underpins Trilok’s rhythm and adds a wonderful melodic bass solo towards the end.

"Agne Yano" recorded in 2005 from "Farakala" Frikyiwa Records
Proving again that no musical category can confine him Trilok takes to Mali to collaborate on a project put together by French DJ Frédéric Galliano’s Frikyiwa organisation. Hadja Kouyaté sings lead on Agne Yano. Abandoning all his familiar instruments, Trilok gets into the African spirit with balafon, water calabash and shékéré. TG: “I trekked 700 kilometres into Mali for this recording in very difficult circumstances. Afterwards I travelled to Bamako to stay at Oumou Sangare’s hotel. She said that it was a part of the country that was incredibly inaccessible and was amazed that I had spent time in what was effectively desert!”.

"Greetings" recorded in 2002 from "Remembrance" Universal India
This track was eagerly anticipated by the Indian musical community, they knew that nobody other than Trilok could stand the heat from Zakir’s revered tabla playing. They were not disappointed – “Greetings” sees the two maestros go head to head with Trilok excelling on sonic effects, kit and percussion while Hussain runs through his formidable repertoire on the tabla. TG: “I had known Zakir for years and my mother read an interview of his where he stated that, I had taught Western drummers how to play the kit. She agreed with what Zakir said, which was a great compliment from both of them”.

"Vignola" recorded in 2003 from "Broken Rhythms" Mintaka Recordings
The adventurous fusion of Italy’s Arke String Quartet and Tuvan throat singers, Huun Huur Tu, point up Trilok’s ceaseless musical imagination. They add their unique colours to what was essentially a duo piece recorded in his home town of Bombay with Trilok on percussion and Roop Kumar on vocal.

"Ganapati" recorded in 1998 from "Kathak" Mintaka Recordings
The Kathak CD features Trilok in the company of his band at the time, The Glimpse. Ganapati features the voice of Neneh Cherry and is dedicated to the memory of her stepfather, the great innovative Jazz man, Don Cherry, who had been instrumental in bringing Trilok to the West. TG: “Ganapati is the king of all attributers, remover of all obstacles and relates to the benevolent Hindu God Ganesh. I saw Don in that light, to me he was the great innovator, more so than Miles Davis, and way before his time. A true inspiration to others, he knew that music, the best music, had to touch spirituality. Not many achieve this even momentarily but it’s something everyone can feel when it happens. This was what Don was always striving for. Neneh was almost in tears as she sang”.

"Planet Earth" recorded in 2003 a remix by Talvin Singh, from "Remembrance" Universal India
Tabla player and DJ Talvin Singh is a long-standing devotee of Trilok’s and can often be seen in the audience at Trilok’s shows. As the most visible proponent of the British Asian Underground scene in the ‘90’s and collaborator with everyone from Bjork to Madonna, Talvin here pays his respects to his mentor with this remix of Planet Earth a medley of tracks from Remembrance.