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Jake Shimabukuro on Tour
In a way, it’s Hawaiian ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro’s live performances that first brought him international attention — in 2006, Shimabukuro’s success skyrocketed after a video of him playing The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” became one of YouTube’s first massively viral videos. Ever since, he’s shared his joy of music with audiences all over the world, playing songs that range from jazz and classical to rock and bluegrass. Before he blew up, Shimabukuro was signed to a label in Japan and toured the country extensively. After starting his own label and playing more U.S. shows, he’s appeared on a number of talk shows with hosts like Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Carson Daly. Now, Shimabukuro tours the world frequently, often leading a versatile string trio that includes guitar and bass, though he’s also been known to groove in a quartet with drums, keys and bass. Jake Shimabukuro’s current tour takes him across the U.S. as he continues to find new ways to interact with the styles that have made him the musician he is today.
Jake Shimabukuro in Concert
Jake Shimabukuro is a Hawaiian-born, fifth-generation Japanese American ukulele player who has become known as a virtuoso musician that can jam in almost any style. Born in 1976 in Honolulu, Shimabukuro received a ukulele from his mother, a musician herself, at age four. He studied with her for years, eventually entering the Roy Sakuma Studio and taking lessons from Tami Akiyami. In the 1990s, Shimabukuro would become a member of the trio Pure Heart alongside percussionist Lopaka Colón and guitarist and singer Jon Yamasato. The group’s first album, 1999’s Pure Heart, won four Na Hoku Hanohano awards — basically the Hawaiian Grammys — including Contemporary Album of the Year, Most Promising Artist, Album of the Year and Favorite Entertainment of the Year.
Shimabukuro signed with Epic Records International, a division of Sony Music Japan, in 2002. He toured in Japan and released a number of Japan-only albums. Wanting to share his music with the U.S. as well, Shimabukuro founded Hitchhike Records and soon released 2005’s Dragon, which charted at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top World Music Albums. The following year, after his YouTube success, he released Gently Weeps, which peaked at No. 2 on the Top World Music Albums. Shimabukuro has gone on to release numerous high-charting albums.
Set One
Set Two
Encore
WoW....They played for 2 and a half hours with just short breaks...Jake has grown so much...i feel blessed to be in attendance.
I did not realize that Jake would be performing with those that influenced him in his musical life.
This is very probably the best concert that I've ever been to. Although certainly not everyone will enjoy it as much as I did, no matter your musical tastes, you should be able to appreciate the talent and joy that Jake Shimabukuro is able to display during his performances. I think it is a safe assumption for just about anyone that you will be glad you bought the tickets for this show.
Jake is a polished performer with impeccable skills and stage personality. Totally enjoyable.
super, would go again. Very nice music, rock and romantic..
Fantastic performance in a world-class venue. Jake is an unbelievable talent and the acoustics at the Bijou are ideal for an intimate show like his.
He is a Ukulele virtuoso. Incredible! And he has such a nice way about him.
I will be back to see Jake perform as often as he is in Knoxville! He obviously enjoys doing the show and appreciates his audience and the theater he is performing in! I must learn to play ukulele now because it is a happy instrument!
Jake is a master!! His performance and talent is awe-inspiring!
He can tear up ukulele! It was AMAZING to see and hear what he can do on just 4 LITTLE STRINGS!! I was in awe and would love to see him again. He puts on a dynamite show!
Concert was great. He is clearly one of the best in the world if not thee best. His range and the way he engages the crowd was fantastic. Wish he was in DC more often. When I thought he was playing a track only to realize he was layering his on loop...crowd went from being slightly annoyed to "OMG...is he really doing this live"
Mind-blowing sweetness personified, Jake tickles my ears, warms my heart, & feeds my soul every time!!
We really enjoyed Jake's skill and showmanship in playing the ukelele. He is a gifted composer as well as performer and his improvisation was mind-blowing.
Jake is THE master of the ukelele. He is one with his instrument. Seeing him live was one of the highlights of my life.
It is incredibly impressive to watch Jake Shimabukuro perform his art. The things he can do with a ukulele are amazing. It's also fun to watch his joy. He seems so happy to be playing.
It is amazing to heard in person the sounds JS can get out a ukulele. Had a base player to accompany. Nice bonus that did not overpower the ukulele, like the orchestra sometimes does on his last album, Grand Ukulele.
His energy and talent were beyond my expectations, and I was going with a friend who had been raving about him for years. If you're into uke, definitely see this guy. He's a master. And he's doing interesting things with the instrument--plays many genres and styles.
This was the third time we've seen Jake Shimabukuru live and we will see him again any time we can. His playing of every kind of music, including a new thing that imitated an ancient Japanese instrument is flawless, emotional, and powerful. Put that together with a stage personality that makes you want to invite him to your home and you have an absolutely perfect entertainment evening. This was our first time at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA and we found the sound outstanding, even from our seats ten feet from the microphone and dead center. The ticketing thing they do there is a little weird and the system that allows one person to get there early and save as many seats as they want kind of sucks. We showed up three hours before the show started and had to really scramble to find decent seats as nearly all seats up front were being saved for people, some of who showed up ten minutes prior to the show starting. The Birchmere should really take a look at that and maybe change things so someone can only save one seat. Saving a whole table full of seats is not fair to the people who get there early. Other than that it was a great evening.
Jake was phenomenal!! One of the best shows I have been to.
Jake Shimabukuro gets sounds out of a Ukelele that i never imagined before seeing him do it. From a rock riff worthy of heavy metal to a sensitive arrangement of Shubert's "Ave Maria" he kept the audience rapt and enthusiastic. This was his first concert accompanied by an electric bass player through part of the set. I found the bass unnecessary in the first part of the program. The bass left for the middle part. But at the end when JS rocked out, the bass was a valuable accompaniment.
