No more results on this page
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
At times, if you closed your eyes you would have sworn there were 3 performers and none of them was playing an ukelele. The entire show was just Jake and one ukelele. I enjoyed the way he introduced each song, often with a story. I felt that I really got to know Jake along with his music. If he comes to your town, GO !!!!!
It's rare to see anyone performing solely on the ukulele. Dabbling a bit myself, I naturally had to see Jake. Mesmerizing! He is truly in a class by himself. Once you see him play, hear his tales and journeys (Jake is a great storyteller and there is a story behind every song), you will understand the magic of his performance and the swift manner in which he is rising to the top of the entertainment world. See him while you can still get tickets and at intimate venues. Turns out my nephew took lessons from Jake years ago in Honolulu. Had he stayed with it, Tate might have been on the stage, too!
What a incredibly gifted musician, story teller and performer. Jake's use of his ukulele shows what can be done with music. With just two octaves and four strings Jake shows what it is like to think beyond Tiny Tim and Don Ho. He does Tango, Classical Spanish guitar style, jazz, Van Halen-like rock tricks - this guy does it all and more. And then there is the really romantic quiet stuff, what with the ukulele making it sound islandish. Each song introduced with its story - making it quite intimate of a concert. Yep - definitely worth driving over 100 miles to see him for just the one day, and then have to drive back - in the rain both ways.
Jake's talent is unbelieveable as his fingers dance across the strings. If you close your eyes while he plays, you'd never guess all those sounds were coming from just one instrument, and that the instrument had only four strings. As always, he related to the audience very well. He typically tells the backstory behind each of his songs, which allows you to understand more of the nuances of the music. He is amazingly talented, humble, humorous and entertaining. I was worth the 4 hour drive.
Jake Shimabukuro is a truly inspiring artist and purely talented musician. Not only are his skills on the ukelele mind-boggling, but his music composition is incomparable. He's a wonderful storyteller through his words and his uke and you are moved by the incredible sounds created. His passion for his culture is evident while he prefaces his songs and it is rich and entertaining. His graciousness and warm personality are very much a part of his Hawaiian/Japanese culture and shines vibrantly through his music and words. Will support him throughout his career! The MC person that was presenting for the Japanese Friendship Gardens and introduced Jake was off her mark. She was pronouncing his name incorrectly and was having the crowd pronounce it INCORRECTLY with her in unison. It seemed cheap and unprofessional. However, Jake came out and used some high-brow humor... "Wow... just think... all these years, I've been pronouncing my name incorrectly." Brilliant.
This is first time to join Jake's concert. He is incredible.
Incredible performance, really fun concert, played for about two hours, the range was wow, I do not how he does it
I really wanted to see his concert for a long time! Finally I made it and it was so great! :-)
Awesome concert. He plays the ukulele in ways you would never imagine. He is a visionary and any who has a chance to experience his music in person is truly blessed with one of gods special talents.
What a pleasant surprise! Jake was so engaging and quite entertaining! My 84 year mother said that Jake's music sounded like it was coming from a piano. It was our first time watching Jake play his ukelele and we can't wait to see him play again!
Thoroughly enjoyed Jake's ukelele playing --- He's an incredibly talented artist, and a warm, sincere person. His stories between songs were humble and delightful. He shared many new songs that will be coming out on a future CD --- he was able to integrate his cultural heritage of Hawaii and Japanese roots in his new music. We LOVED the concert! The standing ovation certainly highlighted the fact that others also enjoyed his music.
I saw a youtube video of Jake four years ago, have wanted to see him since, was not disappointed. He played original tunes, a few cover songs, ranged in styles from flamenco to classical to rock to bluegrass...an amazingly talented young man! A must-see!
the benefit concert for the Japanese Friendship Garden was amazing!! The venue was great and the sound/accoustics were great as well. We have been to a couple of Jake Shimabukuro's concerts and always walk away so happy!! We took friends who had never seen him before and they were completely amazed at what he can do with just 4 strings!!!
It was a really, really wonderful concert. Truly amazing virtuoso.
It was truly an entertaining show! Jake is not only an extremely talented artist but also a charming storyteller: He shared with us stories behind each piece in his very charming and funny way, which enriched our listening experience of his music even more. I was already a fan, but after the concert I became a HUGE fan of Jake Shimabukuro.
Jake Shimabukuro put on a fabulous presentation complete with gentle, heart-grabbing thought pieces all the way to driving, firey flamenco extraveganzas with humility and passion. His introductions to his music and storytelling made for a unique and satisfying experience that oozed of the spirit of aloha. Mahalo!
Jake is a virtuoso ukulele artist whose compositions and technical mastery of the instrument push it to its limit. He is also a fine storyteller with an engaging personality.
We decided to go to Jake because we wanted to try a ukulele concert. We thought Hawaiian music and the standard 3 chords would be played. We hadn’t heard of Jake and thought he was a small entertainer. Jake surprised us by creating many different types of music on the ukulele. We were not disappointed. He was fabulous.
It is hard to begin to describe Jake's talent. Completely amazing just starts to scratch the surface. His performance was amazing and his stories and delivery were heartfelt. We loved every minute of it.
Jake is amazing to see live, it's the only way to appreciate just how fast his fingers are moving & see how he really connects to his instrument & his music. He presents his imagery & inspirations for his pieces before performing each which really helps understand what he is trying to express. He is incredibly talented & Balboa theatre was a great venue to see him up close. Can't wait to get his new album in January, he played several pieces I had never heard which was also very fun.
