Sixth Annual Ukulele Drop

Tonight's the night. The Sixth Annual Ukulele Drop hosted by Sonic Uke in Brooklyn, NY. Link

Merry Xmas From Jake

Jake Shimabukuro has posted an Christmas greeting on his site. He mentions that a songbook and instructional DVD are in the works for 2010. (And I wonder: if he does a Christmas album, would it be called Jake and the Fat Man?) Link

Merry Christmas!

Link

'Tongan King of Ukulele', Sione Aleki

This sad news from Gemma of the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra: "I thought you might be interested to know the sad news that the 'Tongan King of Ukulele', Sione Aleki, just passed away this week - collapsed and died whilst performing on stage in Tonga.
Story

Here he is performing all his tricks!


He was an incredible man, not very widely known in international uke circles simply because he lived in Tonga and not Hawaii or a more populated place... Only a fortnight ago, I was interviewing him on a sunny Auckland day about his life of ukulele playing (for a documentary to be screened here next year). He could play every style from every Pacific island and while he had a delicate touch, what really got the kids excited at the annual NZ Ukulele Festival was the way he'd roll over and over on the floor playing his uke behind his head, or with his foot, or his teeth, or pretty much any part of his body he could think of, with a permanent smile on his face, and all whilst being mostly blind.

Here he is performing all his tricks!
I thought you might be interested to know the sad news that the 'Tongan King of Ukulele', Sione Aleki, just passed away this week - collapsed and died whilst performing on stage in Tonga.
Here he is!

He was an incredible man, not very widely known in international uke circles simply because he lived in Tonga and not Hawaii or a more populated place... Only a fortnight ago, I was interviewing him on a sunny Auckland day about his life of ukulele playing (for a documentary to be screened here next year). He could play every style from every Pacific island and while he had a delicate touch, what really got the kids excited at the annual NZ Ukulele Festival was the way he'd roll over and over on the floor playing his uke behind his head, or with his foot, or his teeth, or pretty much any part of his body he could think of, with a permanent smile on his face, and all whilst being mostly blind.



And when that wasn't enough, he'd play the saw:
more more more

Tappy Recoving from Broken Hip

Just learned that Uncle Bill Tapia fell and broke his hip a few days ago. A quick operation, everything pinned back together, and he's mending in a rehab center.

Let's all send early birthday wishes for a speedy recovery to Bill, who will be a mere 102 on New Year's Day. Link

Uke-Genics?

Okay, so much for the conceit that only nice people play the ukulele. Here's a story about Shinichi Tekehara, mayor of Akune (Japan) who is blaming modern medicine for failing to "prune" the weak from society. Charming fellow. Link

Abe Lagrimas, Jr.

Nice profile of drummer and ukulelist, Abe Lagrimas, Jr. Link

Palmer on ukulele

I'm for this. Good song. Good lyrics.

Bette Midler with Jake Shimabukuro - In My Life

Here 'tis: Jake and the Divine Miss M at the Royal Variety Performance. I like that the stage seems to be a giant conceptual ukulele. Link

Ukulele Robot Tattoo

Not as swell as Robot Johnson, but pretty close. Link

Van Gogh Ukulele

Jon Pak has a gorgeous new ukulele hand-painted by Moogly Moo in England. It's a "Van Gogh" ukulele, and to christen it, he has a gorgeous new song/video "Starry Night" (a Don McLean cover)

Even More Playing the Ukulele While Juggling

Yes, even more. David Cain sings, plays, and juggles while creating a tune.

Playing Ukulele While Juggling

Zaza gave us a tip to search for these guys. One-upping the Maestrosities (see below), these guys plunk out a tune while juggling 6 ukes. (For you more serious-minded uke aficionados, cf Samuel Johnson's quip about a dog's walking on its hinder legs: "It is not done well; but you are surprized to find it done at all.")

A Rare Fitting

Q: What is the second most frequently asked question* in the English language?

A: What is the ukulele player going to wear when s/he performs for the Queen of England?

Jake Shimabukuro ponders the question here. And don't miss the video of him giving the new jacket a test run in the fitting room here.

* As everyone know, the most frequently asked question in the English language is "Is that the banjo player's Porsche?"

Ukulele Lad is Internet Hit

I have tried to avoid blogging this video, but I now compelled to say that if this ends up getting more hits than Jake's Central Park While My Guitar Gently Weeps video, I'm just gonna give up.

Truth be told. This keiki's version of Jason Mraz's I'm Yours doesn't really showcase his talent. Watch him get his full Shimabukuro on this video of Gently Weeps.

If more ukes end up under the Christmas tree this year, I think we can all thank this little guy.

Link

Shelley Rickey

Been a while since we checked in with Shelley Rickey. Go check out her blog now! Lots of new ukulele art, desktops, even a uke-themed Sweet'n Low package she found. Link

Maestrosities Juggle Ukes

Check out this video of The Coolest Band Ever, The Maestrosities. See if your heart stops about 1:50 mark when they juggle and pass 6 ukuleles. Mine did. Then I realized they're prolly not vintage Martins.

The Maestrosities also have some upcoming NY shows. More info here.

UPDATE: Jason from Sonic Uke sez "it's only two but we play them too." At least they didn't drop the towel.

Ukulelia Holiday Songbook - 2009 Edition

Here it is at last. The Motherlode. The Big One. Enough Christmas Carols, Hanukkah Songs, and miscellaneous holiday ukulele music to choke a reindeer. Chords, lyrics, chord arrangements, solo fingerpicking, you name it. We hope you enjoy playing and sharing your uke with friends and family this holiday season.

A big addition this year is Dominator's two-video tutorial on how to play Aldine Guerrero's arrangement of The Christmas Song. An easier (but still plenty challenging) arrangement of this old Chestnut is Narciso Lobo's (download it here).

And please, if you know of any sites or charts that we've overlooked (or discover a broken link), leave a comment via the link below and we'll add them to the list.

The Ukulelia Holiday Songbook

Lights! Camera! Phredd!

Yeah, Yeah, I know...not normally the kind of music I come across in Ukuleletown. But this guy has an infectious style that gets across to kids. Yeah, there are a few kids in Ukuleletown. Free-range kids that like what they like and listen to what they listen to.

Listen to Phredd.

Phredd Central

Jake Meets the Queen

Jake Shimabukuro and Bette Midler meet the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance yesterday. The performance will be broadcast on December 16th, so I'm expecting someone from across the pond to post a clip of Jake and Bette's performance (please!).

The Belt Loop

Sweet Soubrette is one of 50 artists/bands in the first week of Microsoft’s new Playlist Seven music promo program. If my track "Tears That I've Cried" (from the Siren Song album) is one of this week's top 7 free downloads, Sweet Soubrette will win promotion and a cash prize (toward the new record!). The free track is available through Dec 7 here: http://tinyurl.com/sweet-tears

Caveat: to download/vote for the track, you need to "friend" Microsoft, at least temporarily.

Fun fact about "Tears That I've Cried": the percussion loop is actually producer Tim Cohan's belt buckle. We call it the belt loop.

Sweet Soubrette Website

Behold, the Ukeyola!

I read in an article today about Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer's instrument collection; specifically, that they own a Bob McCluskie Ukeyola. (One of only two in the world!)

It's a viola scale and bodied ukulele made by renowned violin maker Robert McCluskie, senior luthier at the Potter Violin Company. It reminds me of the fretless ukulele that my friend Tuba made out of violin back in our Ringling days.

Check out Cathy and Marcy's other instruments, too, including a sweet Talsma ukulele modeled after the Martin MC3H Marcy Marxer Signature Model Guitar.

Link

Ticket to Pluck

Don't forget Roger and Dave's Beatles on ukulele marathon benefit for Yoko Ono (whew!) this Sunday, December 6, 2009 at the Brooklyn (NY) Bowl. Nice profile yesterday on A.V. Club.

Pohaku Ukuleles

Peter Hurney is the luthier behind Pohaku Ukulele in Berkeley, California. I have three of his instruments and they have a sound that is as unique as they are. His workshop is a separate building behind his house and it’s there he produces some of the most unusual and musical ukuleles on the scene today.

What I like first about Peter’s work is that it is superior craftsmanship. His woodworking skills are amazing…and they have been honed through many other projects other that just instrument production. On his website under “Other Stuff” you can see some of the beautiful and fanciful creations he has built.

So, what do Peter’s ukuleles sound like, and why would you want one? The sound of a Pohaku, to my ears, is very clear and precise. I have one in koa and one in mahogany, and, although they both have their own unique sound, they have an identifiable quality that they share: they aren’t muddy and have a good snap. For recording, especially, this is a marvelous quality.

Beyond the sound is the appearance of a Pohaku ukulele. Noted ukulele players like Bliss Blood, Ami Worthen, Tippy Canoe, Uni and her Ukulele, Kitten on the Keys, etc…all use Pohakus on stage. They look great and survive the rigors of performance. Peter has an entire section on his website of “art ukuleles”; ukuleles that are “themed” or have some special artistic merit.

Pohaku prices are very reasonable for a good performance instrument; i.e. an instrument that stays in tune, intonates properly and sounds great night after night. Peter Hurney, himself, is very easy to work with and has a great sense of humor.

Pohaku Ukulele Website

Here’s a video of me playing a custom koa Pohaku concert ukulele.

Victoria Vox on Leno Tonight!

Ukulele diva Victoria Vox will be on Jay Leno's show tonight (Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 10pm ET). Oddly enough, not to play the ukulele, but to play her Mouth Trumpet. Truly. Let's hope Victoria gets asked to come back and bring her uke. Go, girl! Link

Ukulele: The New Definition

The harbinger of Post-Consumerism? Yeah, baby. Link

Bob Dylan and Tiny Tim

Your daily dose of Ukulele Zen: Bob Dylan and Tiny Tim, hanging out, sharing french fries. Seriously. Read the article at the Link

Dateline: Orangeville

Nice little profile today on Heather Katz and Michael Griffin, ukesters and owner of Broadway Music in Orangeville, Ontario. Link