Slack Key and Ukulele

Thank you, Eleanor, for the tip about the legacy of Gabby Pahinui, the master of slack key and Hawaiian music.  Here's a link to "Let's Play Music! Slack Key with Cyril Pahinui & Friends".  Keep a look-out for Peter Moon, Jr. and his ukulele.

As the blurb says: "Through his mastery of 'ukulele, slack key, or guitar, this virtuoso continues to influence generations of musicians who fondly reminisce of many impromptu backyard jam sessions at the Pahinui home."

George Harrison and Ukuleles

The late George Harrison loved ukuleles and shared his joy with many others.  Here is a link to a site that wonderfully conveys George's love of the instrument.

http://www.openculture.com/2014/08/george-harrison-explains-why-everyone-should-play-the-ukulele-with-words-and-music.html.  You may have to "cut and paste" this link to your browser in order to see it.

The site includes that letter from George explaining "why everyone should have and play a 'uke'";  a video of George playing uke in a band; a video of Ringo and Paul and George just playing around; and then when you come to the end of the page there's a home video by George of him playing one of his beautiful ukuleles as he whistles a tune. The last few seconds of that video I thought were inspiring - terminally ill but George still plays his ukulele with joy and without sadness.  A remarkable man, uke or no uke.

"Pineapple Mango" as played by UU'ers at Tommy's Park

Thanks to a friend in the audience, here is a video of Chris Day of Buckdancer's Choice, Terry, Eleanor, and I playing "Pineapple Mango" Saturday morning, June 21, at Tommy's Park as part of the international Make Music Day.  Chris skillfully and beautifully handled the melody, while Terry, Eleanor, and I managed the strumming background.

Make Music Day June 21, 2014

UU'ers Terry, Eleanor, and I joined Chris Day of Buckdancer's Choice at Tommy's Park this morning to play "Pineapple Mango" as part of the international Make Music Day.

The Four Strings Foundation

Here's a description of Jake Shimabukuro's Four Strings Foundation.

The NEA and Jake Shimabukuro

As I've been researching Jake Shimabukuro's Four Strings Foundation for funding and curricula-planning ideas, I came across this article posted by the NEA in 2013 about its interview with Mr. Shimabukuro.  As usual, it's a great interview; and he says some great things about playing the ukulele.

The New York Times on Ukuleles

Aloha, everyone.

This morning I came across this 2011 New York Times article about the growing community of ukulele players.  New York Times  You might find it interesting.  I did.

Portland, Maine Site of First Public Performance of Hawaiian Music in 1838

According to the award-winning book "The 'Ukulele, A History" published by the University of Hawai'i Press in 2012,  "As James Revell Carr points out, this [the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893] wasn't the first commercial or public performance of Hawaiian music on the mainland:  Four Native Hawaiian sailors gave a concert 'in the native Sandwich Island language' in Portland, Maine, in 1838." [pages 55-56].

I know, I know.  Who knew?

Heidi Swedberg on playing the ukulele

I have a uke hero, Heidi Swedberg.  She played the character of Susan Ross on Seinfeld as George Costanza’s doomed fiancé.  I didn’t know that; and, in fact, never heard of Heidi until I read about her in an interview in the Spring 2014 issue of Ukulele Magazine.  She’s an amazing person, but what most interested me in the interview was her views on playing the ukulele.  From that interview:

     “ ‘Here’s the thing, this is what I really believe in,’ she continues.  ‘I think it’s far more important to make music than to be good at making it.‘  [LDU: What a great philosophy.  And she teaches uke!] . . . “

     “. . . ‘What I want more than anything,’ she says, ‘is to encourage others to play, to sing, to make music, to have music in their own lives, as a vital part of their lives.  And you don’t have to be good for it to be vital.  I stand for making music no matter how bad you suck.’ 

     “She laughs again, then bangs on the table, emphasizing every other word with its own bang.

     “ ‘I think!’  Bang!  ‘You totally!’  Bang!  ‘Have to!’  Bang!  ‘Get over!’  Bang!  ‘Your fear!’  Bang!  ‘Of!’  Bang!  ‘Sucking!’ [LDU:  Well, that’s certainly dramatic; but you get the point.]”

     

The Range of the Ukulele

There are still those - not including we, of course - who when they think of the ukulele think only of Tiny Tim.  That's fine; but as you all know, there is much more to the ukulele.  If you weren't already aware of the range of the ukulele,  I thought I might let you know of at least three albums that represent much of the range of our ukuleles.

Legends of the Ukulele is a wonderful introduction to the power of the ukulele.  Most of the early masters of the ukulele appear on this album, which is available on iTunes.  One of my favorites is "Song for Anna" by the great Herb Ohta - a/k/a "Ohta-San" - having nothing to do with the fact that Anna is my favorite (and only) daughter.

And then there are all of Jake Shimabukuro's albums.  He's in a class by himself.  How fortunate were several of us who saw and heard him recently at the State Theater.  The hope is that he'll be back to perform with the Portland Symphony Orchestra because he became friends with Maestro Robert Moody during that visit.  You can follow Mr. Shimabukuro on FaceBook, as does fellow UU'er Terry Allen, who is now privileged to refer to Mr. Shimabukuro as "Jake".  We should all be so fortunate. 

And now stretch your ears and vision to Eddie Vedder (he of Pearl Jam) and his album Ukulele Songs.  Simply beautiful!  Also on iTunes.

Elvis Costello, long an aficionado of the ukulele,  is on currently on tour with his ukulele and guitars.  

I'll close with the comfort of understanding that one of George Harrison's most favorite instruments was - yes, you guessed it - the ukulele.

Onward!

"My Little Life" by  Korby Lenker on YouTube

You might get a smile from watching this YouTube video.  I found it in Ukulele Magazine which reports:

"It’s the perfect metaphor for ukulele living. Even before the March 25 re- lease of Korby Lenker’s eponymous CD, the sixth album on his own Stuffed Piranha Records, the single “My Little Life” had made a big splash. This catchy ode to simple living—the result of a successful Kick- Starter campaign and replete with a fun-loving video that features guest appearances by some of Nashville’s finest—had already earned the Nash- ville singer-songwriter top songwriting honors at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 2012. Watch the video on YouTube and learn more at korbylenker.com." 

TEE SHIRTS ARE HERE!

The Urban Ukulele tees have been created, and I'll be picking them up tomorrow.  For those of you who have already ordered a tee, I'll have them for you at the beginning of our next gathering on Wednesday, the 30th.  You may recall that the cost is a ridiculously low $11.

Aloha, Urban Ukuleles!

Aloha!

Here it is - our very own Urban Ukuleles blog!

With the help of fellow UU'er Darcy and others, I'm getting this site up and running.  My hope is to be able to add materials to this site so you'll have everything in one place - video and audio clips, links to helpful websites, notices of our upcoming gatherings and other events, comments by UU'ers, our past What Nows? [the Archive page stores that information, and the What Now? page contains the current plan for what will be accomplishing during our upcoming gathering], and whatever else we think we might want to have here.

We can all add comments to this blog, and I encourage you to do so.  Working together, we can make this site the most helpful source of information for Urban Ukuleles.

Mahalo,
Ukule'Lee (me, Lee)