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UkeToob Video and Interview
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Feature on North Country Public Radio
"The world’s best-known, and some say most talented, ukulele player will be making two stops in the region this weekend, just before heading back on the road with Jimmy Buffett. Joel Hurd has a preview."
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Democrat and Chronicle
"Shimabukuro also blew away any concern that the slight Hawaiian with the 22-inch four-string instrument could make an impact in the giant Eastman Theatre. But, no worries; every ting of his instrument reverberated beautifully through the hall. And during "Sakura Sakura," you could have heard a pin drop, let alone the sound of his masterfully played instrument."
- Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle
"Certainly, reaching the last row was less of a worry when he stepped onto the miniscule late-night stage at the State Street Bar and Grille at the Rochester Plaza Hotel to jam with Rochester's Bob Sneider and band last summer. Those who came to burn off a little midnight oil were treated to one of the best late-night jam sessions of recent memory."
- Anna Reguero
Baltimore Sun
Today, the ukulele means something much cooler and infinitely more versatile, thanks to the startling virtuosity, musical inquisitiveness and sheer charm of Jake Shimabukuro.
"The ukulele has a certain magic," he says. "It has such a unique sound. It can disarm people and make them feel at ease."
- Tim Smith
Democrat and Chronicle
"After selling 100,000 copies of his CD Gently Weeps and performing in front of crowds of up to 50,000, it's surprising that Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro would still feel nervous in front of a crowd. "You want to do the best show that you possibly can. The nervousness comes from that little bit of pressure you put on yourself ... which shows that you still care about what you do," Shimabukuro says. 'Every time I get a little nervous it makes me smile because I know that the music still means a lot to me.'"
- Jinelle Shengulette
Pottstown Mercury
"Forget "Guitar Hero." If Jake Shimabukuro keeps dazzling generations of younger fans with his instrument, they're going to have to make a game called "Ukulele Hero."
Shimabukuro is like the Jimi Hendrix of ukulele players. He's that good.
Known for his lightning-fast finger work and his ability to play diverse genres of music, from classic rock - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (he's a big Beatles fan) - to classical (he's shared the stage with Yo-Yo Ma), he often leaves firsttime listeners scratching their heads muttering, "I didn't know you could play that on the ukulele."
- Chirs Chameron
Pop Matters
"In theory, a ukulele virtuoso pounding out Angus Young-style solo versions of classical, pop, and jazz tunes seems a bit silly. In practice, however, well, it's still a bit silly, but that's part of Jake Shimabukuro's charm. And aside from silly, there are many other adjectives to describe the tremendous range-from drum-mimicking strumming to tender harp-like argeggios-and musical acrobatics that result from Shimabukuro wailing on a tiny four-stringed box that's barely the size of his forearm."
- Michael Kabran
The Washington Post
"If you think that's crazy to suggest, you haven't heard ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro's renditions of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" or my new personal favorite: Michael Jackson's "Thriller" on his new live album, "Live."
Not only do Shimabukuro's versions match the intricacies of the originals, but he also deepens the musical textures."
- Nancy Dunham
