American Federation of Musicians

"Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro of Local 47 (Los Angeles) feels like he will wake up, any minute now, only to find his whole music career was a dream. The Honolulu born musician has spent almost his entire life shattering misconceptions about the tiny four-stringer. He still can't believe his good fortune.

He's played big-name festivals like Bonnaroo and the Montreal Jazz Fest, toured and collaborated with banjo innovator Béla Fleck of Local 257 (Nashville,N), and recorded with cellist Yo-Yo Ma of Local 802 (New York City) . "I love the ukulele and I'm very passionate about it," says Shimabukuro. "I'm so lucky that I am able to do this, I can commit my whole life to it and not have to do anything else."
-AFM

Rochester City Newspaper

"No contest: last year's darling was Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, whose two sold-out shows left lines wrapped around the buildings he played. More than 1200 fans were reportedly turned away. He's back this year at a bigger venue, the Eastman Theatre, where the mesmerizing cascade of notes he emits with 10-fingered fury should sound utterly amazing.

This isn't hype. Though he is soft spoken and rather casual in appearance and approach, Shimabukuro's playing is fiery and elegant. We spoke briefly with this year's darling from a tour stop in Haley, Idaho."
- Frank De Blase

The Post and Courier

"Fine performances are a dime a dozen, and thank goodness for them. Rarely, though, does one experience an example of human ability and accomplishment so new, so full of wonder and beauty, that it becomes lodged in the mind in a way that alters one's outlook on the world.

When was the last time your were present at a concert where more than 2,000 people sat utterly silent and in awe? When was the last time a song caused your throat to contract and your eyes to well with tears? When was the last time you asked yourself, "But how is this possible?"
- Adam Parker

Charleston City Paper - Spoleto 2009

"Hawaiian-born ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro greeted his audience with "Aloha!" at the Cistern on Saturday night (May 30). He stood alone on the large stage, under the old moss-draped oaks, sans rhythm section or backing band, with only a microphone and a traditional ukulele in hand.

The lawn at the College of Charleston setting was completely filled with white folding chairs holding the largest Spoleto Jazz turnout that I've seen during my years of Spoleto coverage. They nearly ran out of seats. Dozens of extra onlookers lined the sidewalks on St. Philip and George streets, peering through the iron fence and listening in. Obviously, Shimabukuro's music appealed to an impressive cross-section of fans."
- T. Ballard Lesemann

The Presidio Sentinel

"Nope, he's not a household name here, but he should be. "This guy is a God on the ukulele," says one of Jake Shimabukuro's 18,375 MySpace "friends."   Jake Shimabukuro (she-ma-BOO-koo-row) has singlehandedly turned the oft-disrespected ukulele into an instrument we can now see is capable of competing with the finest four-string tenor guitars and giving a good run to a high end six-string as well."
- Richard Cone

CMT.com

"Ukulele may not have much to do with country music - but maybe it should. I would dare to say there are some very real similarities between the old-time music of Hawaii and that of the mainland. When I saw Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele master and Internet sensation (check out his arrangement of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"), perform Wednesday night (May 27) in Nashville, he showed off one of those similarities above all the rest. It was a welcome change of pace and a stirring performance that the Belcourt Theatre audience rewarded with two standing ovations".
-Chris Parton

Nashville Scene

"Never seen someone shred on the ukulele? Obviously you've missed the YouTube clip of Hawaiian uke-master Shimabukuro transforming the stately "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" into a fleet-fingered flamenco freakout. Before you write him off as the Yngwie Malmsteen of the plucked lute, however, give his Live album a listen: whether he's covering Bach or Michael Jackson's "Thriller," he plays with soul as well as speed. Don't miss opening act Sam Brooker and Ruby Amanfu, a.k.a. Sam & Ruby, whose chamber-folk pop is elevated by Amanfu's voluptuous vocals; watch soon for their Rykodisc debut. Tickets are $20 at the door."

Charleston Paper

"On his latest album, a compilation of concert tracks simply titled Live, he touches on everything from Bach (in D-minor, of course), to a jumpy cover of Michael Jackson's "Thriller," to a beautiful rearrangement of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Although it's compiled from several different shows, the album features an impressive continuity and fluidity - as if recorded all at once during one big concert."
-T. Ballard Lesemann

Arkansas Online

"People usually laugh if one admits liking the ukulele. OK, we get that. But Jake Shimabukuro is no Tiny Tim, he is a virtuoso musician who happens to play ukulele. When you hear the depth of feeling, tone and musicality Shimabukuro gets from the instrument, you'll get it."
- ELLIS WIDNER

Times Free Press.com

As one of the most respected talents on an unassuming instrument, Jake Shimabukuro said impressing people with his lightning-fast ukulele performances isn't as hard as it might seem.

"For me, the best part of playing the ukulele is that everyone has such low expectations of the music," Shimabukuro said during a phone interview from his home in Hawaii.
-Casey Phillips