by Rick Landers
Not only does Hawai’ian born ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro make his little four stringed axe gently weep, he can also make it sweep, soar, and shred. When in his grasp, his ukulele roams the halls of folk, jazz, flamenco, rock, funk, the blues, bluegrass and classical music. Along with his astonishing talent, Jake’s winning smile and generous personality has been recognized by the State of Hawai’i that has named him a Goodwill Ambassador for Hawai’ii.
Jake’s been a guest on the Conan O’Brien show, played the national anthem at Madison Square Garden, stirred ‘em up at the House of Blues and at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival. He’s played alongside such luminary musicians as Les Paul, Bela Fleck, Steve Lukather, Tommy Immanuel, Stanley Clarke, Chance, Stephen Bishop, Blues Traveler and John Hiatt.
Shimabukuro signed up with the Phillip Morris Agency, formed his own Hitchhike Record label, and recently became an Epic Records – Sony Music International artist.
Those who have been to a Jake Shimabukuro concert sit mesmerized by the young man’s mastery as he unravels the instrument’s reputation as a sleepy gentle wave maker to a complex cauldron with depth and range – beauty and beast. Jake’s tracks cover the full spectrum of beauty and the raw machinations of rock on his four CDs, and more virtuosity on his soon-to-be released (Sept. 19, 2006) Gently Weeps.
Guitar International sat with Jake at the home of his record label, Hitchhike Records, Kapahulua, Hawai’i. where we talked about his career, his playing, all while he held on to his Kamaka ukulele and played some warp speed “explanatory” riffs to better describe his musical intentions.
PHOTO: JSRocks (Courtesy Michael Bloom Media)
You seem to be attracting a lot of attention around the globe with your ukulele playing.
Jake Shimabukuro: We’ve played and toured in Japan, Guam, Saipan, Canada, and in the States. You know, it’s really amazing, especially in Guam. They have an amazing enthusiasm for the ukulele. They are very passionate about the instrument, a very profound interest. I actually went to a ukulele class. I didn’t know what to expect. There really is a lot of interest and enthusiasm.
It looks like it could be a tough instrument to learn.
JS: It’s really not a difficult instrument to pick up and learn on your own, especially to learn chords. It would be great to have a teacher, but I think it’s one of those instruments that you can pick up and learn right away. It’s not like a violin or trumpet where you really do need lessons.
I saw the video of you playing George Harrison’s “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and your ukulele playing offers a unique rendition.
JS: Thank you. One of the differences, I think, is that the ukulele has a very unique sound. Most stringed instruments voicings are different. It’s a very light sound. You don’t really have any bass sounds to play with and you’re dealing with only two octaves. With the banjo, you have lower notes, the lowest is D I think. With the ukulele you’re not dealing with a wide range of sounds. There are several types like the standard, a concert size, and the one I favor is the tenor. There’s also a size bigger called a baritone. The voicing is very similar to the guitar. A lot of the difference is how you approach the instrument and how you attack it. Some people use picks, but I prefer to use my fingers.
PHOTO: JSRLANDERS1LANDERS CREDIT
Like Mark Knopfler or Jeff Beck on the guitar?
JS: Yes, exactly. Jeff Beck can get so many different sounds just by using his fingers. I learned you can get great tone with a pick, but it’s very hard to change your tone. I use the fleshy part of my fingers and the narrow part to get various tones. I always use to use picks until I was in high school when I got rid of them. I used thumb picks and then I realized that my tone changed and it became more of my own sound, like my own audio fingerprint. Even when I strum chords, it sounds different. Jeff Beck’s playing is mind blowing. One of the great things about him is you can put him in any combination of music and he’ll just make it work. He’s incredible.
When did you learn to play?
JS: I first learned when I was about four years old. I’d strum chords and sing songs. Those were my earliest memories. It wasn’t until I was seven that I was taught to play.
PHOTO: KAMAKASIGNATUREMODEL
Are you a Kamaka endorsee?
JS: Yes. I’ve played a lot of different ukuleles and the Kamaka has the sound I like. This ukulele is a new one made by Kamaka. It’s Brazilian rosewood with Koa binding and abalone inlay and a mahogany neck. He put this one together and asked me what I thought of it. It’s a very punchy instrument. There’s another that I use when I record, but that’s in the shop right now.
I understand your family has some musical talent.
JS: Yeah. My dad played a little guitar and my mom plays the ukulele and gave me my first lesson. She’s a great singer too. My dad sings and my little brother who’s five years younger than me plays the ukulele. My whole family loves music. So, it’s a big part of my family. So, I’m pursuing a family passion. I’ve always like traditional Hawai’ian music and dabble a bit with different tunes. I started playing in my high school’s marching band. I played a snare drum and loved the rhythms. I’ve always liked to keep my mind open to different sounds. The drum sounds we played I tried to apply to the ukulele. I also realized that several instruments that I liked, like the guitar and violin, had the same notes and I tried mimicking the different sounds and techniques.
Do you try to replicate different songs for the ukulele?
JS: You know it’s impossible to do some of the songs exactly the same, but I was inspired or motivated to come up with different techniques or different ways of doing things, so I could create the sounds that I liked and enjoyed. I remember hearing Carlos Montoya playing some crazy flamenco guitar! I’ve worked on getting that kind of sound out of the ukulele. That really led me to the style that I play now.
The double-picking I use is like the guitar. And as I got deeper into it, I’d listen to a lot of horn players. When I heard their breathing or phrasing, I thought, “Wow!” So, I became very aware of my breathing when I played and I’d play until I ran out of breathe and I’d have to stop playing, so I had to get that concept down. It really helped me a lot to make me more conversational during my solos. And like a piano player, how they let notes taper off, the way they use their fingers to get tone from a note by rolling of the key. I try to do things like that with the strings. They way the string vibrates, it’s completely different. I get so obsessed or I’d watch other players’ amazing technique, watch what they’re doing and see if I could apply it to the ukulele.
PHOTO: JSWALKINGCD COVER
Over and over until you got it right?
JS: Yeah. I just kept working at it. When you try for the first time, you can tell whether it’s going to be possible or not!
What about building speed?
JS: I found that I was always bending my elbow. But, when I would drum I’d only use my wrist, so when I started adapting that motion to the ukulele it worked. It was really weird at first, but then after a while it just came natural. It also helped keeping my fingers next to the strings. So it all just came together. [Jake rhythmically slaps his uke and does a rapid fire “Miserlou”.] I also worked on my proper guitar picking. I usually play with my thumb and three fingers. Sometimes I’ll use a fourth, but not very often.
When did you begin performing professionally?
JS: I didn’t start performing until maybe 5 or 6 years ago. This is all pretty new. I think it was in 1998, when I was 21 years old. I don’t know where all the time went! [Laughs]
I’m from this area (Waikiki, Hawai’i), so I’d just go up the street to a small coffee shop and play every Friday night. A few people would show up and then they’d come backs, sometimes with friends. One day I was asked to play a wedding! That was a big deal for me.
PHOTO: JSRLANDERS2 (RLANDERS CREDIT)
Have you toured a lot?
JS: We’ve toured the States and Japan several times.. My record label is based in Japan. It’s been really nice going there. I’m an official goodwill ambassador for Hawai’i, so when I go to Japan and other places I’m also a spokesperson to help tourism to Hawai’i.
Let’s see. I’ve been to Japan, Guam, Saipan, Europe, the Midwest and Canada, Nebraska. Places I never thought I’d be playing ukulele. Indianapolis where I think some people look at me like wondering if I’m Chinese or Japanese? [Laughs] And Nashville, the kind of places I’ve always wanted to go. Also some places on the west coast and there are a lot of Hawai’ian communities there, so that’s kind of nice to have that kind of support.
I was born and raised in Hawai’i and you hear Hawai’ian music all over the place from the time you’re a baby or toddler. It’s really one of the unique things and it’s got a certain kind of groove to it. Just like playing reggae, that certain groove. Like reggae drummers, the way they play is incredible. Really amazing. So, it’s one of the things that I’m glad that I was born and raised there. I’m glad to have that background.
Do you talk about the history of the ukulele during shows?
PHOTO: DRAGONCD COVER
JS: No, I usually just play. I have taught seminars and in those I’ll go into the ukulele’s background. It’s from Portugal originally.
What other instruments do you play?
JS: The ukulele is pretty much the only thing I play. With guitar I mostly play rhythm and strum. With the ukulele I do use some effects like wah, reverb, and fuzz tone. One the Dragon CD I had a guitar player on one song play electric guitar. It turned out okay and I played acoustic.
You’ve been known the throw yourself into the audience. What can audiences expect at a Jake Shimabukuro show?
JS: Yeah! I just like to have fun. I’ve jumped off the stage a few times in Japan. I have a trio and a five piece band and I also do a solo. All three are completely different. The five piece is more heavy rock, harder. With the solo shows I have more variety and I’ll do some covers and play them my own way, ukulele style. But, it’s all about having fun for me and sometimes I like to surprise and do something crazy.
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