Who should I listen to?

Mopey · Oct 5, 2009

Since starting the uke a few years ago I have been on quite the musical journey and am a lot more informed about musical history than I was before.

In terms of Uke players and Uke bands I have listened to most of the obvious ones – Jake and James, Herb Ohta , Lyle Ritz, Roy Smeck, Beirut, Ukulele Ike etc

Now I seem to have come to a dead end and wonder if I can get some suggestions to get me inspired again.

What uke players would you recommend I listen to? I feel like I am probably missing out some of the current big name uke players that I just haven’t heard of yet. Also are there Uke bands out there playing contemporary music aside from Beirut?

My tastes are pretty wide ranging so I will consider any genre.

Thanks.

lespaul_79 · Oct 5, 2009

I ended up with a random MP3 by this guy called Coming Home Baby. It's in Em and kinda like Chitlons Con Carne. I play it with my buds now. Really cool and you can feel how he is grooving on that song. I need to get more.

Here's his myspace.
http://www.myspace.com/dansawyersoybean

Mopey · Oct 5, 2009

lespaul_79 said:
I ended up with a random MP3 by this guy called Coming Home Baby. It's in Em and kinda like Chitlons Con Carne. I play it with my buds now. Really cool and you can feel how he is grooving on that song. I need to get more.

Here's his myspace.
http://www.myspace.com/dansawyersoybean

Thanks, I will check that out tonight.

UKISOCIETY · Oct 5, 2009

Mopey said:
Since starting the uke a few years ago I have been on quite the musical journey and am a lot more informed about musical history than I was before.

In terms of Uke players and Uke bands I have listened to most of the obvious ones – Jake and James, Herb Ohta , Lyle Ritz, Roy Smeck, Beirut, Ukulele Ike etc

Now I seem to have come to a dead end and wonder if I can get some suggestions to get me inspired again.

What uke players would you recommend I listen to? I feel like I am probably missing out some of the current big name uke players that I just haven’t heard of yet. Also are there Uke bands out there playing contemporary music aside from Beirut?

My tastes are pretty wide ranging so I will consider any genre.

Thanks.

There are a few UU members I would recommend you listen to, if you haven't already. Here's a list with a great variety of styles. But they're all must-hears!

Ken Middleton
BaronK69
Doogey9
GUGUG
unclejeff64
seeso
russbuss415
thedirtyjohnson

All are different, all make the ukulele their own.

(edit- I don't know if GUGUG is a UU member. He should be, if not!)

Mopey · Oct 5, 2009

UKISOCIETY said:
There are a few UU members I would recommend you listen to, if you haven't already. Here's a list with a great variety of styles. But they're all must-hears!

Ken Middleton
BaronK69
Doogey9
GUGUG
unclejeff64
seeso
russbuss415
thedirtyjohnson

All are different, all make the ukulele their own.

(edit- I don't know if GUGUG is a UU member. He should be, if not!)

I have seen the Ken Middleton and GUGUG videos, they are both very good. I will check out the rest.

Ukulele Dude · Oct 5, 2009

I would recommend Jesse Kalima's album, 'Jess Uke'. Good stuff from one of the early Tenor players.

fromthee2me · Oct 5, 2009

Gerald Ross ? I have 4 of his CD's and the variety/genres are nicely mixed.

www.geraldross.com if you want to check it out?

Ken Middleton · Oct 5, 2009

Don't forget to listen to UKISOCIETY as well.

hoosierhiver · Oct 5, 2009

Saw these guys in Milwaukee. Great stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vakyhsvtt1M

hoosierhiver · Oct 5, 2009

....and this guy is my underdog favorite.

He really works those Harmonys (vocals and a Harmony uke)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc6UV_W-8Mw

Brad Bordessa · Oct 5, 2009

You say "etc", but here are some names not on your list.

Eddie Kamae
Don Baduria
You said Herb Ohta, so I'm assuming that you mean Jr. - listen to his dad: Ohta-san. If you meant Ohta-san, listen to his son (Herb Ohta Jr.)
Brittni Paiva
Byron Yasui
Benny Chong
David Kamakahi
Victoria Vox
Kimo Hussey
Abe Lagrimas Jr.

At a certain point the 'ukulele stops being a well explored instrument. Thus, we have to listen to other instruments to get ideas. Guitar is the first on the list. Here are some of the best:

Eric Johnson
Carlos Santana
Andy Summers (police)
Eric Clapton
BB King
Ledward Kaapana
Roland Cazimero

That should get you a ways down the road.

haolejohn · Oct 5, 2009

Mopey said:
Since starting the uke a few years ago I have been on quite the musical journey and am a lot more informed about musical history than I was before.

In terms of Uke players and Uke bands I have listened to most of the obvious ones – Jake and James, Herb Ohta , Lyle Ritz, Roy Smeck, Beirut, Ukulele Ike etc

Now I seem to have come to a dead end and wonder if I can get some suggestions to get me inspired again.

What uke players would you recommend I listen to? I feel like I am probably missing out some of the current big name uke players that I just haven’t heard of yet. Also are there Uke bands out there playing contemporary music aside from Beirut?

My tastes are pretty wide ranging so I will consider any genre.

Thanks.

You don't mention aldrine. I was going to recommend some UUers but ukisociety beat me to that but DeG is another great UUer.

Matt Clara · Oct 5, 2009

As I've listened to the different ukers out there I've found I really like classical music performed on the uke (and pretty much nowhere else!). Check out Gerald Ross.

lespaul_79 · Oct 5, 2009

hoosierhiver said:
Saw these guys in Milwaukee. Great stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vakyhsvtt1M

This is the Boulder Acoustic Society. One of my fav bands in the Boulder/Front Range area.

Mopey · Oct 5, 2009

Thanks for all the replies. Some names I am familiar with but lots of new ones. Looking forward to checking them all out.

Just started with the Pyles song on YouTube. That's great. One of the things I like most is to see people turning the ukulele to original material.

WhenDogsSing · Oct 5, 2009

UKISOCIETY said:
There are a few UU members I would recommend you listen to, if you haven't already. Here's a list with a great variety of styles. But they're all must-hears!

Ken Middleton
BaronK69
Doogey9
GUGUG
unclejeff64
seeso
russbuss415
thedirtyjohnson

All are different, all make the ukulele their own.

(edit- I don't know if GUGUG is a UU member. He should be, if not!)

I'll add UKISOCIETY to the list...

DeG · Oct 5, 2009

These UUers also have either CDs or MP3s available for download:

Howlin' Hobbit
WS64
Craig Brandeau
Cali Rose
Craig Robertson
Ukulele Jim

Also, non-UUers but still awesome are:
Troy Fernandez
Tamaine Gardner

hoosierhiver · Oct 5, 2009

Can't forget Jon Keone Pak.
http://www.youtube.com/user/keonepax

Christie · Oct 5, 2009

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Wellington International Uke Orchestra
John King

Kanaka916 · Oct 6, 2009

Gotta check out these two guys on YT; Jason Arimoto and guting, nuff said! You should also check out some of the Japanese players, you'll be surprised at the caliber of their playing. Oh I forgot, Ryan Imamura, check out his cover of Bandito Tyler . . . the kid rocks.

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