Saw Jake last night............HOLY WOW

[sam13]

Wow what a great idea, I am very envious, that looks so awesome. This is wonderful.............gives me one more reason to buy another ukulele and a spruce top seems to be the perfect canvas for all those autographs. Hello UAS!!!!!!!

Dude.

You don't need another reason to buy a Uke. UAS alone is sufficient. Lol

 

[Olarte]

I also bring a couple of 5x7 or 8x10 photos usually from their site. Artists usually make a positive comment about it. And have always signed.

Here is a layout i just put up from one of my favorites Diana Krall she deserves the space in my wall even if she does not play Uke. Although they did have a Uke player in a couple of songs.

 

[Andy Chen]

Jake needs to get his talented butt over to Singapore for a show.

 

[sam13]

Jake needs to get his talented butt over to Singapore for a show.

Contact his office ... I am sure he would set one up as he tours through Asia ... perhaps enroute when he is off to Australia.

 

[sam13]

Hey Sukie, he did Dragon with the looper. Another member "sam13" my uke buddie in crime was there last night and all he is talking about this morning is getting amps, effect pedals etc. after seeing Jake do that.

Brenda@ it was great to meet you and your husband as well. Now you know how much fun we have at the Corktown Uke Jam every week. It is worth the drive on Wednesday night, even in these freezing cold temperatures

I was at the show with DuD on Wednesday night ... and lined up to meet Jake afterwards.

Wow is an understatement.

All the seats were excellent in the theatre as the Flato Theatre in Markham, ON might hold 500 people but I lucked out with front row seats which was awesome for a 6'5" guy.

As everyone can attest his playing ability through his hour after hour, year after year practising is tremendously impressive. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed watching his "U-ku-le-le" fingers flying across the fretboard.

As with all videos I see him play, he is so joyful ... I told him a goal of mine is to travel to Hawaii hit all the stops (HMS, Pono, Kanile'a factory tours etc) and see him play at the Ukulele fest with Bruce his brother ... if you haven't seen them play together ... check it out on YouTube ... Joyful.

I was trying to take in every moment and absorb his skill, barring/fretting ... and yes, now I have to get electronics ... I buy most of my Ukes with some kind of pick up. After that Dragon song I now need those toys! LOL.

If I had realized he was playing last night on the other side of Toronto, I would have gone to that one too.

If you get a chance, it is so worth while to pay the price.

Mahalo, my Ukester friends.

 

[Red_Label]

I took my wife and daughter (also a uke "dabbler" like me) to see Jake here in Billings, MT last night. I've detailed my reaction in another thread (my first post on this site) already... but just to add that I feel as though last night's show was a life-changer for me. I've been a fan of his and had several of his CDs for years. I'm a 30+ year guitar player who's played nearly every style (classical, flamenco, jazz, bluegrass, rock, country, etc) and I've played with world class artists before. When I walked into the venue and saw only a stool (which Jake never sat on) and a mic on stage, I was thinking to myself "oh boy... I'll be surprised if he doesn't lose me after a while". I wanted to see him play with a backing band and just didn't see how a guy playing solo uke all night was going to keep me entertained.

But having now witnessed the juggernaut that is Jake Shimabukuro... I'm SO glad that we were treated to an intimate evening of just Jake. What an uplifting, special experience. The guy laid it all out there and entertained the crap out of us all. The audience gave him a standing ovation and loud cheers throughout the performance. After having seen some of the best musicians perform in my lifetime, I have to say that Jake is as top-tier as any of them. I told my daughter on the way out of the venue "remember this night... you've seen a world class musician here and will likely see very few of his caliber in your lifetime". The ukelele may be a "quaint little toy" to many musicians on this planet... but I don't know how ANYONE could see Jake perform live and not leave anything but a stunned, rabid fan of the man and the instrument. I'm not easily impressed or won-over... but I'll be a huge fan for the rest of my life. All three of us felt very inspired and my daughter and I will surely take the instrument more seriously after having experienced Mr. Shimabukuro. There could not be a more impressive ambassador for the instrument than he is.

BTW... in case I wasn't clear enough... if you haven't seen Jake live... you owe it to yourself to do so. Listening to him on CDs and watching him YouTube does not even begin to do his performance justice. His use of dynamics is such that it cannot be truly conveyed via anything other than taking it all in live. It truly was an amazing experience and I'll never forget it.

 

[BigSkyUkuleleGirl]

Hi Red, I replied in the other thread t wondered, did he do a meet and greet after the show? I was thinking of having him sign my songbooks.

 

[Red_Label]

Hi Red, I replied in the other thread t wondered, did he do a meet and greet after the show? I was thinking of having him sign my songbooks.

I believe that he did. He mentioned about people being able to meet him after the show. I had to leave to take my daughter home so she could get up for school in the AM. I don't usually do meet & greets, but the wife and I both regret that we weren't able to meet him afterwards. I'm still a bit dazed since the show. If you know anyone who's on the fence about going to the show tonight... tell them that a newly-created rabid fan from Billings says "DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!!!". Jake mentioned that this was his first time in Montana. Let's hope it's not his last!!! We didn't fill the 750-seat venue (probably about half that), but those of us who were there sure let him know how much we appreciated him! Had it known that it was going to be such an awesome show, I would have been pleading and begging any of my musician friends to go. They'll never truly know what they missed last night.

Btw... if you do have a moment with him... mention that a rabid convert from Billings is shouting his name from the rooftops today and that we really appreciated him here in Billings! I just broke my self-imposed moratorium on Facebook (since August) to post on his FB page!

 

[peanuts56]

Jake has done a meet and greet after every show I have been to. Depending on the venue's policies he will usually pose for pictures.
We saw him in North Hampton Mass. a few years back and the theater was not allowing pictures. Some goon was standing there telling people who were asking for pictures that no pictures were allowed. Two women asked for a photo and the theater goon was rather rude. He turned away to talk to someone, Jake leaned over the table and said that he would be happy to meet them outside for a picture after the meet and greet. They said they had a long drive home, thanked him and left. What a great guy!!!!
Red Label is right about Jake being a world class musician. I've played with a few world class jazz artists when I was gigging regularly on trumpet. Jake is as world class as anyone I have ever heard. He's an even nicer guy!

 

[Brenda Wong]

Hi Red, I replied in the other thread t wondered, did he do a meet and greet after the show? I was thinking of having him sign my songbooks.

He did a meet and greet at the Canadian show last week. My friend's 12 years old son took a picture with him. He also signed everyone ukulele regardless of the brand. I must remember to bring mine for autograph next year.

 

[BigSkyUkuleleGirl]

Well, Jake in Missoula was fantastic as to be expeceted. He played to about 400 people and his energy filled the house. He played mostly old stuff. I've seen him three times now and was wanting him to do some of his Grand Ukulele stuff but he played 143, some covers to include Bohemian Rhapsody and Weeps, and a cool one where he sounded like an electric guitar. He really didn't name the tunes either before or after and I think he looked tired.

But Jake is Jake and he is fantastic! I still enjoyed seeing him and I think people seeing him for the first time were blown away. My hubby and I were thinking that maybe since it was his first time playing to this crowd he just played some old stuff that made him famous. He is so smooth at being a one man juggernaut, really makes me motivated to pick up my uke again....last time I saw him I felt like burning it...ha.

I'm hoping he'll come back again, he mentioned a new album coming in August. He did a meet and greet in the lobby afterward which was very unorganized, not his fault but you'd think his manager would get things set up for him. I had him sign my two music books, PLU and Grand Ukulele and we chatted. People were standing in line to get their ukes signed and he was his ever gracious self.

I'm so happy he came and hope for him to return.

 

[rappsy]

I had just started playing when I went to see him. As I was watching him, I was thinking, why bother???

Happily, I continued on, and next time I see him, I'll still probably feel the same way, but I will appreciate it more and will be very happy that I am part of this group ...

 

[DownUpDave]

@Redlabel & BigSkyUkuleleGirl.............Thanks very much for adding your experiences, thoughts and feelings to this post. As with Redlabel it was my first time seeing Jake and definitely a life changer. Just the emotion and joy he brought to the xtage and his performance that night was enough to give the instrument a perspective it deserves.

@Rappsy........glad you continued on even after your mind was blown. Jake only owns a couple Kamakas so we can beat him in the UAS department

 

[co.jp]

I'm new here, saw this post, and, on a whim, decided to check out Jake's touring schedule. As it turns out, he's playing a show a few cities south of me. I just bought tickets for me and my wife. Pretty stoked!

 

[coolkayaker1]

To my friend, BigSkyUkeGirl's point: Jake's gotta be getting tired, and maybe it's starting to show. Married now, baby now, it takes its toll. I check his schedule every now and again and, although he takes brief breaks of a couple weeks or so, he sure rolls the bus again quickly.

Better to burn out than fade away, I guess.

Everyone must have seen the videos he put out with Pure Heart, his old band, this month. They are magical. Here's to hoping Jake can spend time in HI relaxing, playing and recording with his band. Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and others do it: band time and solo time. Jake, what do you think?

Here's one of six performance videos on Hi*Sessions channel, plus a neat interview video, of Pure Heart. Click into Youtube to see all the videos--note: this video below basically shows Jake's skills and feature Jon's vocals and LoPaka's percussions The classic hit,Crazy Without You:

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[coolkayaker1]

I'm new here, saw this post, and, on a whim, decided to check out Jake's touring schedule. As it turns out, he's playing a show a few cities south of me. I just bought tickets for me and my wife. Pretty stoked!

You'll enjoy him immensely. He is the best ukukele player in the world, and the best ukulele player in history.

Well, besides Tiny Tim, that is.

 

[good_uke_boy]

Here's one of six performance videos on Hi*Sessions channel, plus a neat interview video, of Pure Heart. Click into Youtube to see all the videos--note: this video below basically shows Jake's skills and feature Jon's vocals and LoPaka's percussions The classic hit,Crazy Without You:

Thanks for posting this. It's...beautiful.

 

[Red_Label]

You'll enjoy him immensely. He is the best ukukele player in the world, and the best ukulele player in history.

Well, besides Tiny Tim, that is.

That's why I felt the need to impress upon my daughter just how big of a deal watching Jake's performance was. I've seen a LOT of top tier musicians over my 30+ years playing music, touring, and just being a music fan. But I can't say that I've ever seen "the best" musician of their genre and/or instrument before this. I honestly think that for us (up here in the sticks of Montana), this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I have several ukes, but I picked-up a Cordoba Guilele shortly after Jake's performance and I've been playing the strings off of it ever since. I'm primarily a guitar player, so it's just so much more comfortable and at-home for me to play an instrument tuned like a guitar. Before seeing Jake, I can't remember the last time I picked-up a uke. Been at least six months, if not a year or more. Purists would of course say that I'm STILL not playing a uke (and they'd have a point). But I still get that sweet uke tone with the Cordoba. In fact, I own several $2-3K+ instruments (guitars, mandolin, etc) and I am deeply impressed with the tone of this little guilele. It's a $300 uke that I got labeled "B-stock" for $150 and I can't find a single thing wrong with it. Right now, I'm just as likely to pick it up and any of my expensive instruments.

 

[peanuts56]

Someone mentioned that Jake looked tired. His travel schedule is extremely tough. Most of us have no idea how tiring the road is. Hard on your body and I'm sure as you age it beats you up more.
I grew up in the mid late 60's and early 70's. I am a huge fan of the songwriter Jimmy Webb. Jimmy does one man shows and I go to see him every chance I can. The last time I saw him two years ago he looked dead tired and haggard. I live in Conn. and the concert was at a college in West Hartford. Jimmy and I have a mutual friend and I was talking to Jimmy a bit after the show. He mentioned that he had just gotten back from a series of shows in Japan!!! Jimmy is not a young man, he's 68 or 69 years old. The jet lag must be horrendous. I hope Jake slows down a bit, especially since he became a dad. Still, he is a sight to behold. Amazing musician and great guy.

 

[Red_Label]

Someone mentioned that Jake looked tired. His travel schedule is extremely tough. Most of us have no idea how tiring the road is. Hard on your body and I'm sure as you age it beats you up more.
I grew up in the mid late 60's and early 70's. I am a huge fan of the songwriter Jimmy Webb. Jimmy does one man shows and I go to see him every chance I can. The last time I saw him two years ago he looked dead tired and haggard. I live in Conn. and the concert was at a college in West Hartford. Jimmy and I have a mutual friend and I was talking to Jimmy a bit after the show. He mentioned that he had just gotten back from a series of shows in Japan!!! Jimmy is not a young man, he's 68 or 69 years old. The jet lag must be horrendous. I hope Jake slows down a bit, especially since he became a dad. Still, he is a sight to behold. Amazing musician and great guy.

When I was a younger man (early 90s), I was on the road for 2-3 years with a country/rock band. I could handle it back then, but not now (I'm 47). When I saw Jake's schedule for this tour, I was amazed. He would play like 5 days in a row (all cities spaced far apart), then maybe have a day or two off (to fly somewhere else far away), then roll forward with a bunch of consecutive days again. It looked pretty brutal. I made the assumption that he may be the kind of guy who likes to go out and "get it done" when he has to be on the road -- playing as many dates as possible (because time is money), cramming as many in there as he could while in road-mode... and then be able to come back home for an extended period to be with his family. Rather than do what many bands do, which is play every few days and be on a constant, year (plus!) long touring schedule. I can see the wisdom (and the burn) in both styles. The latter way you have time to explore and experience the places that you're traveling through and to. But it's a LONG time between trips home. But doing it Jake's way... you pack-in as much of the "work/business" in a short time as you can... and then you get to be home, living a normal life with your loved-ones.

Anyways... Jake did not look tired when he stopped here in Billings, Montana a few weeks ago. He was on-fire and I'm still blown-away as I reflect upon the passion and the vitality of his performance.