Ukulele Music Reinventor Coming to JCCC
November 14, 2011
KC Star: Young People Leading Ukulele Renaissance
Jake Shimabukuro has redefined the ukulele, and he’s bringing his “utterly unique” sound to JCCC in March.
It’s a performance local ukulele fans won’t want to miss – and it seems – there are a lot of them.
Repopularized by recently by rock stars Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Train and Jason Mraz, young people are starting ukulele clubs at high schools and playing them on college campuses, according to a recent article in the Kansas City Star Magazine.
Emily Behrmann, general manager of the Performing Arts Series at JCCC, told the Star magazine’s James Fussell she’s seeing a lot of interest in ukuleles.
“I met with our student senate (last month) and they wanted me to give them an overview of what’s coming up,” Behrmann told Fussell. “I asked for suggestions. After they mentioned Adele and Lady Gaga, which we obviously can’t afford, one of them said, ‘How about Jake Shimabukuro? He plays the ukulele.’ And I said, ‘I’m glad you mentioned him, because he’s already coming.’ A few of them then broke into applause.”
Shimabukuro, a 34-year old Hawaiian, has been compared to Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis for entirely redefining the ukulele, according to his website.
“In the hands of Shimabukuro, the traditional Hawaiian instrument of four strings and two octaves is stretched and molded into a complex and bold new musical force,” his bio on this website reads. “On his most recent album ‘Peace Love Ukulele’ (which debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Album Chart), Jake and his “uke” effortlessly (it seems) mix jazz, rock, classical, traditional Hawaiian music, and folk, creating a sound that’s both technically masterful and emotionally powerful…and utterly unique in the music world.”
Shimabukuro will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 11, 2012, in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College.
Tickets are $25 and $35 in advance.
Tickets are available now online or through the JCCC box office. The box office – located in the Carlsen Center lobby – is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before curtain.
To purchase tickets by phone, call 913-469-4445 (913-469-4485 deaf and hard of hearing TDD/TTY).
Read the Kansas City Star Magazine article, and watch the video below to learn more about Shimabukuro.
