Ukulele mania!

[tikistitch]

If you haven't already seen this on Boing Boing, just listen, we're not gonna spoil the fun by telling you what he's gonna play.

Comments

[sarahpolk.livejournal.com]

Must be James Shimabukuro. He's from Hawaii and he completely rewrote the book on the ukulele.

[nitasee.livejournal.com]

Jake Shimabukuro! I love him! I have two of his albums. He's abso-fringging-lutely incredible.

Oh, and btw, George Harrison collected ukuleles. It's true.

(Nita has a little secret. I learned to play ukulele when I was but a wee sprite. Really.)

[sarahpolk.livejournal.com]

Oooo Jake, not James. Brain fart for me!

[blowdry.livejournal.com]

I saw this a while ago and it is totally made of win. :D

[keeper1st.livejournal.com]

Yep, very old video indeed.

Some good ukulele players to look up videos of, well, obviously for good strumming, you need to look up British entertainer George Formby (usually played a banjo-ukulele, which is simply an ukulele built like a banjo). For American players of the past, of course look for Roy Smeck (the ultimate ukulele showman!) or "Ukulele Ike" (Cliff Edwards, better known today as the voice of Jiminy Cricket).

Modern-day YouTubers on the ukulele that I like are:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ukulelezaza -- awesome skill!
http://www.youtube.com/user/heftone -- transcribes piano music onto the ukulele spectacularly well, including lots of ragtime.

And for the absurd, search for videos of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain! (ever imagined hearing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on ukuleles?)

[avalonjones.livejournal.com]

Kinda reminds me of the time, years ago, I heard this young man--he was about 17, I think--on the Garrison Keillor radio show; they were doing a show of "Talent from Towns Under 2,000 [population]." This guy's parents were both classical musicians, and he performed Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D Minor on an electric guitar. I was floored.