Jake Shimabukuro at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley in Seattle

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents solo ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro for one night only. Set time on Monday, April 13th is at 7:30pm, doors will open at 6:00pm. Jake’s latest releases are Live and My Life, an EP (Extended Play CD) which has just 6 songs that features six brand-new ukulele arrangements of Jake’s favorite tunes by Sarah McLaughlan, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Cyndi Lauper. On this heartfelt and beautiful recording, Jake respects the originals while integrating his own soulful, one-of-a-kind interpretations. This follows in the footsteps of Jake’s smash hit full-length CD Gently Weeps (2006), which has sold 100,000 copies worldwide.

Quickly becoming recognized as the world’s top ukulele player, Jake Shimabukuro (she-ma-BOO-koo-roh) is world renowned for lightening-fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques. He views the ukulele as an “untapped source of music with unlimited potential.” Jake’s virtuosity defies label or category. Playing jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, and rock, Jake’s mission is to show everyone that the ukulele is capable of so much more than only the traditional Hawaiian music many associate it with.

At just four years of age, Jake’s mother gave him his first ukulele lesson. "When I played my first chord I was hooked," says Jake, "I fell in love with the instrument." That love grew into a deep passion to create and innovate. Experimenting with various techniques allows Jake to create sounds never thought possible on the tiny four-string, two-octave instrument. A true showman, his performance captivates audiences with intricate strumming and plucking, electrifying high-energy grooves and smooth, melodic ballads. His covers of tunes by The Beatles and Led Zeppelin are interpretations that have dazzled and delighted audiences worldwide.

From a modest beginning performing at a local Honolulu café, Jake has gone on to play famous venues such as the House of Blues and The Knitting Factory (Los Angeles), The Birchmere (Alexandria, VA), Tipitina’s (New Orleans), Joe’s Pub and B.B. King’s Nightclub (NYC), Bumbershoot Festival (Seattle), The Fuji Rock Festival (Japan) and many others. Occasional tours with Jimmy Buffett since 2005 have given Jake the experience of a lifetime, regularly exposing his virtuosity and amazing stage presence to crowds of over 50,000. Jake also appeared on national television shows NBC’s The Late Show with Conan O’Brien and Last Call With Carson Daly, as well as been profiled on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.

Jake toured with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones (2002, 2005, 2006) and recorded on the band’s Little Worlds (2003) album. Jake is also featured on Ziggy Marley’s Grammy Award winning Love Is My Religion (2006) and contributed to the soundtrack of the Jimmy Buffett-produced film, Hoot. This was a priceless experience for Jake and gave him the confidence to score the recently released Japanese independent film Hula Girl.

April 13, 2009
The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
2033 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98121
COST: $26.50