5つ星のうち5.0He needs no introduction, just calm your soul and listen quietly
2015年4月5日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済み
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Jake is an amazing young man, husband, and father. His story is like many, a long and challenging journey. Then one day, a friend video record Jake playing a Beetles tune on a Ukulele in the NYC park. Someone uploaded the video recording to the Internet and it soon went viral, over six million hits.
What's so spectacular of this otherwise normal guy? He can make a Ukulele sound like a Brazilian 16 string guitar tune, a jazz stringed instrument, a Japanese traditional musical instrument, make his Ukulele gently weep, as well as pick out beautiful Hawaiian love songs.
Jake, the gentle giant of a small frame, makes the sweetest music I've ever heard, electric, acoustic guitar or other stringed instrument.
You may have a difficult time remembering all the syllables in his last name; once you hear his music, you will take the time to listen and may happen to study his last name to realize it's as easy as five syllables: Shi ma bu ku ro.
This DVD is just one of many. If you want to hear a little bit of heaven, invest in the DVD and spend a piece of your busy day listening to a man who can make a four-string U ka le le; the instrument is pronounced with the first "u" spoken harder (stressed) than all the other consonant-vowel combination, sound better than any stringed ensemble.
Before you can enjoy the brilliance of Jake Shimabakuru you have to be able to cast aside all preconceptions about ukelele music.
For me, the conditioning was broken by the circulation on the internet in recent months of Jake performing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" next to the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park. This is an oustanding performance and I'd describe Jake as the Paganini of the Ukelele.
Jake's approach to Ukelele is without bounds and completely outside the tradition of Hawaiian music. Instead he see the Ukelele as capable of leading multiple genres including new age, jazz, rock and pop, which are all present on this release.
A bonus of this particular CD is the video (on DVD) of Jake rehearsing and recording in the studio. This provides us with an important insight into the creative process at work. For musicians it also allows us a close up of Jake's technique which is well worth seeing.
Why only 4 stars? Personally, I found that in creating a virtuoso performance the approach sometimes sounds both clinical and derived. The music is not entirely melodious and in places appears to be ideas extended beyond their use. That aside, this is a remarkable album and provides great mood music of an unusual nature, I suspect it will grow on you over time and become a favourite of your collection.
One of Jake’s earlier cds - and there is a bonus dvd of a practice session for a recording studio that shows a bit of his personality and how he strives for perfection!!
This is a treasure of Jake's inimitable range! It brings the smile that only these four strings can convey in the hands of a talented Master of ukulelel Light ~ Profound!