Renowned for his lightning-fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques, ukulele phenomenon Jake Shimabukuro promises to amaze his audience when he takes the stage at the Ordway's Main Hall on Tuesday, March 10 at 7:30pm. The performance caps off the 2008-09 planet Ordway® Target® World Music and Dance Season.
Regarded as one of the world's leading ukulele players, Shimabukuro defies the notion that the ukulele is only capable of playing traditional Hawaiian music. Consider his latest release, "My Life," which includes his arrangements of tunes by Sarah McLachlan, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and Cyndi Lauper, wrapped around the classic "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." This collection follows in the wake of his CD "Gently Weeps" (2006), which has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. Shimabukuro refuses to be bound by the conventional expectations of ukulele music, proving that the diminutive instrument can run the gamut of musical styles from jazz, blues and funk to rock, bluegrass and classical.
Occasional tours with Jimmy Buffett have broadened Shimabukuro's experience, regularly exposing his virtuosity and amazing stage presence to crowds of up to 50,000. He has also performed on national television shows such as NBC's "The Late Show with Conan O'Brien" and "Last Call With Carson Daly," and has been featured on NPR's "Morning Edition," Public Radio International's "The World," and on XM Satellite Radio's "The Bob Edwards Show."
Shimabukuro and his musical accomplishments are well known throughout the Hawaiian Islands and Japan, though he is perhaps known equally as well for his outgoing personality and warm heart. In his spare time, he often visits schools to talk with and play music for the children of Hawaii, hopefully inspiring thousands to put their energy into learning about and playing music. During his time at Ordway, Shimabukuro will offer two education performances for Minnesota schoolchildren.
From a modest beginning performing at a local Honolulu cafe, he has gone on to play renowned venues such as the House of Blues and The Knitting Factory (Los Angeles); The Birchmere (Alexandria, VA); Tipitina's (New Orleans); Joe's Pub, Highline Ballroom, and B.B. King's Nightclub (NYC); The Bumbershoot Festival (Seattle); The Fuji Rock Festival (Japan); The Music Is Good Medicine Tour covering thirty-two shows (Japan), and many others.
Recognized as a virtuoso not only by his audience, but also by fellow musicians, Shimabukuro has performed with and/or opened for Fiona Apple, Bobby McFerrin, John Hiatt, Victor Wooten, Chris Thile, Keller Williams, Tommy Emmanuel, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Jamie Cullum, Kaki King, Stanley Clarke, Blues Traveler, Stephen Bishop, John Craven, Hot Buttered Rum, The Radiators, The Honolulu Symphony, Chance and Mista D of Nashville's MuzikMafia. The Greencards, Cyndi Lauper, Ziggy Marley, Futureman (of Bela Fleck and Flecktones) and The Black Mozart Ensemble, Bryan Adams, and Katie Melua.
The Ordway is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading not-for-profit performing arts centers and Saint Paul's most elegant and inviting performance space. The Ordway's Main Hall and McKnight Theatre stages attract diverse audiences with an array of productions encompassing the finest in American musical theater, world music, dance, jazz, and vocal performance. In addition, each year Ordway presents its Flint Hills International Children's Festival and serves over 50,000 children and adults through its Ordway Center Education programs. The Ordway is part of a unique Arts Partnership with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and the Schubert Club, hosting their renowned productions each season. The Ordway is also proud to sponsor the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, a professionally guided academic and artistic environment that trains aspiring pre-professional performing artists in the areas of instrumental and vocal music, theater and dance.
