Tue 8/13 @ 8PM
Hawaii native Jake Shimabukuro has taken his state’s signature instrument, the ukulele, and stretched its boundaries in every direction to jazz, blues, rock, folk, classical and all points beyond. The 36-year-old musician, who has been playing since he was four, has become one of the instrument’s acknowledged masters.
After playing briefly with a couple of Hawaii-based bands, he launched his solo career with 2002’s Sunday Morning.
Since then, he’s released nine more albums, acquired a huge following in Japan, and worked with artists as diverse as Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, Bela Fleck and Yo-Yo Ma. His latest album, Grand Ukulele, was produced by Alan Parsons and features Shimabukuro soloing live in front of a 29-piece orchestra and rhythm section. In addition to his own material, it includes unique covers of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Sting’s “Fields of Gold” and the Harold Arlen standard “Over the Rainbow.”
Shimabukuro will be performing at the Kent Stage.
Gold Circle tickets are $36; reserved seats are $26.