Jake Shimabukuro has won another deserving award for his latest album “Jake & Friends”.
Called the “Jim Hendrix of the ukulele”, personally I think Jake Shimabukuro in this day and age shouldn’t be compared to any other musician because he accomplished so much in his career that when it comes to the ukulele, he is the most well known musician.
And I don’t say this lightly considering Ohta San, Herb Ohta, Jr., Eddie Kamae, Troy Fernandez, Bryan Tolentino and many others are music legends than can play the ukulele like no other and their music is pure aloha spirit.
But what makes Jake Shimabukuro different from many who established themselves in Hawaii is the opportunities to showcase his style of ukulele playing outside of Hawaii.
From a young Jake Shimabukuro who started with the group Pure Heart (along with Jon Yamasato on guitar/vocals and Lopaka Colon on percussion), established themselves as innovative and won many awards together.
But when Pure Heart disbanded in 2002, Shimabukuro became the first Hawaii artist to sign a recording contract with Epic Records International (a division of Sony Music Japan International).
In fact, my first time hearing of Shimabukuro’s music was through the Japanese label. As Sony Japan released Shimabukuro’s music only in Japan, to release it in the US, ala Hawaii, Shimabukuro created Hitchike Records label and in 2005, would eventually secure a nationwide U.S. distribution deal.
And since then, Shimabukuro has been performing not just nationwide and also around the world.
And I have watched Shimabukuro grow his career but also showing his passion of helping people to play the ukulele.
On February 14th, 2020, he released his album “Trio” which landed No. 1 on the Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and while he announced his newest album “Jake & Friends”, it was delayed due to the Novel Coronavirus pandemic and eventually it would be released on November 2021.
And this album is a sign of growth but also respect.
Each of the 16 songs featured on the album features a collaboration between Shimabukuro and many artists.
1 A Place In The Sun Featuring Jack Johnson, Paula Fuga
2 Sonny Days Ahead Featuring Sonny Landreth
3 All You Need Is Love Featuring Ziggy Marley
4 Why Not Featuring Kenny Loggins
5 Smokin’ Strings Featuring Billy Strings
6 Find Yourself Featuring Lukas Nelson
7 On The Road To Freedom Featuring Warren Haynes
8 Come Monday Featuring Jimmy Buffett
9 Something Featuring Amy Grant, Vince Gill
10 Two High Featuring Moon Taxi
11 A Day In The Life Featuring Jon Anderson
12 Go Now Featuring Michael McDonald
13 Wrapping Paper Featuring Asleep At The Wheel’s Ray Benson
14 Stardust Featuring Willie Nelson
15 The Rose Featuring Bette Midler
16 Get Together Featuring Jesse Colin Young
You have wonderful and creative collaborations such as Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga from Hawaii, a wonderful music collaboration with blues guitarist Sonny Landreth, a collaboration with reggae artist Ziggy Marley, blue grass artist Billy Strings, country artist Lukas Nelson, musician Warren Haynes, alternative rock band Moon Taxi, YES vocalist Jon Anderson, Doobie Brothers legend Michael McDonald, western swing group Asleep at the Wheel and Ray Benson, Youngblood’s Jesse Colin Young.
And notable names such as Kenny Loggins, Jimmy Buffet, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Bette Midler and more.
If anything, this is a cover album featuring Jake Shimabukuro and friends that showcase the ukulele as the main instrument and accompanied with other instruments, but never strays too far from Shimabukuro’s ukulele playing.
There is no doubt that the musical collaborations makes an entertaining album that I found myself listening to over and over.
It’s no doubt one of the best Jake Shimabukuro albums and an album that showcases his growth as a music artist and it makes you wonder how Shimabukuro can outdo himself for the next album because each album he releases just gets better and better.
Jake Shimabukuro’s “Jake & Friends” is definitely recommended!
