The ukulele is synonymous with Hawaii, and few are more intimately connected to the instrument than Jake Shimabukuro, widely regarded as the most prominent modern ukulele virtuoso. Although the ukulele’s association with the Hawaiian islands might seem stereotypical to some, for Shimabukuro, it’s an integral part of his upbringing.
“Growing up in Hawaii, the ukulele is such a huge part of the culture,” he reflects. “It felt strange if you didn’t play it. Everyone played the ukulele.”
For Shimabukuro, learning the instrument was a natural progression, especially since his mother played. “When I was a kid, she sat me down and taught me a few chords, and I just fell in love with it,” he says. “Every time I think of the ukulele, I think of my time growing up here with my family. My mom was my first teacher, and I wouldn’t be playing today if it weren’t for her. It’s very personal to me.”
Born in Honolulu with mixed Okinawan and Japanese heritage, Shimabukuro was inspired by iconic Hawaiian ukulele players, including King David Kalakaua, Eddie Kamae, Roy Sakuma, and Peter Moon. His breakthrough came in 1998 with his band Pure Heart, which released a self-titled debut that became an instant contemporary Hawaiian classic. However, it wasn’t until 2006 that Shimabukuro gained global fame. A viral video of him performing George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps on YouTube catapulted him to international stardom.
Since then, Shimabukuro has become known worldwide for his genre-blending style, cementing his place as the leading ukulele player in the world. But even as a master, he continues to seek out new experiences and challenges.
Shimabukuro’s latest project ventures into uncharted territory for the ukulele: the blues. The album Blues Experience, recorded with legendary Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood, features eight classic blues and rock covers, as well as the original song “Kula Blues.”
“Because Mick Fleetwood is one of the greatest blues drummers of all time, we knew we wanted to dive into the blues,” Shimabukuro explains. “Mick’s passion for the genre really pushed us in that direction. We went into the studio with a handful of iconic blues songs and just saw where it would take us.”
Although Shimabukuro grew up listening to blues guitarists like Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, he admits to feeling some initial hesitation about bringing the ukulele into such a traditionally guitar-dominated genre. That apprehension quickly dissolved once he and Fleetwood began recording.
“The great thing about working with Mick is that he was incredibly encouraging,” Shimabukuro recalls. “He pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and try new things. He just said, ‘Go for it. Don’t hold back.’ And with that kind of encouragement from a legend, you feel like you can’t go wrong.”
Shimabukuro praises Fleetwood’s natural leadership in the studio. “Mick is like a great point guard on a basketball team. He sets everyone up for success. It’s a joy to play when you have a band leader like him. If Mick is smiling after a take, you know it’s a good one.”
The live recording setup for Blues Experience had Shimabukuro and Fleetwood facing each other, flanked by bassist Jackson Waldhoff and keyboardist Michael Grande. While Shimabukuro played the same tenor ukulele throughout, he used Fleetwood’s Fender Princeton amp and various effects pedals to create a range of sounds. The physical proximity of the musicians also led to one of Shimabukuro’s favorite aspects of the album’s sound.
“We were all in the same room, and the ukulele and drums were the only two acoustic instruments,” he explains. “Mick’s drums were actually feeding into my ukulele mic, so even if you muted all the instruments, you’d still hear some of the drums in the solo ukulele track. The great thing was that his drums were feeding into my effects as well, creating a really cool cohesion between the ukulele and drums — it was a happy accident.”
One of the most emotional moments on the album is the cover of Songbird, a classic from Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album. The track is a tribute to Fleetwood’s late bandmate Christine McVie, and Shimabukuro describes the recording session as a deeply moving experience.
“The tribute to Christine McVie — Songbird — was one of those ‘chicken-skin’ moments,” Shimabukuro says. “Even Mick said he could feel Christine’s presence in the studio. It was really special.”
Fans of Shimabukuro’s ukulele skills will have the chance to experience his blues-infused style in person on Monday, November 18, during his Holidays In Hawai’i tour stop at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane. The show will feature songs from Blues Experience, along with holiday classics played by the ukulele virtuoso. While the Spokane date is listed as the only “regular show” of the holiday tour, Shimabukuro insists it’s still a festive celebration.
“It’ll be a surprise holiday show!” he laughs.
Shimabukuro will be joined by his longtime musical collaborator, singer-songwriter Justin Kawika Young, and bassist Waldhoff, who will help bring even more joy to the seasonal performance. Reflecting on the blessings in his life, Shimabukuro expresses gratitude for the people who have shaped his musical and personal journey, from his mom to Mick Fleetwood.
“I love this time of year because it always reminds me of family, spending time together, and the joy of those moments,” he says. “It’s about not taking those moments for granted.”
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