Now this is Cool, Tropical and Jazz.....

Saturday is a day to kick back just a little bit and it's become a habit of mine to check in with Star Bulletin entertainment guru John Berger and his weekly Island Mele column. This week John reviews ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. For those who don't know, Jake is as they say in Hawaii,"da kine!!!!" You know, real "da kine". Jake is legendary, from his early days with Pure Heart you knew this guy was "special".


Island Mele
John Berger


"Dragon"
Jake Shimabukuro
(Hitchhike)
Hawaii often gets things late. Shimabukuro's fourth solo album has been available in Japan since June but was embargoed for release here until next Tuesday. Resourceful fans may already have gotten it either as downloads or courtesy of friends who bought it in Japan. Those who've waited for the American release at least get Shimabukuro's liner notes in English and learn of his experiences recording "live" to tape rather than digitally.

With only three days left before "Dragon" becomes available here, it's not jumping the gun by much to report that this is a remarkable album musically, as well as technically.

Shimabukuro establishes the album's exploratory theme with his opening tune, "Shake It Up!" His ukulele shares the spotlight with drums, bass, flute, electric guitar and a rich, albeit synthetic, horn section. The result is a driving fusion arrangement that should find favor with local jazz fans. Noel Okimoto (drums) and Dean Taba (bass) were the rhythm section for the entire project, and several songs present Shimabukuro as the leader of an all-star trio in his rhythm mates are equal partners.

A good example of the jazz trio concept is "3rd Stream," where Shimabukuro steps back and lets Okimoto and Taba take over. A real string section -- a quartet on one song, 10 musicians on others -- adds an incomparable lushness on several of the softer numbers.

"With U Always," a campaign song for Hawaii Tourism Japan, acknowledges his fans and sponsors in Japan.


www.jakeshimabukuro.com

-posted by Cool Tropical Jazz LLC @