Get to know 6 amazing ukulele players
This weekend I attended a kanikapila (jam session) with a group of friends who are six amazing ukulele players you should know.
Bryan Tolentino organized the get together and called it a “pedal party” where everyone could bring their pedal effects boards to compare the sounds. It turned into an informal kanikapila playing Hawaiian and jazz tunes, telling stories, and trying new things out along the way.
So here is a brief introduction to these great ukulele players.
Bryan Tolentino
Bryan is one of the most accomplished and well-known ʻukulele players from Hawaii. He has accompanied too many artists to list, including many of the other players below. Along with appearing on other musiciansʻ recordings, he has also made some wonderful albums. His 2005 album Ka ‘Ukulele Lele was an Instrumental Album of the year. And his duet recording with Herb Ohta, Jr. (another legendary ukulele player) took Album of the Year in 2016.
Bryan is in a group called NUE (Nā ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu) with Kama Hopkins and the versatile Hawaiian composer, singer, and musician Halehaku Seabury.
Puʻuanahulu, Bryan Tolentino on ukulele
Bryan Tolentino, Raiatea Helm, and Jeff Peterson performing Kauoha Mai
Halehaku Seabury
Halehaku is a fantastic steel-string guitarist and slack-key player in addition to being a wonderful ʻukulele player. He is the great-grandson of Joseph “Steppy” DeRego and so not only music but Hawaiian steel-string guitar is in his blood.
Hereʻs a great performance and interview of Bryan and Halehaku:
Benny Chong
Benny Chong is one of the finest jazz ʻukulele players with an innovative approach to playing chord solos. He was guitarist and musical director for Don Ho for many years. Benny’s debut solo album, Ukulele Jazz, has become one of the most important records for jazz on the ukulele
These days he performs ukulele solo and alongside many of the best artists in Hawaiʻi. He performs often in a duo with bassist and ʻukulele player Byron Yasui.
Ukulele Magazine has a nice write-up about Benny here.
Byron Yasui
Byron Yasui is an accomplished composer who has written a wide range of music for orchestra including the a brilliant ʻukulele concerto for Jake Shimabukuro. He was a full-time professor in the music department at the University of Hawaiʻi for many years.
Benny Chong and Byron Yasui performing Just the Way You Are
Benny Chong, Jeff Peterson, and Nathan Aweau performing One Note Samba Hula
Jake Shimabukuro
Jake Shimabukuro is the leading ʻukulele artist worldwide. In fact, Jake is probably one of the most famous ukulele players playing today. He has a unique way of blending all genres of music, from rock to blues to pop to jazz and even bluegrass. Jake became an overnight star when his virtuosic performance of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral on YouTube.
He tours steadily throughout the year and still has time to hang out with his ʻohana and friends when he is back home. I recently toured with Jake and Henry Kapono in California.
Jake Shimabukuro performing Hallelujah, feat. Jeff Peterson
Great stories….Fred Wong
Fantastic article on Hawaii’s ukulele masters
I just saw Jake Saturday night in Virginia Beach, Va.
All I can say is WOW! What an inspiration. I’m 86 and taking lessons, so at my age playing for my own pleasure is what I aim for. But he is an inspiration.