This Weeks Best Guitar Cds - Week of 01/04/2011

Image via WikipediaJake Shimabukuro - Peace Love Ukulele

   Alright,say it with me, she-ma-boo-koo-row. That wasn't so difficult,was it? With the ukulele enjoying a current rise in popularity,Shimabukuro seems poised to be its defacto representative for virtuoso mastery of the diminutive instrument. With several albums already under his belt,his artistic and emotional depth is now matching his technical mastery. He weaves in influences from rock,jazz and classical with casual effortlessness. Under an others hands,a cover of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody might have come of as silly or a gimmick. Shimabukuro turns it into a fun virtuoso showpiece that fits right in with some of the other more "serious" pieces. While he already has quite a following,I think Peace Love Ukulele will increase the fold of Shimabukuro fans and inspire folks who haven't already to pick up a ukulele and start playing!



Penty more Cd reviews below...



  OK,so we're exactly one Cd into the list and we're into the re-releases already. Yeah,it's gonna be that kind of week. Even with the underwhelming list of new albums for the Christmas season,it's pretty obvious they weren't holding anything back for this week.

Martin Taylor - Portraits and Two's Company
   Here are two reissues from acoustic archtop master Martin Taylor. Even though he,at times,gets dangerously close to smooth jazz,there is no denying his skill.





Stephane Grappelli - Reunion and Celebrating Grappelli
   Martin Taylor also appears on these reissues. Grappellis band is where Simpson got his start and as one might guess,these are much more in the gypsy jazz style.





Kein Hass Da - Hirntrafo / Bad Brains Transformation
   I know,I know,it sounds like I'm making it up...a German tribute to Bad Brains? If you're one of those folks who miss 80's punk,give this a listen. More passion and attitude than twenty mall punk bands and quite possibly the best punk album of 2010.



Related articles

• Jake Shimabukuro, an Un-Hawaiian Ukulele Virtuoso, Is Finding His Hawaiian Side (spinner.com)
• Jake Shimabukuro: "143 (Kelly's Song)" (texasmusicmatters.kut.org)
• Ukulele festival (theworld.org)
• How the ukulele went from kitschy to classy (thestar.com)
• George Harrison Remembered: 10 Favorite Cover Versions of His Songs (spinner.com)