Jake Shimabukuro
The ukulele's Hendrix, with four strings doing things four strings shouldn't be able to do.
Where to see Jake Shimabukuro
About Jake Shimabukuro
Jake Shimabukuro is an instrumental artist from Honolulu, HI.
Jake Shimabukuro is a ukulele player from Honolulu, Hawaii. He first came to attention locally in the late 1990s with the band Pure Heart before beginning a solo career, and reached a much wider audience through a video of him performing 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' in Central Park, which circulated widely online in the mid-2000s.
His playing draws on Hawaiian tradition alongside jazz, blues, rock and classical repertoire, using fingerpicking, strumming patterns and harmonics to build arrangements that are usually carried by the ukulele alone. He performs both solo and with a small band, and has recorded original compositions as well as instrumental arrangements of well-known songs.
Instrumental
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Questions about Jake Shimabukuro
What festivals is Jake Shimabukuro playing in 2027?
Jake Shimabukuro is booked at 1 festival we cover: MerleFest 2027.
Is Jake Shimabukuro on tour?
Yes. Jake Shimabukuro has 9 shows listed, from San Luis Obispo, CA on Nov 20, 2026 to San Juan Capistrano, CA on Jan 14, 2027, plus 1 festival on the page above.
Is Jake Shimabukuro playing MerleFest 2027?
Yes, Jake Shimabukuro is on the MerleFest 2027 lineup, April 29 – May 2, 2027 at Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC. They play Friday, April 30.
Where is Jake Shimabukuro from?
Jake Shimabukuro is from Honolulu, HI.
What was Jake Shimabukuro's first album?
Jake Shimabukuro's first album was Sunday Morning (2002). The latest is Calm Seas (2026).
What kind of music does Jake Shimabukuro play?
Jake Shimabukuro plays instrumental.