Playing Film Festivals now- On DVD in July 2013
I saw this film yesterday at the WXPN Music Film Festival in Philadelphia (coordinated by the Philadelphia Film Society). It is making the round of film festivals now and is due on DVD in July 2013.
I've followed ukulele prodigy Jake Shimabukuro's career of 11 years now (from his early albums with a band). Now he goes it alone and can hold an audience of 3,000 or more for two hours with just his "jumping flea" (English translation of the word "ukulele). Watching this 58-minute film, made in 2011 and released in 2012, I still learned new things about Jake. We get to see his mother and brother as well as his new wife and his now-former manager, Kaz Flanagan. He's a father now but his son was born after the film was completed. Luckily Jake was filmed throughout his long career (he's only in his early 30s but started playing at age four.) and a lot of that footage was used by the filmmakers.
If you know Jake and his music you'll really enjoy this film (I loved it!) and if...
Great musical talent, beautiful documentary
I saw the film on PBS this afternoon and was moved, enriched and entertained by it. I was familiar with Jake's music and have appreciated the way he can get wonderful feeling out of what others might consider a very limited instrument. He can create exquisite lyrical statements....his version of George Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps is justly famous.....join the millions who've seen the YouTube version shot in New York's Central Park. In this documentary we learn about the Hawaii and family environment he emerged from, his special relationship with a Japanese woman who is his business manager and his romance and ultimate marriage to his wife. Extremely moving is Jake's visit to his business manager's home city in Japan which was devastated by the tsunami.
An incredible look at one of the world's most virtuosic musicians
Jake Shimabukuro is not a "ukulele player" -- he's a world-renowned musical virtuoso who blows away anyone who hears his music. He is in the same pantheon as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Bela Fleck, and even great classical musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma and Hilary Hahn. Jake, more than any musician I know of, transcends his instrument and creates pure music, touching the souls of his listeners.
A well-kept (though award-winning) Hawaiian and Japanese secret until 2006, Jake burst upon the world stage when someone posted the now-famous video of him playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on YouTube. The video instantly went viral, and Jake became a international star, receiving concert requests from around the world, and playing with and opening for such stars as Jimmy Buffett, Bela Fleck, Ziggy Marley, and Bette Midler, and being produced by Alan Parsons.
All while retaining his youthful humility and disarming openness and lack of pretense. This movie is a lovely look...
Click to Editorial Reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment