STAR-BULLETIN / 2002
Jake Shimabukuro will close the show with his innovative style.
Musicians show While they both play the ukulele, Gordon Mark and Byron Yasui are exploring distinctly different musical traditions. Mark specializes in meticulously crafted transcripts of classic European orchestral works, while Yasui is more of a generalist with a solid foundation in jazz.
versatility of ukulele
By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comBut they started off on the instrument in surprisingly similar ways. Mark found his first ukulele in a trash can. Yasui's was a hand-me-down.
"My brother came back from the Marines with an old, beat-up Martin ukulele," Yasui recalls. "I'd watch him play, and when he put it down, I'd try and play what he had played. Soon, the uke passed on to me."
Yasui worked out the basics by playing along to the music he heard on the radio, "relying on my ears to find the right chords."
"This was the most effective training -- independent research without teachers or books -- but you have to be really driven (to learn). ... I distinctly remember teaching myself of play Martin Denny's 'Quiet Village' and discovered the wonder of chords moving in parallel motion, a device I learned later (was) used by the Impressionist composers in the classical music field," Yasui said. "Then I heard Lyle Ritz's first album, 'How About Uke?' and this turned my whole life around. He showed us all that jazz in the modern style and jazz standard tunes can be played on the ukulele."
The UH-Manoa music teacher, along with Mark, Benny Chong and Jake Shimabukuro, were recently showcased on the CD "The Art Of Solo 'Ukulele." The album, recorded live in the Honolulu Academy of Arts' theater after the four appeared in concert there in April 2000, was quietly released this past April (and is only available at the academy's gift shop). In the interim the foursome has participated in concerts and workshops on other islands, and appeared on Hawaii Public Television's "Na Mele" series.
Now they bring their musical magic back to the public with a pair of concerts at Orvis Auditorium tomorrow and Sunday.
EACH WILL bring their distinctive style to the uke. Mark's repertoire of about 1,000 original transcriptions of European classical melodies is unique in both concept and content. Yasui plays everything from Hawaiian standards to Japanese folk tunes to jazz, and likes to challenge himself with intricate or demanding arrangements.
Chong, another self-taught player who names Ritz as an early inspiration, generally enjoys playing the pop standards he enjoyed in the '50s. And the explosive, charismatic and dedicated Shimabukuro will close the show. (Taking the contents of the album as a possible preview of what Shimabukuro may play, it'll range from "God Bless America," George Harrison's "Something," "Romance in G minor" and his high-energy show-stopper, "Crazy G (in F).")
This weekend's concerts give serious ukulele fans the opportunity to hear some rare performances. Chong has been known for almost 40 years as a guitarist and member of Don Ho's original Aliis lineup, but his three solo tracks on the album are his only commercially released recordings as a ukulele player.
Mark's meticulous creations have been savored by an ever-increasing number of fans for more than 20 years (his "Oriental Fantasy for 'Ukulele and Orchestra" was debuted with the Honolulu Symphony back in 1979), but he turned down all offers to record until project director Jay Junker persuaded him to participate in "The Art of Solo 'Ukulele" project.
In short, much of the music that these men will be playing can be heard only on the CD and occasional concerts, making this weekend's performances that much more special.
Featuring Benny Chong, Gordon Mark, Jake Shimabukuro and Byron Yasui 'The Art Of Solo 'Ukulele'
Where: Orvis Auditorium, UH-Manoa
When: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and 4 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: $15 ($10 for students and seniors with valid ID); available at the UH-Manoa Campus Center or at the door
Call: 956-8742
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