Jake Shimabukuro

[tvguy]

Don't forget to tune in to Jake's appearance on Conan tonight (12/13). I cna't wait to see how he performs on a national Tv broadcast!

[YoungNeil]

Bump. Stay up late or set your VCR's !

http://www.nbc.com/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien/index.shtml

[pzarquon]

Good for Jake! It's aired on the East Coast already...

[tutusue]

Good for Jake! It's aired on the East Coast already...
Just saw a preview on our local news. Looks like Jake rocked the house. Noel Okimoto was on drums. Don't know who the guitar player was. Hmmm...that was probably a bass, not a guitar! :confused: Regardless...great exposure for Jake. Think I'll set the alarm!

[Leo Lakio]

Noel Okimoto was on drums. Don't know who the guitar player was. Hmmm...that was probably a bass, not a guitar! :confused:
'Twas Dean Taba on bass.
I taped it, but haven't watched yet, as I brought the tape to work - many people here want to see it as well.

[YoungNeil]

Pretty cool--Jake got to sit next to Conan at the end of the show.

[tutusue]

I, too, taped it and watched it this morning. Wow! Loved all the shakas. And Jake was pumped. He knew he'd done a great job and he just couldn't contain his excitement. The morning news reported that Conan ran out of time and didn't get a chance to interview Jake while he was sitting on the sofa and invited Jake back. Conan was clearly impressed. More shakas...more excitement...an ear to ear grin! Way to go, Jake!

[LikaNui]

Fortunately my mental alarm clock works pretty well -- I woke up just a few minutes after midnight, turned on the tube, and just a couple of minutes later Jake was on. And boy was he ever ON! Sizzling hot, as usual.
Kind of amazing actually that he missed one or two notes at the very beginning, which is something I've never seen him do in countless times of seeing him play over the past 10 years. Must've been nervous about the live network cameras. But he settled right down and nailed everything after that. Conan was indeed extremely enthusiastic and was gushing about how he definitely wanted Jake to come back. And yes, Tutu, I agree that it was fun to see all the shakas.
What could be next for Jake... Oprah?!

[tutusue]

[...]What could be next for Jake... Oprah?!
That's exactly what I was thinking! That would certainly set his national career in motion. It did for Chris Botti! And it didn't hurt Joss Stone! Hmmm...maybe I'll send an email to Oprah! Yah! Right! As if it would make a difference! Wouldn't hurt tho'. Yep...I'll do it! :D

[tutusue]

FWIW...I sent an email to Oprah's producers. Here's the link for anyone who wants to do the same:
http://www2.oprah.com/email/reach/email_showideas.jhtml

[lurkah]

Noel Okimoto was on drums. Don't know who the guitar player was. Hmmm...that was probably a bass, not a guitar! :confused:'Twas Dean Taba on bass.
From all the pre-show hype, I was just expecting to see Jake perform solo, or maybe backed by some generic in-house musicians, but I was very pleasantly surprised to see two local boys with Hawai'i roots -- Noel Okimoto (http://noelokimoto.com/) on drums and Dean Taba (http://deantaba.com/) on electric bass -- backing Jake up, and those guys were tight. Jake cracked me up and made me feel so proud for him when he beamed at the camera and started flashing all those shakas with reckless abandon, sort of reminding me of that famous scene from Rocky where Rocky Balboa raises his arms in triumph (http://www.sportsposterwarehouse.com/warehouse/rockyi-1.jpg) at the top of the stairs. :D

[LikaNui]

Hmmm...maybe I'll send an email to Oprah! Yah! Right! As if it would make a difference! Wouldn't hurt tho'. Yep...I'll do it! :D What Oprah needs is to see a video of Jake, so any e-mail should at least suggest that she see a tape of him from last night.
Many years ago she was sent a videotape of Bruddah IZ and she wanted him on her show, but it didn't happen because he was in the middle of recording and by the time she had a slot open again, IZ had left us.
:(

[tutusue]

What Oprah needs is to see a video of Jake, so any e-mail should at least suggest that she see a tape of him from last night.
[...]
Very true. I sent a URL so her staff would know that they could contact Conan's show if they're interested. Jake also headlined at a New York club after the show.

Jake will appear on one of the local morning news shows tomorrow. Dang...that's what I get for channel surfing. I can't remember which one! KHNL, I think. :confused:

[lurkah]

What Oprah needs is to see a video of Jake
This flash video clip (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6896725274049507867&q=guitar) of Jake up close and personal in Central Park blows me away each time I see it.

[Pomai]

Pretty cool--Jake got to sit next to Conan at the end of the show.Did you see when Conan stood up to shake Jake's hand? What a height contrast. Yeah, it was a bit disappointing that they didn't have enough time for at least a brief interview. Next time.

Jake's performance was absolutely solid. It appeared, out of nervousness perhaps, he stumbled on a couple of licks. Or could that have been intended? Ultimately, Jake put on a national display of Ukulele virtuosity at its finest.

What's next? An Oceanic DVR to record more of those late night (and workday) TV moments.

[Leo Lakio]

Finally got to watch, with co-workers (who are now even more disappointed that he couldn't stop in our office last time he was here in Seattle - but we'll try again next time!) Such fun to watch; he's a great guy, and a wonderful musician.
It's a thrill to see the "next generation" of Hawaiian musicians that are really making their mark these days - Raiatea Helm, Herb Ohta Jr., Keoki Kahumoku, Jake, Makana, and so many more. Not only keeping the traditions alive, but opening new doors as well. It's a privilege to get to cross paths with them here on the Mainland - it must be even more so in the Islands!

[tutusue]

Did you see when Conan stood up to shake Jake's hand? What a height contrast.
Conan's something like 8'10" to begin with! ;)
Well...not really, but 6'6", iirc. He dwarfs many of his guests.

[...]Jake put on a national display of Ukulele virtuosity at its finest.
That he did. He's brought a new audience and appreciation to that instrument. I'm still smiling over his own excitement. He was just so thrilled and not afraid to show it.

[Paul Ogata]

I have to get to sleep early on "school nights", but for Jake I stayed up late. Always gives me chicken skin to hear him play. He really kicked okole! (Or, "put steel toe to chocolate box".)


Conan's something like 8'10" to begin with! ;)
Well...not really, but 6'6", iirc. He dwarfs many of his guests.


Tell me about it. Here's a screen-cap of when I did the Late Late Show last year. Kilby was tall, too. I feel ya, Jake!

[tutusue]

I have to get to sleep early on "school nights", but for Jake I stayed up late. Always gives me chicken skin to hear him play. He really kicked okole! (Or, "put steel toe to chocolate box".)[...]
Bwaha! You have such a way with words, Paul!!! And...you're right! I just finished burning DVDs for my kids on the mainland (who I forgot to notify...bad mom; bad, bad mom!) and I never tired of Jake's performance while burning then verifying each DVD! He kicked major okole. What a nerve-wracking experience but he handled it with grace. Whatta pro. And kudos to his back-up musicians. As mentioned earlier, they were tight. It was fun to see the usually serious Noel Okimoto break out in smiles of "we're nailing it" approval!!!

I burned a couple of extra DVDs in case anyone who didn't see the show would like a copy...not the entire show, just Jakes appearance. I'll mail them to the first 2 people who PM me with snail mail addresses...no charge. Mele Kalikimaka!

As for you, Paul? HT is counting on you to notify us of your upcoming, nationally aired gigs. Ya hear?! I'm pulling for you and Jake to appear on Leno on the same night! This State would come to a stand still for that hour if that happened. Maybe throw in an interview with Tia Carrere and Michelle Wie to make it an all Hawaii night. I don't think I could stand the excitement! :D

[tutusue]

I didn't know whether to start a new thread or just tack this discovery on to an old thread! So, old thread it is! And this has nothing to do with Conan!

I just noticed that digital cable, the smooth jazz Music Choice channel 829, played a selection from Jake's 'Dragon' CD. They feature some great artists on that channel and it was a thrill to see Jake amongst them.

I'm not familiar with the music choice channels. Does the programming run nationwide on digital cable? Or, does Oceanic, locally, subscribe to specific channels that they feel fit Hawaii's demographics? Just curious.

[Leo Lakio]

I'm not familiar with the music choice channels. Does the programming run nationwide on digital cable? Or, does Oceanic, locally, subscribe to specific channels that they feel fit Hawaii's demographics? Just curious.If it's specifically Music Choice, those channels are programmed for nationwide use by cable systems. DirecTV dropped Music Choice last November, in favor of XM Satellite Radio.

Subscribers to Dish Network get music channels programmed by Muzak, which includes my Hawaiian music program (ch. 981.) We play Jake's music in that program, as well as in some custom mixes for specific clients.

I don't know if Oceanic selects specific channels to use, or takes the entire bundle offered by Music Choice.

[Leo Lakio]

FWIW) I'm seeing Jake at The Triple Door in Seattle tonight and tomorrow night, and he's coming by our office for a mini-performance tomorrow.

[Miulang]

FWIW) I'm seeing Jake at The Triple Door in Seattle tonight and tomorrow night, and he's coming by our office for a mini-performance tomorrow.
Jake must really love Seattle. Isn't this like his 3rd or 4th trip to Seattle in the last year? (BTW: Leo, I saw you playing bass at the ID Seafair celebrations on Sunday :cool: We went to Mai Kahiki Mai on Saturday)

Miulang

[Leo Lakio]

Jake must really love Seattle. Isn't this like his 3rd or 4th trip to Seattle in the last year? (BTW: Leo, I saw you playing bass at the ID Seafair celebrations on Sunday :cool: We went to Mai Kahiki Mai on Saturday)
I guess he does - since his first Seattle show almost two years ago (Bumbershoot - Sep. '04), he's also played Kirkland & Kent (Oct. '05), Benaroya Hall (Apr. '06), and now three nights at Triple Door (2 shows + a private party.) I've been fortunate to emcee every show, except Benaroya.

Thanks for the note about the ID show - that's always a fun gig, and it was nice to see (smooth jazz pianist) Deems Tsutakawa as emcee; I'm going to see him play at Rainier Square this afternoon. He said he usually gets a few Honolulu gigs every year, though I'm not sure where.

[Leo Lakio]

Jake came by today (along with his wonderful manager, Kaz) and entertained the music-heads (and a few guests) in our office today, played five tunes, talked about technique for each one, then spent another half-hour or more posing for photos (I'll try to post some when I get some from the AF's new digital camera) and just talking about music, touring, martial-arts, food (he's from Hawai`i, so...)

As one of my co-workers put it: how is it possible to be both so talented and so nice?

Concert #2 is in about an hour-and-a-half...

[LikaNui]

Darned shame that you've shut off accepting private messages and e-mails, Leo. I wanted to share something with you privately that could've really enriched your experiences with Jake.

[Leo Lakio]

Sorry - I shut off PM long ago, when a troll went after me. They are gone, I forgot to turn it back on --- until your reminder. Mahalo, LikaNui.

[Leo Lakio]

Just bumped into him in downtown Seattle, post-lunch; he and manager are off to get him a haircut. He's doing a private gig here in town tonight.

[Leo Lakio]

As promised:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/Retroporter/Jake%20S%20at%20Muzak/c9cc0753.jpg http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/Retroporter/Jake%20S%20at%20Muzak/1924deef.jpg

[idvfilms]

Dood can play!

[pzarquon]

Very cool, Leo.

Such a different look for him, since Dragon. I kind of preferred the thick-rimmed glasses days of Jake, but I'm sure the "new Jake" will become "classic Jake" soon enough.