Jake & Friends
Music Theories, 2021
9/10
The ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro has some friends you might have heard of before, and here many of them accompany him as he spans many genres with legends like Bette Midler, Michael McDonald and Jimmy Buffet, among many more, by his side.
“A Place In The Sun” starts the listen with Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga lending a hand, where Johnson’s soulful pipes and Fuga’s pretty singing flow with a warm, breezy spirit, and “Sonny Days Ahead” follows with Sonny Landreth on board in the blues spirited climate where Landreth’s guitar work is quite absorbing.
Moving along, Kenny Loggins makes an appearance on “Why Not”, where the playful ukulele suits Loggins’ versatile vocals that sure have aged well, while Billy Strings brings his meticulous guitar to the dreamy climate of “Smokin’ Strings”. “Something”, one of the best tracks present, then recruits Vince Gill and Amy Grant for a calm, lullaby friendly track of beauty and grace.
The always impressive Willie Nelson makes an appearance on “Stardust”, where Shimabukuro’s sublime string work complements Nelson’s expressive singing, and “Get Together” exits the listen with Jesse Colin Young in attendance for a wise and touching version of a song he popularized in the ‘60s.
Being hailed as the Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele, Shimabukuro’ inimitable skill is matched by the strong vocal work and instrumentation of his company, as each track present is as equally great as the ones before and after it.
Travels well with: Jackson Browne- Downhill from Everywhere; John Hiatt With The Jerry Douglas Band- Leftover Feelilngs