Flight of the Bumblebee - on the ukulele!

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Author	Topic: Flight of the Bumblebee - on the ukulele!
Gerald Ross Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA	posted 04 November 2005 09:50 AM profile Last weekend I performed at the Midwest Ukefest in Indianapolis. I was blown away by the virtuosity demonstrated by numerous performers. In fact, I thought I was going to be playing a lot of uke during the weekend. I played two uke songs during my Friday night set, and that's it! I played the steel all weekend (it's great being one of the few steel players in residence, you become the expert ). One performer who impressed me was the the young Canadian ukuleleist James Hill. Here is a clip of him from last weekend performing "Summertime" and "Flight of the Bumblebee". Both tunes are performed using the standard uke tuning (with the high 4th string). Flight of the Bumblebee - James Hill ------------------ Gerald Ross 'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar' CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
Chuck S. Lettes Member From: Denver, Colorado	posted 04 November 2005 09:59 AM profile Wow! A star is born. It's always a humbling experience to see such great, young players out there. Chuck
Brad Bechtel Moderator From: San Francisco, CA	posted 04 November 2005 10:17 AM profile Now if this was done on a lap steel, I'd bee happy to leave it here. However, this belongs in Music, not No Peddlers, so that's where it's going. Thanks for sharing!
HowardR Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.	posted 05 November 2005 04:48 AM profile Wow......that is some playing. Is he using a pick? There are some uke players out there who defy the stereotypical. Jake Shimibukoru (spelling?), Dan Sawyer,and James Hill is right up there.
Charlie McDonald Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA	posted 05 November 2005 05:01 AM profile Impossible! if I weren't watching it happen.
Joey Ace Sysop From: Southern Ontario, Canada	posted 05 November 2005 05:12 AM profile Thanks for the link. Great playing. For anyone who hasn't yet seen Jake Shimabukuro's arrangement of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" here's a link: http://www.collegehumor.com/movies/159572/
Todd Weger Member From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA	posted 05 November 2005 06:09 AM profile Gerald -- Not to be contrary, since you were there and I wasn't (arrrrrgggg -- lucky. I would have loved to have been there). I know you said he performed these with high A tuning (I'm assuming he tunes his tenor in the tighter/louder ADF#B tuning), but I swear I hear a low A at the very beginning of FOTBB (the opening arpeggio). Again, it could be I'm just hearing things, too, as it's early Saturday morning after a gig last night! James Hill and Jake Shimabukuro are both exiting players, and are the Roy Smecks of today. Thanks for sharing that! TJW ------------------ Todd James Weger -- 1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Regal resonator (C6)
Gerald Ross Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA	posted 05 November 2005 06:48 AM profile Todd, I am assuming that he is using a standard uke tuning, either A or G with a high fourth string. The reason I say this is, we were all standing around backstage and James Hill was talking about a new uke he wanted to have built. He mentioned that he wanted the re-entrant(or high 4th) tuning on it and he implied that was all that he played. Maybe I heard him wrong or maybe I just filled in the blanks in my head, I don't know. ------------------ Gerald Ross 'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar' CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
Herb Steiner Member From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX	posted 05 November 2005 07:13 AM profile Astounding! Thanks for the link. ------------------ Herb's Steel Guitar Pages Texas Steel Guitar Association
Todd Weger Member From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA	posted 05 November 2005 08:07 AM profile quote: Todd, I am assuming that he is using a standard uke tuning, either A or G with a high fourth string. The reason I say this is, we were all standing around backstage and James Hill was talking about a new uke he wanted to have built. He mentioned that he wanted the re-entrant(or high 4th) tuning on it and he implied that was all that he played. Maybe I heard him wrong or maybe I just filled in the blanks in my head, I don't know. Hey Gerald -- yeah, weird. I don't know. Perhaps he was alluding to the fact that the one he wants built would be re-enterant (as opposed to what he usually plays)? If you go back to that opening arpeggio in FOTBB (after he picks that initial high F#), it definitely sounds like a low A. Whatever the case, that boy can play! I especially love the teenage girl screams from the audience, and his reactions. Teenage girls screaming with joy at a ukuulele player in the year 2005. Whooda ever thunkit!? Thanks again for posting that. ------------------ Todd James Weger -- 1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Regal resonator (C6)
Craig Stenseth Member From: Naperville, Illinois, USA	posted 05 November 2005 08:33 AM profile I pointed out in another forum flea-mkt-music.com he throws the lick from AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" in there somewhere too. Another form of South Pacific island music, rock bands from Australia.
Gerald Ross Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA	posted 05 November 2005 08:44 AM profile OK, here's the story. On a uke bulletin board they are discussing JH's uke and yes, the one he is playing in the video has a low fourth string. I heard wrong. ------------------ Gerald Ross 'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar' CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
Andy Volk Member From: Boston, MA	posted 05 November 2005 11:24 AM profile The tune's okay but it's the lyric's that really tell a story.
Eric West Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA	posted 05 November 2005 12:32 PM profile Yeah BABY!. I have GOT to get me one of THESE.... EJL
HowardR Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.	posted 05 November 2005 05:21 PM profile Was he using a pick?
Gary Boyett Member From: Colorado	posted 05 November 2005 05:28 PM profile Wow, that dude is incredible. Do you think someone can someone tab that out in C6th for me? Non-pedal (of course)
Kris Oka Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA	posted 06 November 2005 09:18 AM profile Hey Gerald, I heard James Hill at a Uke Fest in Santa Cruz,CA last year. He got a standing ovation for his rendition of the "Flight of the Bumble Bee." He also gave a clinic and talked about his theory and style of playing. He let me play his uke and I believe he uses a low G. BTW, his uke is custom made by G-String Ukulele in Hawaii and cost $5,000. His website is: www.ukulelejames.com Some old timers have told me that the tune is really not that difficult to learn and the challenge is to play it as fast as James does.
Gerald Ross Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA	posted 06 November 2005 09:58 AM profile Kris Oka writes: quote: Some old timers have told me that the tune is really not that difficult to learn and the challenge is to play it as fast as James does. A lot of tunes are like that. I have no trouble playing the "Minute Waltz", it only takes me a half hour. ------------------ Gerald Ross 'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar' CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association [This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 06 November 2005 at 09:58 AM.]
Rick Collins Member From: Claremont , CA USA	posted 06 November 2005 02:54 PM profile Gerald, I see the cord leading to an amp __ where is the pickup located in the acoustical uke? Thanks, Rick
Kris Oka Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA	posted 06 November 2005 05:55 PM profile Rick, a Fishman blender acoustic pickup is attached somewhere under the bridge. I believe he uses a pre-amp attached to his belt. James and Jake Shimabakura like to play fast and it really wows the audience. Both players have it all and may reflect the future direction of playing the ukulele. Itis unfortunate the uke hasn't really caught here in the States. Rumor has it that in Canada all grade school children must learn to play the ukulele as part of their music program. What a great idea.
HowardR Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.	posted 06 November 2005 06:43 PM profile Was he using a pick?
Rick McDuffie Member From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA	posted 06 November 2005 07:04 PM profile Gigs abound, I'm sure. [This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 06 November 2005 at 07:05 PM.]
Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.	posted 06 November 2005 07:56 PM profile Disgusting. Holy $#!%. It's not even a black ukelele! Wonder if anyone will ask what kind of pickup he has? How utterly depressing. I mean, here's this young "geek" with little more than a cigar-box with 4 strings, and he's laying down stuff that even our best steelers (with 40 years' experience) can't do with three times as many strings, 11 pedals, and 8 knee levers. See! I told 'ya! We're not worthy. This is why serious musicians won't take us seriously. (ROTFLMAO!)
David Mason Member From: Cambridge, MD, USA	posted 07 November 2005 03:53 AM profile He was using a pick.
HowardR Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.	posted 07 November 2005 04:00 AM profile Was it a felt pick?
Gerald Ross Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA	posted 07 November 2005 05:38 AM profile I emailed James Hill about his uke and his tuning. Here is his response: quote: As for the tuning issue brought up on the bulletin board, the answer is: yes, the uke I usually play for solo gigs is tuned A-D-F#-B with a low A. This is standard "Canadian tuning" and has been used in the schools there since the 1960s. It's true, I'm getting a couple of new ukes made that will be tuned high-A; I love that "re-entrant" sound. As you well know, both high and low tunings have their advantages and it'll be nice to have both to choose from. ------------------ Gerald Ross 'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar' CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
Erv Niehaus Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA	posted 07 November 2005 07:07 AM profile I'm sure it was a felt pick otherwise how could he know it was there.
Dale Bessant Member From: Gatineau, Quebec, Canada	posted 11 November 2005 10:18 AM profile I have never thought of the UKE as a serious instrument, but I stand(or sit) corrected...bet Arthur Godfrey would have loved it...WOW!
David Mason Member From: Cambridge, MD, USA	posted 12 November 2005 03:03 AM profile Actually, based on the experiential evidence I've accumulated here, I would surmise that Arthur Godfrey would've hated it: A) It's not a black ukelele; B) That's not the way Roy Smeck would've done it; C) Everything was better back in the old days before the corporations owned all the ukeleles; D) Etc. P.S. (It wasn't a felt pick)

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