'Ukulele virtuoso's solo CD hits stores Tuesday
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
OCTOBER FEAST: Jake Shimabukuro's first solo 'ukulele CD, "Sunday Morning," will be released here Tuesday on the Four Strings label. It's an expansion of his multisong single CD released with the same title in Japan on the Epic Records International label. Shimabukuro is the first Hawai'i artist to sign with Epic, a division of Sony Music Japan International. ...
Ever wonder if Shimabukuro ever suffered carpal tunnel syndrome, what with his frenetic strumming style? We asked and he said: "I developed carpal tunnel about six or seven years ago, and it got really bad, so I changed the way I play. Before, my wrist on my left hand was bent; it was tough to do the chords. When I changed position, my thumb was higher on the neck, my wrist was straight, and once I got used to this, I could play even faster. So that (carpal tunnel) was the best thing to happen to me, to force me to play differently. My wrist now is in a natural position, and my fingers can move more freely." ...
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WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Jim Brickman's romantic prances, on keyboards and in vocals, thrilled a Hawai'i Theatre audience at Saturday's "Love Songs & Lullabies" show. Anne Cochran, his featured voice in island outings, and Tracy Silverman, whose six-string violin is tuned and often played like a rock guitar, also had the listeners cheering. Nicest thing about their collaboration: With soothing songs that speak the language of love, there's no need for high-tech pyrotechnics to warm the soul and tug at the heartstrings. ...
Nohelani Cypriano is back from Washington, D.C., and the Celebration on The Hill event, which unified 15,000 cancer survivors, state ambassadors and supporters. Cypriano and her dancer, Krista Guiteras-Duncan, performed before the luminaria candle ceremony in front of the Capitol and Reflecting Pool. By the time she concluded her song, 17,000 candles were aglow, each in memory of a loved one. "It was an awesome experience, one that will last with me for the rest of my life," Cypriano said. On an unrelated note, look for her at the Sacred Hearts Academy fund-raiser Oct. 25 at the Sheraton Waikiki — she'll pay tribute to Loyal Garner as well as her late mother, Leina'ala Simerson. ...
Monday's 'Ilima Awards show at Diamond Head Theatre, honoring top restaurants as voted by The Advertiser's readers, featured a round of tunes performed by Donald Yap and reflecting the current season — "The Sound of Music," "Follies," "The Wizard of Oz." Performers included Larry Paxton and Katieie Lva (co-starring in "Chicago"), Andrew Sakaguchi, Stefanie Smart and Loretta Ables, who did a show-stopping opening number with the DHT Shooting Stars. ...
"Prairie Home Companion," the National Public Radio fave with Garrison Keillor, had a treat Saturday night: a guest appearance in Minnesota by slack-key guitarist Ledward Ka'apana, a hana hou of sorts since the Islander earlier performed with Keillor at the Hawai'i Theatre. ...
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DATES TO CIRCLE: Ho'okena's Christmas concert, "Home for the Holidays III," will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at Mamiya Theatre. Tickets are $30; call 524-4845. ...
For the first time, the Honolulu Symphony Ball, May 17 at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hawai'i Ballroom, will be chaired by a couple, Jim and Jan George. He's the managing editor of Pacific Business News and a member of the symphony board and a former market development honcho at The Advertiser; she's a fashion consultant with the Carlisle Collection ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
