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Nights @ the Beekley

 A Music Series

 

Additional Concerts

These are not part of the packaged series and have different sponsors. You  may reserve your tickets in advance by calling the Library (860.379-7235)

Sunday, October 28, 2007
7:00 pm  Reception; 7:30 Show

Ever heard of the `ukulele? Sure you have - it's that funny little four-stringed Hawaiian guitar that goes “plunk-a-plunk,” right? Wrong. The `ukulele (pronounced "oo-koo-lay-lay") is hotter than ever, embraced worldwide by a crop of young musicians eager to push the instrument into uncharted territory. Leading the charge is Canada's James Hill, “the Wayne Gretzky of the `ukulele” according to Stuart McLean, host of CBC Radio’s Vinyl Cafe. With the release of his third solo album, A Flying Leap, this “imaginative and versatile” 26-year-old virtuoso continues to “tear up the uke” (AcousticGuitar.net). Seven of the album’s 10 tracks are genre-bending originals ranging in style from the bluegrass-tinged Song for Cheri to the jazzy Fleas My Dog Has to the remarkable One Small Suite for `Ukulele, an ambitious work in three movements written for `ukulele and string quartet. Displaying a “keen interest in pushing the envelope,” James' “broad musical horizons and crisp, clean playing” prove that “he can play just about anything in any genre” (John Berger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin). A Flying Leap is one part Earl Scruggs, one part Django Reinhardt garnished with a pinch of Don Ho and served with a side of Hendrix.

So how does a kid from Canada become what the Honolulu Star-Bulletin calls a “rare peer” of Hawaii’s premier `ukulelists? Nearly 3,000 miles east of Honolulu is James' hometown of Langley, British Columbia, where `ukulele instruction has been mandatory in many schools since the late 1970s and where James was introduced to the `ukulele at the age of nine. He was hooked. During his teenage years he honed his skills as a key member of the renowned Langley Ukulele Ensemble. He embarked on a solo career in 2002 with the release of Playing it like it isn't..., a “beautiful, humorous and virtuosic” debut that saw him “reaching a whole new level” (David Kidney, Green Man Review). His sophomore release, On the Other Hand, would follow in 2003, confirming his place as “one of the world’s top composers for the instrument” (Rafe Mair, 600AM Vancouver). In performance, James is energetic and captivating, mixing colourful anecdotes with a versatile repertoire that stretches from Schubert to the Beatles and beyond. He is heard frequently on CBC and NPR National radio, has made TV appearances on The Tony Danza Show, MTV Select, Urban Rush and Studio 4 with Fanny Keifer, and has shared billing with the world’s foremost `ukulele players including Herb Ohta (Ohta-San), John King, Lyle Ritz and Benny Chong.

The `ukulele has long been an international affair. An instrument of Hawaiian fame and Portuguese ancestry with a strong following in Japan, Europe and the United States, it’s somehow fitting that the uke should find a champion in a young man from Canada. Jim Beloff, author of The Ukulele: A Visual History, calls James’ work “a glimpse into the future of the `ukulele” - take a listen and you’ll understand why. It’s `ukulele... seriously.

Sponsored by the Magic Fluke

For more information about James Hill and to hear music clips, please visit his website: http://www.ukulelejames.com

Tickets: $15 in advance; $18 at the door

".... his artistry... is nothing short of amazing. Dazzling picking, expressive voice, unique and interesting songs. He is a showman in the best sense of the word and just wowed our audience. I think they would have followed him anywhere."

Rich Warren, WFMT "Midnight Special,” Chicago IL

"Jack Williams gets my highest possible recommendation. If he plays anywhere within a hundred miles of you, go see him. If you happen to run a venue or a festival, book him. You will not be disappointed."

South Carolinian Jack Williams, guitarist/singer/songwriter/storyteller, is outstanding among a handful of artists who - in skill, depth and integrity – stand head and shoulders above the many performers flooding today’s folk circuit.  Among acoustic guitarists he is near-legendary. Having avoided the compromises of the commercial music industry during his 45+-year professional career, he prefers touring “under the radar,” playing concerts, large and small, week in and week out, from the sheer love of music and performing.

Jack is now a sought-after artist on contemporary acoustic - or "folk" - music stages. From his acclaimed appearances at the Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville, (New Bedford) SummerFest, and other Folk Festivals, his musicianship, songs, stories, and commanding presence established him as an uncommonly inspiring and influential performer.

Jack has six CDs of original music on the Wind River (Folk Era) label, plus his DVD “High Cotton,” an eclectic series of on-stage performances.

For further information about Jack or to hear music clips, please visit his website:

www.jackwilliamsmusic.com

Sponsored by Dufour Surveying Associates

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