Pohaku's Big Adventure (Click Here)

UKULELE MAKERS

DaSILVA UKULELES http://www.ukemaker.com/

Mike DaSilva has really created a great place for the ukulele enthusiast. Mike has such a generous spirit and he attracts great talent from around the world. I could say so much but there’s a mini-documentary Made by Hand that will tell much more than I could say here, http://www.levinvideo.com/madebyhand/

Having club meetings at Mike’s workshop studio is a blessing. Some members are building their own ukuleles under Mike’s watchful eye and helpful hand. Here’s a photo of my friend Mary G. playing her newly made Diaz reproduction (she wanted a small ukulele for backpacking?!?!?) I have heard several testimonials of DaSilva Ukulele owners and it seems that they are always cherished! They are always ultra-light and have great sound. I have had the chance to play several.

Mike has many concerts at his studio. There are so many talented ukulele players and musicians that come and perform. If you live near Berkeley get on Mike’s e-mail list for upcoming news and events.

GRAZIANO UKULELES http://www.grazianoukuleles.com/

I have met Tony Graziano at the Northern California Ukulele Festival (’06. ’07, ’08) and at the wild and wacky Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz. His, wife Sue, is part scandanavian, and did some traveling and went to a couple Swedish ukulele clubs. I found out that Tony stated off in 1969 making dulcimers in Woodland, California. Tony has been making beautiful ukuleles since 1978. Take a look at this amazing bamboo ukulele http://www.grazianoukuleles.com/bamboo_tenor.html

POHAKU UKULELES http://www.pohakuukulele.com/

I also met Peter Hurley at the NCUF (’06, ’08). Several of his ukes on display were non-traditional-shaped art-ukes, like Smirnoff bottles, the Aero-uke, and the Cubist Pohaku. I am very pleased with the quality and sound of soprano (shown in the previous post.) I notice tha both Bliss Blood of the Moonlighters and Craig Robertson have Pohaku ukes too.

KALEPONI UKULELES http://www.kgstudiosoakland.com/kaleponi_ukuleles

Al Dodge, is a musician, ukulele maker, artist, at ukulele teacher at the Orinda ukulele club. Kaleponi means California in Hawaiian. I don’t know what his production is like but he also makes beautiful instruments. I have seen them with Mike DaSilva ukuleles when there are open arts studios at Mike DaSilva’s artist’s loft building.

Al has a band, the Sundodgers, that I see in the courtyard playing for hours at the NCUF,

JOHN KING // FAMOUS SOLOS & DUETS

This is my soprano Pohaku ukulele that I bought from Peter Hurley at the Northern California Ukulele Festival 2008. I told Peter that I really love the sound that this mahogany body / spruce top ukulele puts out. He said, please tell others. I am now doing so. The photo doesn't show some of the beautiful details and I couldn't resist it.

I have never felt real comfortable singing in front of others and so going to a Ukulele Club meeting has the benefit of drowning out my voice so I can enjoy strumming and chording. Perhaps, from this reluctance I have had the desire to work on fingerpicking songs to produce a SEMI-recognizable melody. I have purchased several books over the last two years and perhaps my favorite is John King's Famous Solos & Duets for the Ukulele.

Today, I had an appointment to get two new tires on my car. I figured that I would be sitting around for a while so I brought my custom Pohaku soprano ukulele in a rustic case that I recently purchased from Gryphon Strings in Palo Alto, CA. Mel's tires had two benches outside and I sat, pulled out John King's book and started playing Hene.

Hene is a rather simple waltz that is plucked and it involves fairly easy finger movements. I recommend looking at the Berkeley Ukulele Club page on http://www.ukemaker.com/ for the song as an example of the book. Of course, I recommend purchasing the book. Some songs look quite difficult but there's really a lot of material to challenge yourself with. I don't think anyone will ever outgrow this book.

When I started taking lessons from Hiram Bell. I played Hene for him because he also had the book and liked the ukulele/guitar duets. Hiram asked me to work on the Aloha Quickstep which has become my favorite tune to play. Again the strings are plucked but the song is constructed so that it is easily played and repeated as many times as you like. A great song to warm up the fingers in the morning.

The manager at the car shop stopped to listen for a while and he said that the ukulele had a very soothing sound. I have been learning slowly but have 5 or 6 songs that I can play from memory.

Besides John King's songs my favorite songs to play have been created by Steven Strauss. Steven has put together two songs for the club: Moonglow and Sweet and Slow. They can be seen on the ukemaker site as well. Steven likes older tunes and provides great fluid chord movements that have a very pleasing sound. He has taken some song requests from the club and we are all eagerly awaiting the next song.

I personally wish Steven would compile an ukulele songbook and make great royalties on it. He's got the genius and he shares it with us evey two weeks.