Old Puppy || Frosty the Snowman

FoOP (Never seen Steven so Gussied Up)

Steven Strauss WOWS the UKULELE CLUB of SANTA CRUZ

When I saw Steven Strauss was performing and teaching in at the UCSC I knew I had to be there. Steven prepared a package of 4 songs in his usual masterful way. There was a chord part, melody part and fingerpicking part. About 25 people attending the class were in for a treat -- I have a binder specifically for his arrangements and I really cherish each one. There were a few minutes that I wondered how it was going to come together but the master came thru, he has a magic about him. His class was on (3) Duke Ellington tunes:

• Creole Love Call
• Caravan
• Mood Indigo
• Sweet & Slow (Bonus Arrangement, one of my favorites)

I have told many people about how Steven has a very unique sound, but he also has a very commanding stage presence and knows his crowd. He's also a great story teller. I don't know if Bocci's Cellar has ever been so quiet as last night when all ears were tuned in.

LOCAL NEWS: STEVEN STRAUSS in SANTA CRUZ

According to the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz monthly meeting notice... Steven Strauss will be performing at the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz (Bocci's Cellar) on THURSDAY September 23, 2010. If you've never been to the UCSC before, then come get edumacated! If you haven't heard Steven Strauss before, get out of the bakery and get cookin' over to the club. I have posted about Steven many times here on HU and linked to him on several YT videos if you can't make it from Eastern Bulgaria or Southern Argentina, but if your local or are from Lancaster, California or closer come and listen.

Some of the Best Music to be heard on the Ukulele... You'll Never Get to Heaven If You Break My Heart

Whenever I hear Steven Strauss' soft RISA electric ukulele tones I am just so amazed at how simple his music sounds, at the graceful movements of his supple hands upon the fretboard, and even more subtly the delicate strums teasing music out of partial chords in between. This band which plays weekly at a small bakery in Berkeley has the solid connection of a band where the members know each others movements intimately. What a delite that these tunes have been recorded by Pip Lagenta and shared with us.

----

My attempts to move beyond a humble uker may never bring the joys of mastery. How the heck did I get infected by this ukulele bug? IZ said, "Is easy: 4 strings, 4 fingers." But sometimes this little instrument just kicks my ass! Perhaps, I just try too hard. I know that I have made some substantial progress, but... well the good news, I'll never run out of things to work on.

Steven Strauss || Old Puppy || SHAVING CREAM

Steven Strauss and his electric ukulele produce some of the most amazing music to me. He plays like an upright base player -- plucking the strings with the soft pad of his index finger. I first heard this song as part of Lil' Rev's 'almost naughty' songs selection. Pip Lagenta has recorded many videos -- Thanks Pip, HU

ADDED "HU PLAYLISTS"

Hello Humble Uker regulars, YES YOU! I work from home and I find that I like to make PLAYLISTS for myself to listen to in the background. I have many ideas for what I want to do with this and I will surely add to each category as more videos show up on YouTube.

My friend, Steven Strauss either solo or with the band Friends of Old Puppy has had many recent videos produced and I think the playlist is getting up near (40) songs now. If you haven't heard Steven before, then you will find one of the sweetest sounding ukulele players in the world. Steven's music is magical.

[I would also like to thank Pip Lagenta for posting so many quality videos. The "Epic Fail" label reminds me of myself on stage, but I call myself "Crash & Burn".]

I made a playlist for "CLASSICAL" music and it is comprised of numerous musicians that have been previously posted on HU. People from around the world...

Jang Paul - Korea
Wwelti, WS64 - Germany
Rob MacKillop, Ken Middleton, Colin Tribe, Alistair Wood - UK
Valery Sauvage - France
Herman Vandecauter - Belgium
Ukulele Mozart - Japan or China
John King - U.S.A.
Ukulollo - Italy

.

You will find these PLAYLISTS at the TOP of the lower right sidebar, just below the subscribe buttons. I have also posted Kharmachanic, Brother Sonny, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britian, and my impov. teacher BAJAN PIED PIPER. More to come soon...

Steven Strauss || Humble Uker YT Playlists

I have recently added links to my Humble Uker YouTube Playlists. For those that like the mellow side of the ukulele too, my friend Steven Strauss has masterful hands. This Steven Strauss playlist is a selection of great music. Listen and enjoy his great music... Look an the right sidebar titled HU YT PLAYLISTS.

=0=

I found this other musical incarnation for Steven Strauss

when googling an image. This was back 3 years ago.
=0=

Connie Doolan, voice

Julian Smedley, violin, viola, voice

Steven Strauss, string bass, ukulele, voice

Mike Wollenberg, guitar, bass

The Sun Whose Rays (Risa Electric Ukulele)

More Friends of Old Puppy

Boku No Hoshi y mas (RISA Electrico Ukuleles)

The intro is a bit dizzying. Stick with it and it'll settle soon. Here's Friends of Old Puupy performing. Steven Strauss on the electric-RISA uke-solid. The band has a fun sound: Uke, drum brushes and a washtub bass.



Sweet... "I Second that Emotion"



Viper's Drag



In case you don't see the YouTube write up here's the band info.

Friends of Old Puppy has Steven Strauss on (Risa) electric soprano ukulele, Billy Wilson on (Risa) electric tenor ukulele, Ed Johnson on wash-tub bass ("gutbucket"), and Cynthia Wilson on drums. Dec. 19, 2009

Videographed, sound engineered, and edited by Pip R. Lagenta.

The Friends of Old Puppy band plays at the Nabolom Bakery in Berkeley, every Saturday morning (starting at 10 a.m.).

La Paloma 1861 Inspired in Cuba

Couldn't embed, but a most moving guitar rendition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLM5dNwxnHQ

I have been just getting into R. Ruthen's Tab-U-Learn version with LOW G

Arrangement ==> http://www.microshare.net/tabulearn/Tenor/TG3/La_Paloma_T3.pdf

midi ==> http://www.microshare.net/tabulearn/Tenor/TG3/La_Paloma_T3.mid

This holds many of the double stops that Steven Strauss tried to get into my thick, boney skull. See more of R. Ruthen's stuff in the Ukulinkies under Tab-U-Learn.

STEVEN STRAUSS / STARDUST

I know I've put a lot of Steven Strauss' videos up recently. He hasn't posted very many videos and I am taking advantage of it while the getting is good. He has a distinct and unique sound. I know he uses a Low G string to get a fuller range of notes.

OUR LOCAL UKULELE SUPER HERO

Steven Strauss...

A Ukulele Healing Vibration

I have been playing the ukulele for about 3 years now. It allows me a means to be musical and to enjoy strumming with others. I work from home and I work too much, my ukulele is a refuge and I strum for mini-vacations.

“I take the 'ukulele anywhere and everywhere, and I'm forever playing on it just as quietly as I can. I've found unexpected rewards in playing it quietly. The louder you play it, the faster the decay, i.e., the plunkier the tone. The thing sounds prettier and has a warm sustain when played quietly. It's kind of addictive.” - Steven Strauss

The ukulele truly makes a beautiful sound. I normally end my day strumming a few songs. It is an instrument of soothing vibration when played softly as Steven describes. I keep a binder especially devoted to his arrangements and I also use the pads of my index finger and thumb to get that special “quiet sound”.

When I'm learning something new I call it ukulele meditation. There's a process of slowling down using the music sheets as a map to a new understanding. So I slowly move and get the feel for the music using the miscues as reminders to stay focused. Wwelti's classical arrangements (see Ukulinkies) in 6/8 time allow one to play soothing ukulele tunes that are great for the quiet wee night hours.

There's a process of learning that I find so amazing. Once you've put in the time diligently counting out the time in a new song and working it over and over, there becomes a time when the music plays itself almost unconsciously. The fingers know where they're suposed to go.

I came across a some ukulele photos on the internet that led me to Jack Haas’ site and he has incorporated his instruments into his spiritual practices. He has an OMstrument and healing chakra stimulating ukulele chords videos, that you can click here to see…

http://www.omstrument.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psvnsjVZS-U&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiPT8Uos0iw&feature=channel_page

STEVEN STRAUSS // "SWEET & SLOW"

Here's Steven Strauss playing a Mike DaSilva electric fish ukulele. I haven't ever seen anyone play like Steven. He is my Berkeley Ukulele Club Ukulele Super Hero. Enjoy this...