Lil' Rev || 101 Licks for the Ukulele

Take a look at the 101 Ukulele Licks book review and post over on Humble Baritonics... (click here)

Rick Turner and Tony Graziano Discussing Ukes (Jayme with the JuJu)

More stalwarts of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz talking uke...

More Jayme Kelly Curtis JuJu...

Nina also made this video of the UCSC tribute to Bill Tapia

Tony Graziano Bamboo Ukulele

So, I always drive to Santa Cruz early, for band practice with the Uklectics, because I want to miss the commuter traffic through the Santa Cruz mountains. It gives me a chance to sit down at a large table at Tony & Alba's Pizza Parlour on Soquel and spread out my drawings for work or study. I had just received revised plans for a home in San Francisco near the S.F. Giants baseball park and I needed to study them and create a list of concerns I had about the constructability of the new design. Long story, but I'll spare you the details. While there I alway check out the Goodwill bookstore, S.C. is a university town and the selection of used books there is phenominal.

--

I then drove over to Frederick Street to Pete's for the garage band practice but I was so early that I sat in my car for over an hour in cool tree shaded area next to a large park. Listened to quick bits of Metropolitan Klezmer, A Brazilian Style Chamber Music Group, and another female Brazilian Singer. After about an hour I see Tony Graziano, the Santa Cruz areas favorite ukulele maker, and call out his name. He was walking his dog at the park next to the Harbor parallel to Frederick Street. Tony had been building ukes earlier in the day and then went surfing.

--

From my blog statistics counter, have noticed a lot of internet traffic looking at Mike DaSilva's bamboo ukulele and the man doing a yogic balance post with one hand bearing on the ukulele. I remember the first Bamboo ukulele I ever saw was about 5 years ago at the Northern California Ukulele Festival in Hayward, CA. It was a beautiful blonde tenor bamboo ukulele made by Tony Graziano. It is the picture at the top of this post and can also be found here...

--

http://www.grazianoukuleles.com/catalog.html

--

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,