The UK and UKulele's

[McClef]

It's a different creature to the ordinary ukulele but neither is it a banjo either.

When I was looking through some of the Formby clips on U Tube I remembered what Formby himself called his instrument - a banjolele.

[auld argonian]

It is referred to as a banjolele and they are decidedly difficult to score on ebay.

There is a company making them new priced in the $400 range. Previously driven ones that show up on ebay seem to bring the beast out in the bidders...I understand that ukulele afficianados, not unlike kilt wearers, fall victim to that obsessive compulsive thing where they just have to have at least one of everything and thus the bidding can be quite spirited. I've even seen a couple of official George Formby models go by. I'm getting a nice tenor uke for my birthday later this month so I'll start with that and maybe look for a banjolele later on.

It has occurred to me that mass ukulele events in public places may be one of the ways to help people deal with the stress of these difficult times. I understand that the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain had everyone who owned one bring their ukes to the Proms Concert and they all played along on Beethoven's Ode To Joy (if you're a fan of the movie "Help", that's famous Beethoven's Ode To Joy from the famous Ninth Symphony).


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[pdcorlis]

A mass Uke-In? Oh I like that idea!

[andyfg]

A mass Uke-In? Oh I like that idea!

So do I!

[auld argonian]

A mass Uke-In? Oh I like that idea!

We were kicking ideas like that around the other day...having big public events doing simple and artistic things as a way of letting off steam in light of the weird economy we're in. Mass sketch-in and sing alongs...good, cheap, constructive events to involve the public and, hopefully, heal everyones' spirits.

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[pdcorlis]

Never underestimate the power of play!

[Bluescelt]

Some years ago I went to a "Masters of the Ukelele" concert put on by Jim Beloff. To tell the truth, I was really interested in seeing Bob Brosman who was on the program. I figured I'd be able to sit though the ukes to get to some killer slide work from Bob. Boy, was I surprised when these uke players came out and played jazz,blues,standards and just about any other type of music on those instruments. It was sort of a Susan Boyle moment for me and I gained a new found respect for those instruments.

[auld argonian]

Some years ago I went to a "Masters of the Ukelele" concert put on by Jim Beloff. To tell the truth, I was really interested in seeing Bob Brosman who was on the program. I figured I'd be able to sit though the ukes to get to some killer slide work from Bob. Boy, was I surprised when these uke players came out and played jazz,blues,standards and just about any other type of music on those instruments. It was sort of a Susan Boyle moment for me and I gained a new found respect for those instruments.

Not having been there, I'm not sure if any of the guys who played that concert were in this category, but...

Well, y'know, I'm of two minds about the uke thing because of those "virtuoso's" that get up and blow through some Jimi Hendrix song on a uke like they were Al Dimeola recording live for GRP records. I understand that they want to show off but Frank Zappa once coined the term "spoo", which is what he'd say to one of his musicians who was being really self-indulgent on their instrument to the detriment of the band and the piece being performed...that's the kind of vibe I get off of some of these cats who take up the uke and go all Chet Atkins all over the place.

The folks in the UOoGB are all very competent players but the emphasis seems to be on the group performance and, if I may draw what might be a fine distinction, an individual member may be "featured" but not "spotlighted". If you've ever been in a rock band (show of hands, please) the odds are, like, one out of five that you were not the "lead guitarist" and that, in retrospect, you wish that the term "lead guitarist" had never been invented because of the ego trips that it has been responsible for.

(Hey...whaddaya call a guy who can't play guitar? A bass player! Tah-dump! Thank you, folks, I'll be here all week...try the veal.)

A certain amount of un-intimidating simplicity is a good thing sometimes.

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