Quote Originally Posted by Bluescelt View Post
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.

Best

AA