Kala KA-ASMC

Well, you guessed it. I bought a new uke online--a Kala all-solid mahogany KA-ASMC concert. It's beautiful, solidly built, and very playable. Unfortunately, it also lacks projection in the high and low ranges (my Ohana soprano is noticeably louder), and it suffers from buzzing at the lower frets of the C string. The instrument was set up by reliable musicguymic, so I'm confident that the problems lie with the 'ukulele itself... Hey, sometimes it's hit or miss with these mass-produced instruments.

So I'm returning it. I'll probably end up getting the concert version of my Ohana--the CK-50MG. That would be keeping it all in the 'ohana, eh?

Winking emoticon.

Coming...

Here Comes the Sun

Why Oh Why?

Is it just me, or do other people also have a love-hate relationship with Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World"? His voice is sweet and dulcet, and the arrangement itself is pretty wonderful. But it pains me to say that the butchering of the lyrics to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is anywhere from jarring to ridiculous:

(altered lyrics in bold)
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Dreams really do come true

Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to
Why oh why can't I?

These changes go far beyond the boundaries of artistic license and "making it one's own"--basic grammar and meaning have unraveled, and the rhyming scheme is bizarrely ignored and made awkward. There's a smack of disrespect here (however unintentional) toward the original lyricist and wordsmith E.Y. Harburg.

What a shame.

Chunk

"Sloth love Chunk." (The Goonies, 1985)

I'm learning how to slap mute, y'all--or "chunk" as some people call it--on "It's Only a Paper Moon."

Strum da CHUNK da strum da...da strum da CHUNK da strum da...

Kinda tricky going from Bbmaj7 to G#dim7, but I'll get it. How do I know this? How to explain the uncharacteristic confidence?

Because Daifuku love chunk.

Mo' Songs

So I'm finally back from my packing/moving ordeal (many thanks to Ron, Chris, Dan, and Ruka!) and learning some more great songs on the uke: "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," "Paper Moon"...the beginnings of a rockin repertoire, Son.

Caught a performance Saturday night by Ben Lerman, a very funny singer, songwriter, and comedian based in NYC. Who knew a baritone ukulele could be used so scandalously? Clever lyrics, smart musicianship, and great timing left audience members literally doubled over. Check him out the next time you're in town.

My name is Ben Lerman and I play the ukulele...

Quiz

Question: Who just jumped on the ukulele bandwagon?

Answer: Fender

And do you get the feeling they want you to think "Hawaii"?...