‘Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele' rocks stage at UMass Dartmouth

Jake Shimabukuro is known for his mastery of a commonly used but uncommonly mastered instrument: the ukulele. 

It’s not uncommon for a fan of Shimabukuro to start playing the uke, according to Zeiterion’s Director of Marketing and Communications Penny Pimentel. After Shimabukuro’s first show at the Zeiterion in 2014, Pimentel said a ukulele craze in New Bedford followed. 

“He is known as the Jimi Hendrix of the Ukulele, he brings out of the ukulele something nobody else before him has,” Pimentel said. 

Shimabukuro performed at the UMass Dartmouth Auditorium on Thursday, Sept. 5 as part of Zeiterion Performing Arts Center’s ‘On the Road’ tour. 

Zeiterion’s venue in New Bedford is currently undergoing renovations, forcing the organization to host shows at a number of different locations in the Greater New Bedford area over the next few months. 

Pimental said the transition has been seamless.

“We have been engaging with several stages throughout the South Coast, they have been wonderful to work with,” Pimentel said. “It is a great opportunity to become available to different people in different ways.”

Shimabukuro is currently on a tour that started in Durham, NC and will end in Lincoln, NE. 

Accompanying Shimabukuro on the tour are Bassist Jackson Waldhoff and Singer Connor Johnson. 

Also traveling with Shimabukuro is Junebug Shelton, a retired police officer who got to know the musician through a mutual partner. Shelton is in charge of selling merchandise at each show.

“What you see is what you get with Jake,” Shelton said. “He will stay long after each show to meet every single person who wants to meet him.”

Renee Jones, of Tiverton, RI, was one of many fans who stayed after the show to get a chance to meet Shimabukuro: “I love the way he brings the audience right along with him,” she said. 

Jones and her husband were in attendance the last time Shimabukuro played in front of a Zeiterion crowd, which was in 2018. 

“My husband started playing the ukulele right after. There could be all the time in the universe and he wouldn’t become that good,” Jones joked. 

Thursday was Shimabukuro’s third time being presented by the Zeiterion, following performances in 2014 and 2018.

Chuck and Cathy Frissora, of Sudbury, have attended 12 of Shimabukuro’s shows and have grown to be friends with the Hawaiin native.

“He is so personable, he gives back to communities on every level,” Cathy said.

After the show, Shimabukuro said it felt great to be back in front of a Zeiterion crowd. 

“Tonight was absolutely wonderful, the energy was magical, we just wanted to bring joy to the crowd,” Shimabukuro said.

The musician said that he’s glad to see more and more people picking up the ukulele. 

“I’m just a big fan of the ukulele, so I just love seeing more and more people play it. I hope it continues to spread.”