The summer concert series at the UCSC Arboretum concludes on October 18 with one of the world's top ukulele musicians, Jake Shimabukuro.
Renowned for lightning-fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques, Shimabukuro views the ukulele as an "untapped source of music with unlimited potential." Playing jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, and rock, Shimabukuro's mission is to show that the ukulele is capable of so much more than only the traditional Hawaiian music many associate with it.
The 29-year-old Shimabukuro toured with Jimmy Buffett in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and contributed to the soundtrack of the Buffett-produced film Hoot. He has also toured with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones (2002, 2005, 2006) and recorded on the band's Little Worlds (2003) album, as well as being featured on Ziggy Marley's Grammy Award winning Love is My Religion (2006).
Concerts are held at the Arboretum's Amphitheater Stage; doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the gate and $18 in advance and at all times for Arboretum Members. Tickets may be purchased now at Norrie's Gift Shop at the Arboretum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and at Logos bookstore in downtown Santa Cruz, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Tickets also available by phone, (831) 427-2998, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (NOTE: If you do not get a live person on the phone, call back. DO NOT leave a message.)
