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Music
How About More Uke?
Motivated by our love of jazz and improvisation. Eric , Ed and myself (Curt) explore a traditional and contemporary jazz repertoire with a sprinkling of originals, showcasing the ukulele in a non traditional setting.
In the summer of 2003, I fell in love with the ukulele and all its possibilities. My journey exploring the ukulele began on a CampFire USA trip to South Dakota planned by my wife, Bernadette. I’d searched the Internet for a small travel guitar to bring with me, and rediscovered the ukulele instead - after a twenty year break. – Curt
10 Minute Demo of How About More Uke? CD
MorningStar's Neve Room
How About More Uke? was recorded over two days: Sunday, August 30, 2015 and Monday, September 20, 2015 at MorningStar Studios 3150 Sunset Ave. East Norriton, PA 19403 by Glenn Barratt owner and engineer, a true magician at the controls. Checkout their facebook page for more info.
About the Songs
Here is a little background on the songs and recording.
The “TAB” / solo arrangement for a few of the songs is available at my LearningUkulel.com cite.
Introduction • A fun radio introduction
This is just a fun introduction that Glenn Barratt and myself threw together in the studio at mixing and mastering time. It's an idea I've had floating around for awhile.
Sway • Luis Demetrio, Pablo Beltran Ruiz
1953 mambo instrumental song by Mexican composers Luis Demetrio and Pablo Beltran Ruiz. The most famous English version is that of Dean Martin recorded in 1954. I first heard it in the Antonio Banderas movie Take the Lead (2006) where he was a dance instructor.
A solo melody and chord arrangement of Sway is available at my www.LearningUkulele.com site.
I'll Remember April • Don Raye, Gene De Paul, Patricia Johnson
I'll Remember April is a popular song and jazz standard with music written by Gene de Paul, and lyrics by Patricia Johnston and Don Raye. It made its debut in the 1942 Abbott and Costello comedy Ride 'Em Cowboy, being sung by Dick Foran.
A solo melody and chord arrangement of I'll Remember April is available at my www.LearningUkulele.com.
Glen's Cove • Curt Sheller
An original song created as a result of a weekend of jamming with Glen Hirabayashi of the Aloha Boys. Glen and his wife Donna came up to the Philadelphia Folk Festival in 2013 where we where a vendor and hung out all weekend with us. A great weekend of jamming.
Blue Bossa • Kenny Durhman
We cobble together a couple of different arrangements of Blue Bossa that I've performed over the years for this song.
A solo melody and chord arrangement and premium play-along track of Blue Bossa are available at my www.LearningUkulele.com.
A Spy In Love • Herb Ohta, Jim Beloff
A composition by Jim Beloff with music by Herb Ohta. Jim is one of the people responsible for this latest ukulele craze - which at this point looks like it is here to stay. They said the same thing regarding the guitar and rock'n'roll, that it wouldn't stick around.
Jim has a great catalog of songs he has written over the years and A Spy In Love is a gem.
Don't Get Around Much Anymore • Duke Ellignton, Bob Russell
Don't Get Around Much Anymore is a jazz standard with music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by Bob Russell. The tune was originally called "Never No Lament" and was first recorded by Ellington in 1940 as a big-band instrumental. Russell's lyrics and the new title were added in 1942.
A solo melody and chord arrangement of Don't Get Around Much Anymore is available at my www.LearningUkulele.com.
Summertime / Blue Skies • Ira Gershwin | Irving Berlin
A cool medley of two classics from the Great American songbook.
A solo melody and chord arrangement of Blue Skies is available at my www.LearningUkulele.com.
Rain Shine • Chuck Anderson
I studied for over 30 years with Chuck Anderson, one of the most knowledgeable musicians I've had the privilege to know and a great mentor. In addition to being a virtuoso jazz guitarist, Chuck's compositions separate him the rest of the pack and Rain Shine is one of those songs. Chuck was kind enough to let me record this song - the first recording of the Rain Shine.
My Favorite Things • Sayre, Hammerstein, Rodgers
Thanks to John Coltrane this song is part of the standard jazz repertoire. I also recorded it as a trio with guitar in 2002 on my Midnight at the Jazz Cafe. Take a listen below for a comparison. Both are performed in the Jazz Waltz style.
My Favorite Things - 2002
My Favorite Things
A solo melody and chord arrangement of My Favorite Things is available at my www.LearningUkulele.com.
Satin Doll • Duke Ellignton
One of the first songs that a budding jazz guitarist would learn. Here is the trio's take on the jazz classicbit.
A solo melody and chord arrangement and premium play-along track of Satin Doll are available at my www.LearningUkulele.com.
Georgia ( Georgia on My Mind ) • H. Carmichael, S. Gore
Lovely, bluesy ballad in the key of F.
"Georgia on My Mind" is a song by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell, closely associated with the cover version by Ray Charles, a native of Georgia, who recorded it for his 1960 album The Genius Hits the Road. It became the official state song of Georgia in 1979.
The song was written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael (music) and Stuart Gorrell (lyrics). Although it is frequently asserted that the lyrics were written not about the state of Georgia, but rather for Carmichael's sister, Georgia Carmichael, Hoagy Carmichael himself contradicted this view with his recounting of the origin of the song in his second autobiography Sometimes I Wonder. Carmichael wrote that the song was composed when bandleader Frankie Trumbauer suggested that he write about the state of Georgia. According to Carmichael, Trumbauer also suggested the opening lyrics should be "Georgia, Georgia ...", with the remaining lyrics coming from Gorell. Carmichael made no mention at all of his sister in his telling of the song's genesis.
Milestones • Miles Davis
An up tempo modal song in G Dorian and A Aeolian. We typically play this a break-neck tempo. First take got away from us and this one is bit more under control. Recorded with a Pono Thinline Mango tenor as the previous song I used my Ko'olau CS tenor ( pictured above ) and string one broke right at the end of the song. Luckily it was in the planned fade out and we had enough for that take. And as any ukulele player knows it takes awhile for ukulele strings to stretch out - hences the switch to the Mango Pono.
I also recorded it as a trio with guitar in 2002 on my Midnight at the Jazz Cafe CD. Take a listen below for comparison, a little quicker this go around.
Milestones - 2002
Milestones
Summer's Dawn • Curt Sheller
Actually started out an an exercise just doodling around with a harmonized triad chord scale in the key of G major. Amazing what can come about from just noodling around on the uke.
Just browsing over both books, they look fantastic! I'm a guitarist and uke player for over 25 years and was thinking about writing a ukulele book but you've already written what I think are the best, most comprehensive and thorough books I've ever seen for the instrument. I just might end up buying every book you've written and I'll be giving my highest recommendation for your books to my friends and students. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such great books! — Peter Rhee
Aloha, Curt, All I can say is WOW! What you have accomplished is simply incredible! All the best — Glen Hirabayashi, The Aloha Boys
Folks, if you haven't stopped by Curt's site, do so right now! ..And get his books, they are fantastic. This guy knows his stuff and is able to pass it along too. — Alan Johnson Proprietor, The 4th Peg
I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books — I have four of them and they are excellent. — fatveg — Portland
Thanks for visiting and checking out the site!
Original Animation by Curt Sheller - 1987 for my first web site 37 years ago.
