Visited my sisters this last week, and one of them has a growing interest in the uke. This is one of the many reasons why. As she said, do watch it all the way through before judging it as merely a nice instrumental arrangement...
Raul Castro Squandered His Last Chance
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14ymedio, Generation Y, Yoani Sanchez, Havana, 22 March 2017 — A year ago
Cuba had a once in a lifetime opportunity. US President Barack Obama came
to the ...
7 years ago
Wow!!
ReplyDeleteI know!
ReplyDeleteThe difference between me and my sister is that this inspires her to take up the instrument, while for me, it would have to be something remotely attainable.
Well, I had been thinking of learning to play piano Cuban-style, but I may have to throw those plans over in favor of becoming a wandering ukist, a kind of latter-day Orpheus or Robert Johnson who sells his soul to learn to play the uke.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
I'm not entirely sure that it is possible to make a uke sound noir, Peter, but other than that, it would be nice to have a portable instrument to take to all these crime writing gigs you go off to.
ReplyDeleteThe ukelele is definitely in vogue now, which might be a turn off, but I think it's only in vogue with highly likeable people.
If a zither can sound ominous, so can a ukelele.
ReplyDeleteI already have a Martin Backpacker guitar, which is about ukelele-size. I could take that, but except for planned events, music does not seem to be a part of Bouchercons. The hotel bars generally lack pianos, for instance, and no one seems to gather spntaneously for a song. This isn't Ireland, you know.
It sounds like a tradition that's waiting to start happening.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure someone told Jake that While My Guitar Gently
Weeps wasn't written for ukelele easier.
Things are only wrong until they're right.
He's one bad ukist, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking the Bouchercon music tradition needs a certain critical mass of Irish adn Scottish authors. I did see one crime writer warbling intentionally off-key country and western at another in the bar at a convention once. Both authors were Irish.
You may be right, but I'd start practicing now.
ReplyDeleteYep, I should borrow a piano and start working on my montunos.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wikipedia, montunos are usually played on pianos, but sometimes on guitar. I'm sure the Wikipedia people just aren't up to speed about what you can do on a ukelele.
ReplyDeleteWell, what Jake Shimibukuro can do.
Here’s a basic montuno lesson, at 1:35. And here’s an entertaining example.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/