jazz

From Backing Don Ho to Redefining Jazz Uke, Benny Chong Can Do it All

Ukulele virtuoso Benny Chong has had an incredible musical career, from starting out in Don Ho's backing band in the '60s to now leading jazz ukulele workshops around the world.

Eddie Scher and Parlor Tricks Play Jazz in this Ukulele Session

Anyone up for some fingersnappin’ ukulele-driven jazz? Watch Eddie Scher and Parlor Tricks perform two jazz standards in this Ukulele Session.

jazz-inspired ukulele artwork, abstract style in many colors

How to Jazz Up the Ukulele

Here’s a peek at a few jazzy ideas for ukulele to start you on the road to thinking like a jazz player.

Eddie Scher playing jazz ukulele black and white photo

How to Play Jazz on Your Ukulele: A Primer

The first trick to playing jazz on ukulele is overcoming “jazz imposter syndrome,” the way blues and rock players often feel when they try to play jazz standards.

Learn to Play ‘Daytime Moon,’ a Jazzy Uke Tune by Victoria Vox and Casey MacGill

“Daytime Moon” might sound—and look—complicated, but it’s actually pretty simple. Here's how to play this song by Victoria Vox and Casey MacGill on ukulele.

Review: Uke Books on Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker from Paul Hemmings

BY JIM D’VILLE | FROM THE SUMMER 2020 ISSUE OF UKULELE Paul Hemmings has the cool credentials. He lives in the Big Apple, digs Duke and Bird, and is a master ukulele player. Hemmings is also a recording artist, having…

The Muse and Magic of Jazz Ukulele Maven Curt Sheller

BY LIL REV | FROM THE SUMMER 2019 ISSUE OF UKULELE If the ukulele world had its own trading cards, there would be no shortage of superheroes. We know their names and have heard many of them at festivals and on…

Lyle Ritz Jazz Uke Lesson Learn to Play Let Me Call You Sweatheart Repertoire Ukulele How to

Learn to Play Lyle Ritz’s Ukulele Arrangement of ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart’

This chord solo arrangement includes some distinctive chord choices; the second ending is especially delightful

Gods of Uke: The Influence of Ukulele-Jazz Pioneer Lyle Ritz, 1930–2017

Jazz ukulele pioneer Lyle Ritz’s 2 albums for Verve, How About Uke? (1958) and 50th State Jazz (1959), were hugely influential among a generation of Hawaiian ukulele players.

Lyle Ritz: The Leader Of A Quiet, Mellow Revolution

By Greg Olwell While most people have probably heard Lyle Ritz, they may not have known it. As an A-list session bassist whose career began in the late-’50s, Ritz racked up thousands of studio sessions, playing on many hits including…