Jake Shimabukuro does more with four strings than most guitarists do with six. He is a Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso who has been touring the world over the last 16 years. He’s collaborated with everyone from Yo-Yo Ma to Bette Midler.
Shimabukuro plays City Winery on Monday and Tuesday night.
The musician began playing at age 4 when his mother gave him the instrument. Years later, he became one of YouTube’s first viral stars in 2006 when a video of him playing The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” in Central Park was posted without his knowledge. Today, that video has gotten over 15 million views.
Shimabukuro says he fell in love with the instrument’s limitations.
“I loved how the instrument itself challenged me to be more creative,” he tells “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes, “to think outside of the box.”
