| 1. |
BW: First off, tell us about your new album Gently Weeps.
Jake: It’s a recording of solo ukulele arrangements produced by Mac McAnally. We recorded it in Nashville last year.
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| 2. |
BW: Why did you choose the ukulele to focus your musical efforts on?
Jake: My mother played the ukulele a lot for me when I was a kid.
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| 3. |
BW: How did you get started playing the Ukulele?
Jake: My mother was my my first teacher.
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| 4. |
BW: Who are some of your musical influences?
Jake: Makoto Ozone, Buddy Rich, the Beatles.
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| 5. |
BW: Do you play any other instruments besides the ukulele?
Jake: A little guitar & piano but just to get ideas for the ukulele.
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| 6. |
BW: It's every kid's dream to grow up on the beach, what was it like growing up on Hawaii?
Jake: I loved it! I can’t imagine growing up anywhere else.
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| 7. |
BW: What inspires you to write new music?
Jake: Playing with other musicians.
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| 8. |
BW: How did Jimmy Buffett find you?
Jake: We met in Hawaii. Actually Mac McAnally introduced my music to Jimmy. Jimmy Buffett came into the Local Motion surf shop in Waikiki because he was here to do a concert at the Shell. My music was playing on the store speaker system and Mac pointed it out. Turns out that I was supposed to be doing a live radio broadcast from the store that afternoon for J-wave and Jimmy left a note for me to call him and come down to sound check. I had no idea he wanted me to play with him that night.
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| 9. |
BW: When did Jimmy first contact you about playing with him on tour?
Jake: That show at the Shell went great and Jimmy said we’d be talking more. That was about 2 years ago.
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| 10. |
BW: What was your favorite venue to play with Jimmy at?
Jake: The Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, HI
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| 11. |
BW: You appeared on the Buffett-produced soundtrack for the movie Hoot, then went out and did the score for the Japanese Independent Film "Hula Girl." What was it like creating the score for a film?
Jake: Being able to observe Mac McAnally in the studio during the Hoot project really helped me with the Hula Girl Soundtrack.
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| 12. |
BW: You've performed with many other famous musicians besides Jimmy Buffett. Which of those musicians you've spent time with stand out the most?
Jake: Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. Those guys are amazing.
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| 13. |
BW: Who would you love to play with?
Jake: Steve Gadd
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| 14. |
BW: Do you like beer?
Jake: Sometimes. I’m not much of a drinker.
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| 15. |
BW: What charitable causes interest you?
Jake: Environmental and Children related issues.
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| 16. |
BW: What is your most interesting fan encounter?
Jake: Nothing really stands out. Just very casual experiences.
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| 17. |
BW: What is your most embarrassing performance experience?
Jake: I was playing a song with my eyes closed and hit the mic with my forehead.
| 18. |
BW: You were recently appointed the 160th Okinawa-Uchina Ambassador, what does that mean to you?
Jake: Well, I’ve always been very proud of my Okinawan heritage, so I’m very honored.
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| 19. |
BW: You often tour in Japan, is it different playing there than it is in the States?
Jake: A little but music is the universal language.
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| 20. |
BW: Are you any good at checkers?
Jake: Haven’t played much…
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