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Ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro performs Oakville concert March 5 Ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro is bringing his four-string, two-octave instrument to the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts (OCPA) stage Thursday, March 5. A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Shimabukuro is described as a ukulele virtuoso, composer, spokesperson, inspirational speaker and philanthropist. His music ranges from jazz, blues, and rock to bluegrass, classical, and folk. Shimabukuro's career skyrocketed after he uploaded a cover of The Beatles' While My Guitar Gently Weeps on YouTube. Since then he's collaborated with an array of artists, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Dave Koz, Michael McDonald, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Tommy Emmanuel, and Lyle Lovett, as well as orchestras around the world. His new record Grand Ukulele is a follow-up to his 2011 album Peace, Love, Ukulele, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard World Charts. Grand Ukulele is a collaboration with producer/engineer Alan Parsons, known for his work on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, The Beatles' Abbey Road and his own solo projects. "It was very organic how it happened. He attended a couple of my shows near where he lives in Santa Barbara and the concert promoter put us in touch," Shimabukuro said in a press release. "I was stunned. I mean, the Alan Parsons? We ended up having dinner before the show and he casually mentioned the idea of possibly working together on a project. It was a priceless opportunity I didn't want to pass up -- he's a genius." Shimabukuro's new record brings in a 29-piece orchestra and a rhythm section that includes drummer Simon Phillips (of The Who and Toto), bassist Randy Tico and Kip Winger (of Winger and Alice Cooper). "The best thing was that, even with all those people, we recorded everything live with no overdubs," said Shimabukuro. "It was great, tracking live with an orchestra and a rhythm section. We picked up on each other's subtle emotional cues ­ you could feel everyone breathing together. It was like the old days of recording -- when everyone tracked together -- there's a certain magic that happens." Shimabukuro has performed for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England, and been featured on Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Artscene 21 | Friday, February 27, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Oakville's The Moonshine Café will host Toronto indie musician Jon Brooks Wednesday (March 4). Brooks will bring his new collection of original, rural Canadian "murder ballads" to the stage. | submitted photo Jon Brooks at Moonshine Jake Shimabukuo, described as a ukulele virtuoso, is taking the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts stage Thursday, March 5. The Hawaiian performer has collaborated with big-name artists, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Bette Midler, Jack Johnson and Cyndi Lauper. | photo by Adam Jung Today Show, Sunday Morning, CNN, NPR, PBS, A Prairie Home Companion, Sprout, and Hawaii Five-O. Shimabukuro is also the subject of an award-winning documentary, Jake Shimabukuro: Life On Four Strings. Although he tours, playing 140 shows per year, he has recently recorded a new album expected to be released later this summer. Tickets cost $55, $48 for big ticket members, or $44 for big ticket plus members. The OCPA is located at 130 Navy St. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.oakvillecentre.ca or www.jakeshimabukuro. com. Toronto indie artist Jon Brooks is bringing his new collection of original, rural Canadian "murder ballads" to The Moonsine Café Wednesday (March 4). Brooks' music circles around the Highway of Tears, Christine Jessop murder, domestic violence, mass shootings in the workplace, and the forced relocation of the Sayisi Dene near Churchill, Man., to name some of the subject matter of his songs on his ironically-titled The Smiling & Beautiful Countryside album. "With some eerie-sounding, back-water banjitar and the distressed vocals of a post-heroine Steve Earle, Brooks humanizes the serial killers and challenges the listeners to contemplate their own inner darkness," stated a press release. "His writing also overflows with gallows humour, eviscerating any threat of earnestness." The album was recorded by Toronto producer David Travers-Smith. Brooks is the winner of the Kerrville New Folk award (2010) and launched his solo career in 2006, nearly a decade after a trip through eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and war-ravaged Bosnia-Herzegovina. His four previous albums have explored themes from architecture and homelessness to the Canadian war experience, and the concepts of freedom and imprisonment -- both physical and psychological. Brooks is also a three-time English Songwriter of the Year nominee at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. The concert at the 137 Kerr St. café starts at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $10. To make a reservation, call 905-844-2655 or email moonshinecafe@ cogeco.net. Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre puts call out to artists for juried exhibition The Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre (JCHAC) is putting out a call for artists interested in submitting their works for its second juried exhibition. The entries are exclusive to artists who live in the regions of Halton and Peel. The subject matter is open, excluding nudity, and artists can submit two pieces of their works, including paintings in any medium, drawing, fibre art or any two-dimensional wall art. Entry deadline Sunday Written "Call for Entry" forms must be emailed or delivered to the JCHAC by Sunday, (March 1). Dick Rampen, a multifaceted artist with more than 25 years teaching as an OCAD professor, and Shirley Erskine, a renowned artist whose works have been featured at Joshua Creek studios, will jury the show. The juried exhibition runs March 13-April 19 with an opening reception on March 15 from 2-5 p.m. For more information, contact Bill Hewitt at 905-257-4730 or bill@joshuacreekarts.com. Entry forms are available online by visiting http://goo.gl/udDRkc.