A heads-up on another interesting show coming to Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium. Ukulele sensation Jake Shimabukuro will, like Bob James last week, make his UMS debut Wednesday evening.

Jake has been recording and touring since the late 90s. While it seems as though the music industry has reached peak ukulele saturation over the last few years (e.g., Eddie Vedder and Dave Matthews catching up with Paul McCartney), Shimabukuro was well ahead of that curve. His fame was initially limited to Hawaii and Japan, but the pan-stylist broke through US media in 2006 by becoming one of YouTube’s first viral stars via his compelling solo rendition of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” (13M views and counting…) Curiously, It’s interesting that Jake first broke through to the mainstream by covering a song by Harrison, whose ukulele now tours with McCartney.

If you’re new to Shimabukuro and even the slightest bit interested in the man or the music, I suggest the 2012 documentary Life On Four Strings (which is available via Netflix, among other outlets). It not only covers his biography but also offers a glimpse into the touring musician’s solitary life on the road. Here is a trailer:

His music has something for everyone: musicians can enjoy the virtuosity, connoisseurs will appreciate the content and arrangements, and his accessibility will draw in the everyday listener of all stripes. This cocktail promises to make Wednesday evening at Hill Auditorium a treat for all who attend.

See him Wednesday evening at 8:00 PM. Ticket info here.