Denver UkeFest Open Mic 2018

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  • May 16, 2018 at 9:05 am #19974
    Alan FasickAlan Fasick
    Member

    Aloha,

    I performed a couple of songs at the Denver UkeFest Open Mic last week — I feel like I did pretty well, but am always looking to improve, so please provide feedback if you have any advise on things I should work on improving, particularly how to perform better (like how to not have such a grumpy expression on my face!)

    ‘Ulupalakua:

    I learned ‘Ulupalakua from Aldrine at Denver UkeFest 2017, so I thought it would be a good on to play this year. The solo is something I came up with based around the chords.

    It’s a Wonderful World:

    I used a video Jake Shimabukuro posted on FB discussing the verse melody and chords, filled in the chorus and put the pieces together. For reference, Jake’s video is here:

    What A Wonderful World – one of my favorite melodies. I usually play a D7b9 in the turnaround but played an Am instead. I think I like it. Eliminates the tension before going to the Gm7. I guess you could resolve chromatically back to the F by playing Am to Ab to G (Gm7) then Gb (tritone sub for C7) then resolve to the F. But the melody is so beautiful that it's probably best to not draw attention away from the lead – at least for the first go around. I remember hearing Pat Metheny's arrangement of Don't Know Why. He plays the melody so beautifully. And for the most part, keeps the harmony pretty straight and simple – until the very last go around. Then he reharmonizes the mangoes out of that melody! It's so awesome!!Anyway, it's getting late. Going to bed now. Thank you Palo Alto for a great show! Tonight's fundraiser for the Schultz Cultural Arts Hall was a great success :)Heading to Visalia tomorrow – then Costa Mesa! Good night. Oyasuminasai (good night in Japanese)

    Posted by Jake Shimabukuro on Friday, May 26, 2017

    I also covered Pua Hone at the Saturday open mic, but don’t have a recording of it — felt that went pretty well too.

    Mahalo,
    Alan

    May 17, 2018 at 7:20 am #19976
    bcanup1
    Member

    Sounds great. I can relate to the grumpy face. I have to focus hard to keep my mouth from being open she I play. So I look like I am frowning or mad when I play.

    May 17, 2018 at 7:27 am #19978
    Devin
    Member

    Alan,
    You were wonderful. You always put a smile on my face!!
    Devin

    May 17, 2018 at 12:19 pm #19981
    Ryan
    Member

    great job Alan!

    May 17, 2018 at 2:14 pm #19983
    yodasapienyodasapien
    Member

    I thought it was great Alan — I liked both of them — keep playing and getting up – like Devin you put a smile on my face too. I’m sure the folks there enjoyed both songs.

    Yodasapien

    May 17, 2018 at 5:09 pm #19985
    Alan FasickAlan Fasick
    Member

    Thanks everyone. I do feel like I’m slowly getting more comfortable — I just need to find a way to concentrate without scrunching up my face. I did feel better about the second song (It’s a Wonderful World) after I warmed up with the first one. Also, the virtual open mics here on UU+ have been very helpful, just like any other skill, it takes practice playing in front of people.

    Cheers,
    Alan

    August 20, 2018 at 9:26 am #20919
    Alan FasickAlan Fasick
    Member

    Not ‘ukulele-related this time, I did a Ki Ho’alu (Hawaiian Slack Key) mini-concert at the Global Fest in Aurora, CO this last weekend. Doing the Open Mics, including the ones here on UU+, have really helped me work up my nerve. I was still very nervous, but think I managed okay with it — the first two songs I was the most nervous, making a few mistakes, but the nice thing about a 30-minute set is I had time to relax a bit as I got into it. I even decided to improvise a little in a couple of the songs and felt I did okay.

    If you’re interested, here are the recordings:

    -Alan

    November 1, 2018 at 11:33 am #21564
    Alan FasickAlan Fasick
    Member

    Had a chance to sing ‘Ulupalakua again — after performing my slack key set, Phil Swain and Mark Kahalekulu were singing some Paniolo songs. When Phil got to ‘Ulupalakua he wanted to dance, but Mark couldn’t find his glasses to read the lyrics so I jumped up, grabbed Phil’s uke and played:

    I felt like this went pretty well — getting more confident singing in front of people. Mark had a nice solid rhythm that I was able to lock onto so I stuck with that instead of trying to get fancy.

    -Alan

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