The Joy of Uke 2

Rating:
Summary: Ease into jazz uke.
Review: I didn't watch the first video in this series because I already knew the basic uke chords. I don't feel like I missed anything important. This tape is just Jim and then Jim and Lyle Ritz playing some good classic songs that get progressively more difficult. The DVD is worth the bucks if not just to see Lyle Ritz play his $3000 custom Ko'olau.

Don't expect advanced chord theory or "classical" style music training here. Expect the "watch and play" method. If I remember music lessons right, I think this is known as the Suzuki method. Jim does a good job of "breaking down" his songs, but Ritz isn't as talky. In fact, in "Lulu's Back in Town" the camera does a better job of showing his fingering during the 'performance' than in the repeat 'breakdown' of the song. I've only been playing uke for a month though, and between the video and the lead sheet (included), the music is do-able! (OK, I'm no Lyle Ritz, but maybe someday...)

The DVD contains a nice chordbook (lead sheets, no melodies) that shows the chord fingering. Only a couple of position mistakes (that I caught) in the lead sheets, but otherwise pretty clear cut. Songs include the likes of "You Made me Love You," "Girl from Ipanema," "Dream," "Lulu's Back...," "Fly Me To The Moon," to a couple of originals by Jim and Ritz' famous "Ritz Cracker."

What I like about this DVD is that, if you practice the chords, you learn a couple of new bar positions and chord voicings that you can structure into your own music. The ukulele has great potential for jazz music, and this DVD exploits that.

I'd say this DVD is "intermediate" level. I'd definitely like to see an advanced DVD that leans more toward advanced chord theory, voicing positions, movement patterns, and jazz soloing. Maybe a "Joy of Uke 3" is in the works. The setup is there; this DVD encourages players to use the "G" tuning that is used by Ritz, Godfrey and other jazz players. (Jim explains the different tunings at the beginning.) This definitely opens up a new "sound" from the ukulele.

One really nice thing about this DVD is that it is NOT a salespitch for Fleas or Flukes, the brand of ukulele that Jim Beloff manufactures and sells. Yes, you see the Fluke in a couple of songs, but there is no mention of what it is or who sells it. For much of the video, Jim plays his ergonomically sound KoAloha ukulele--a beautiful koa instrument made in Hawai'i.

If you don't know who Lyle Ritz is, do your homework. You can find his CDs on the Amazon website. Buy them, especially if you think the ukulele is a 'silly' instrument. The uke is voiced for serious jazz music, and its range far surpasses its modest size.