New York Ukulele Ensemble

The New York Ukulele Ensemble was founded by Uke Jackson^[1]. Current members: Heather Lev, Katie Down, Debra Sherline, Holly Duthie, Christina Liao, J Walter Hawkes, Greg Gattuso, Uncle Zac, and Uke Jackson. The line up is all ukulele, including soprano, concert, tenor, baritone and bass ukuleles, and banjo ukes.

The group's first CD, Ukulele Street, which included performances by additional ukulele players, was released in 2007.

Recent appearances by the New York Ukulele Ensemble include New York City's Art Parade and the thirty-first annual Village Halloween Costume Ball at the Theater for the New City in 2007, and the Gershwin Hotel's Living Room Series and the New York Ukulele Fest in 2008.

For the last two years, Uke Jackson, the group's founder, has directed an annual ukulele music festival in Manhattan at the 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m²) Theater for the New City, one of New York City's oldest not-for-profit theaters. The New York Ukulele Ensemble is now listed as the host band on the festival website.

Since 2006, the New York Ukulele Fest has taken place in April. People have come from as far away as Japan and the rain forest in Queensland, Australia, to participate.

The New York Ukulele Ensemble performs original songs and tunes drawn from a variety of music genres. Their music is meant to present audiences with entertainment that frequently challenges cultural suppositions.

1. ^ The stage persona of playwright Stephen DiLauro

External links

• http://www.nyukuleleensemble.com
• http://www.myspace.com/newyorkukuleleensemble
• http://www.nyukefest.com
• Time Out New York article on The New York Ukulele Ensemble
• The New York Ukulele Ensemble's video on behalf of the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute