Comments on: Review: Aldrine Guerrero – Suite 409

By: Woodshed

Woodshed — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:13:06 +0000

Jeff: Thanks for the write up. I’ve seen a fair few videos of the UU tour on YouTube and it looks like a pile of fun.

H. and drfrancov: I’m glad I’m not alone in thinking it. I don’t much enjoy reviewing music: it’s such a subjective thing. I’m sure Aldrine will be massive before too long.

Art: Yep, he’s cool.

By: drfrancov

drfrancov — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:50:53 +0000

I have the CD and have listened to it many times…Yes the instrumental part is by far the best…He can certainly sing but I agree with you on the fact that a little more intensity/passion could make the songs come better…Just give him 1 or 2 more CDs…You’ll see.

By: Art Crocker

Art Crocker — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:58:35 +0000

Thanks for putting the review out there, it is a great collection of music. Aldrine is a joy to watch play, a combination of his wonderful talent and (as mentioned above), his gracious Hawaiian style.

By: H. Lagenberg

H. Lagenberg — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:07:06 +0000

I bought Aldrine’s CD as well, and your critique hits the nail right on the head. The magic of the Youtube vids, the virtuoso string wizardry is all there in the instrumental tracks. The “songs” however, are a bit too smooth, too generic to my liking. It appears that a lot of producing went into making an entire musical arrangement around the lyrics, instead of getting the song’s message through.
Nevertheless, a very worthy CD that anyone with a heart for upcoming musicians should buy.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:51:19 +0000

Aldrine came to the Berkeley Ukulele Club along with a flood of Ukulele Underground players and the Dominator. Aldrine’s UU tutorial videos are outstanding, clear and fun. I found Aldrine and Rayan’s playing was very entertaining and enjoyable. I found out that AG has studied under Jake Shimabukuro. He is quite skillful in his technique and playful with his ukulele. He did some electric guitar pedal stuff and some other-worldly spaceship-landing sound effects using his cell phone and sliding it over the strings.

Aldrine has that Hawaiian gracious style. There was a UU question and answer session afterward where he provided us with thoughtful and interesting answers to all questions. He played the Manny the Rooster riff, Lovesong, and the crowd was really into it all.

_____ _____ _____

Two days later, in Santa Cruz, Bill Tapia performed for a group of about 100 ukulele fanatics. Bill was born in 1908 and I must say I was extremely impressed with the sharpness of his mind and the agility in his hands. He plays ukulele jazz. Bill has so many stories to tell that you wish you could hang out for a week. He bought his first ukulele at age 6 for75 cents in 1914. He once got on stage with Louis Armstrong in 1939. He knew Cliff Edwards and his comments about Ukulele Ike we quite real in stating his personal shadows. During one song Bill played the ukulele behind his head and then he put it under his leg. At 100 what an entertainer and treasure to the ukulele community!

“…And if you can survive to 105, think of all you’ll derive, out of being alive. And here is the best part…” keep going Bill!