Intro Text
Jake Shimabukuro has redefined the musical possibilities of the ukulele, drawing comparisons to the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, and Miles Davis in his innovative approach to the instrument. He effortlessly mixes jazz, rock, classical, traditional Hawaiian music, and folk, creating a sound that’s technically masterful, emotionally powerful, and utterly unique in the music world. In addition to his original compositions, his repertoire includes Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Schubert’s Ave Maria and Cohen’s Hallelujah. His career skyrocketed when a cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral on YouTube with more than 13 million views, opening the rest of the world’s eyes to Jake and his unique playing style. He has topped Billboard’s World Music Chart numerous times. Jake has been the subject of an award winning documentary “Jake Shimabukuro: Life On Four Strings,” currently on Netflix.
Jake began his music career in the mid-90’s, performing at local coffee shops as a sideman with his first band, Pure Heart. But Jake’s solo career began in 2002 when he signed with Epic Records, becoming the first ukulele player to sign with Sony Music. While his well-received solo releases positioned Jake as an established musician in Hawaii and Japan, his career skyrocketed when a cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral on YouTube with more than 13 million views, opening the rest of the world’s eyes to Jake and his unique playing style.
In the years since the YouTube clip aired, Jake has collaborated with an array of artists that include Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Dave Koz, Michael McDonald, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Tommy Emmanuel, and Lyle Lovett – as well as orchestras around the world. He’s sold out world-class venues, played at Bonnaroo, SXSW, the Playboy Jazz Festival, Fuji Rock Festival, the influential TED conference, and even performed for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England.
He has topped Billboard’s World Music Chart numerous times, been declared a musical “hero” by Rolling Stone Magazine, which also stated: “one of the hottest axemen of the past few years doesn’t actually play guitar.” He has also won accolades from the disparate likes of Eddie Vedder who states: “Jake is taking the instrument to a place that I can’t see anybody else catching up with;” been talked about by Perez Hilton and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, wowed audiences on national TV with appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Good Morning America,” and “The Today Show,” and along the way has earned comparisons to musical innovators such as Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis. Jake has been the subject of an award winning documentary “Jake Shimabukuro: Life On Four Strings,”currently on Netflix.
Known for his energetic strumming on the ukulele, Jake’s performance incorporates elements of thoughtful, sophisticated arrangements to spontaneous, improvised passages. In addition to his original compositions, his repertoire includes Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Schubert’s Ave Maria and Cohen’s Hallelujah. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jake’s life has always centered on the ukulele. He started playing at the age of four, urged by his mother who also played.
Established in 2010, the Passport Sessions program brings musicians to our local community to highlight a wide variety of cultures and traditions.
Each year, three bands perform for local youth and the community. Youth at Rochester's School Age Child Care (SACC) program are given up-close-and-personal outreach sessions, and we partner with Rochester Downtown Alliance (RDA) for fun, free community concerts at Thursdays Downtown.
WHEN
Public concerts at Thursdays Downtown start at 7 p.m.
SACC outreach events are not open to the public.
COST
Passport Sessions concerts at Thursdays Downtown are free and open to the public!
SACC outreach events are free, but not open to the public.
SEATING
Thursdays Downtown is an outdoor festival. Space is available on a first come, first served basis. Come early to choose your spot! Seats are not provided.
ITEMS TO BRING
Thursdays Downtown is an outdoor festival in Downtown Rochester. Items to make your experience more comfortable are welcome. Concessions will be available at the event.
CONCESSIONS
Thursdays Downtown features a large variety of local food and beverage vendors. Vendor information is available here.
SURVEYS
Public Music staff will be at the events with surveys. Please help us improve our events by completing one!
WEATHER POLICY
Thursdays Downtown is an outdoor festival, and events may be cancelled due to inclement weather. Please check our event updates page for changes to the Passport Sessions schedule.
THURSDAYS DOWNTOWN
Passport Sessions artists perform free concerts at Thursdays Downtown, an annual outdoor summer festival located in downtown Rochester.
A weekly summer staple of downtown Rochester, Thursdays Downtown combines arts, music, food, and a vendor market into one free community-uniting, block-party-style event.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.