A "Building Ukulele Technique" Workshop with Uke Wizard LIL' REV

Thursday , September 28, 2006
06:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Elderly Instruments
workshop ($35.00)

According to the above "teaser," Pete Seeger loves Lil' Rev. There's another connection between these two artists, also. Speaking with regard to Lil' Rev's recorded collection of Jewish and Yiddish folk songs "filtered through a prism of Americana influences," Rabbi Larry Milder wrote of the ukulele master, "Lil' Rev is the Jewish Pete Seeger."

Following the release of his first volume of Fountain of Uke in 2003, Elderly music purchaser Chris Rietz described Lil' Rev's music as "old-time uke-strummin' foot-stompers from...one of our favorite purveyors of good-timerie." Volume Two, a unique collection of blues, rags, Tin Pan Alley, folk songs, old-time country, and novelty numbers on the uke, was released last year and is also highly acclaimed.

Lil' Rev isn't "merely" a talented entertainer, however. He is valued as a music historian and has built a solid reputation as a successful multi-instrumental instructor, and he takes his teaching duties seriously.

Titled "Building Ukulele Technique," Lil' Rev's September 28 hands-on workshop is open to ukulele players of all playing levels except absolute novices. "You'll need to know a few basic chords," Lil' Rev says, in order to benefit from this workshop, which is designed for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles (no baritone ukes for this one, please). Students will begin with basic strums and rolls and soon move into tremolo, melody playing, moveable chords, triplets, slides, and repertoire building. All of this is accomplished with various drills and exercises for improving ukulele skills. Handouts will be provided, Lil' Rev adds. Please bring a uke, a music stand, and--if you'd like--a recorder to tape the workshop.

Referring to himself as a "Purveyor of Good-Time Music," Lil' Rev explains that he performs Stephen Foster minstrel songs, Delta holler blues, featuring classic songs as well as originals...all of which can best be described as good time music.

In 2003, Lil' Rev was inducted into the Traditional Old-Time Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2000 he was voted Best Instrumentalist Harmonica Player. In 1996-97 he was voted Best Acoustic Act in Milwaukee, and in 1996 he was titled Hohner's National Blues Harmonica Champion.

"Lil' Rev is an immensely talented and entertaining performer whose fast-paced shows cover a broad range of musical landscape. His concise, eloquent and witty introductions add to the fun! This man knows music, instruments, history, cultures, and most of all, how to engage and captivate an audience." - Dave Humphreys, Director, Two Way Street Coffee House

"Hands down favorite" - Dirty Linen

In addition to his September 28 workshop at Elderly, Lil Rev will perform at Altu's Ethiopian Cuisine, 1312 Michigan Avenue in East Lansing, on Wednesday, September 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to enjoy fine food and an equally-fine and entertaining old-time musician and educator.

Check out recordings we carry featuring Lil' Rev