There are SO many elements to the Worlds best music...Technique...Tone...Timing etc. I shot this video of James at a Music Education conference where he was performing to a room full of music teachers. The theme of the session was that sometimes music educators can ruin the feeling and expression of music by hitting their students over the head with theory. James demonstrated how teaching creativity and music expression will keep their students engaged rather than frustrated.
I'd say this guy's tone, style, and technique is up there with Jake or better cause his rhythm is so spot on with all that counterpoint.. I'd love to hear this guy do a piece with K-OS.
As far I'm concerned he can play circles around Jake Shimabukuro. Listen to some of his other videos. His name is James Hill. If you want showboating then Jake is good at that. And Jake is a excellent ukulele player. But for technique, accuracy, and, variety of music, James is the man. Check out some of his complex jazz playing.
I think we have to be a bit careful when we label "best ". There are a mirriad of brilliant uke players to astound us past and present. Roy Smeck, John King, Jake Shimarabuko, George Harrison, Joe Brown, to name but a few....the list of highly talented is endless. There is no " Best". They/we are all individuals and play different styles fast, slow, classical, fun, pop, blah blah. Depends on which musical mood you are in at a particlar " now" time?
In my opinion, Sungha is a guitar player who can also play the ukulele. His technique while playing the ukulele shows that he is more used to playing the guitar by the way he uses his strokes. He plays the ukulele fairly but he probably plays the guitar much better.
Could we not just say that this guy is still very good at what he does, instead of comparing him to someone else? Yes the video says World's Best Ukulele Player, but in our society we say things like this as a casual compliment. He is still very good at what he does.
Awsome song. Great guy to. Met James Hill in April. He taught me the melody to this. I can play melody but chords an drum beat is really hard to do with one hand. JAMES IS THE BEST UKULELE PLAYER EVER!!
If you could find a kid who plays like james hill; one of the most respected uke players and teachers in the world, then that child is the new mozart. James' playing is incredibly technical and musical, even if this particular video is a showcase of very difficult extended technique and not normal uke practise. Point is, mr hill is incredible, and definitely up there with the best.
I just hope that people who are so great at playing uke (like James and Jake) don't end up discouraging others to take up the instrument by their intimidating virtuosity. And to be honest, amazing technical abilities that often lack com/passionate emotion can leave me a little cold. Still, I really hope he can play at our uke fest next year! (Australia) Melbourne Ukulele Festival, March 2012.
This is James Hill. Do a search for his name. You can add "like a bird" or "reel" to the search terms if you want to hear him do traditional music, or "rideau canal" or "misirlou"... he does all styles. I like him, Jake, John King... best is just a way of saying wow's that's great, but there are so many great musicians in the world.
Jake Shimabukuro and James Hill are defiantly the best two ukulele players in the world both have beautiful, technical, unique compositions. Sungha Jung is great too, and has the potential to be among the top players, but his guitar compositions are much better than his ukulele videos and performances.
It does make me laugh when people start arguing over who's the best. Jake Shimubukuru, Sungha Jung and this guy.. THEY'RE ALL BRILLIANT IN THEIR OWN WAY !! and express their music differently. That's what I love about music, it's totally organic and personal to each musician. Just appreciate them for what they do and don't compare. Well.. that's my view anyways :0)
The worlds best Uke player was Bill Tapia He passed away in Dec 2. 2011 at the grand old age of 103 He played at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on opening night in 1927 He returned to play at the Hotels 75th anniversary Bill will be missed by many friends and Uke players world wide
Jake is the best at what he does... but he doesn't do what James does. I admire both of these guys, I highly doubt the term better or best has any value in a discussion about them.
He's just having fun with it, and that's the true point about music, you can go up their and sing and perform and such just for the money, but you don't really have good music, it's nothing without the love for it... I'm just glad he's having fun, and that's why I enjoyed it. But obviously you didn't notice that.
this is an excerpt from the 2011 NAMM show, James Hill is very very talented. he is also a great Cello Player. this video does not show the talent that he has.
James Hill is known for his uke playing. He's good. But a gifted uke player is Jake Shimabukuro!! Find Jake's song, "My Guitar Gently Weeps". Hits all notes clearly and can fan strum like no one's business.
Seen people who can imitate the style of all the great players, except for this. Watched him do it live and even from about 4 foot away I couldn't work out how he did it. Easily the best uke player imo.
Check out Brittni Paiva, Kalei Gamiao and Kimo Hussey. These are true masters of the ukulele displaying rock-solid technique and incredible musicianship.
The point is he's playing his "drum track" bass part and the chord progression. Wouldn't say he's the best ever but this sort of thing starts to get tricky when you only have 4 strings and such a small fingerboard
Better than me that’s for sure, and without a “best” we have no reference to strive to be better, so without comparing and competing we wither and die! Think about it... good enough is not good enough if you have passion...
I agree absolutely with Kanyahon, though they are great Uke players in their respective styles. Jake play to IMPRESS and James play to EXPRESS. Here are two Uke Players who express the feelings of songs rather than impress to name a few: Herb Otha's Stardust, Over the rainbow, and When you wish upon a star: and Akira Karasawa"s Girl from Ipanema, Georgia and What a wonderful world. Search for these songs and you'll know what I mean.
@fromthebody Ha! Not likely! This was at NAMM, and he was being sponsored by Kala. That's a great model, but it's not a Kamaka. You can get this for about 1/9 of what it would cost for a Kamaka tenor. When he tours, he uses 2 custom G-String ukuleles.
@aibangmaini That's the thing, he's not using a looper, it's all him. That's how awesome he is. I saw him play live a couple months ago, he played this song and there wasn't any looper on stage, trust me.
Jake and this guy are both great enough to say thay're cool the difference of them is just One is Acoustic Indy Style as Entertainer another one is Classical Solo Style as Instrumentalist Don't you thinks thay're both great Musician?
Both James and Jake are brilliant and yet different. I love them both. C'mon... we are all individuals, though part of a great big family... you feelin' it?
A lot of bad comments here. This is not a very good example of James Hills skills with a ukulele. If you like the ukulele, i strongly suggest you have a look at some of this guys work, he's awesome. Probably not as good as Jake but he has a totally different style and a great sense of humor
@AJHutcherson James play a lot of Music categories- from classical to Jazz to Blues and what have you. The easiest songs are the hardest to portray its musicality. Try to play James's video and the impact will be different.
This is James Hill, and if he isn't the best (we all know Jake is the best), he is definitely a close second. Go to his web page and check him out when he gets really serious.
I don't think he's cocky, he's just confident at what he does and he has a good sense of humour. Besides which, HE hasn't called himself the worlds best Uke player, the person who uploaded this video has ! Jake Shimabukuro I agree is absolutely fantastic, but totally different to this guys style. It's all good stuff :0) But hey.. each to their own !
@JMJgamingproductions Are you kidding? Of course that's a ukulele. It's very visible - not only because of the FOUR strings, but because of the size and the sound. James Hill is an expert on the uke. Hard to declear someone the best. Jake and James has got two different play styles that can't be compared
Most interesting: This guy Most skilled: Jake Shimabukuro Fastest: George Formby There are many things that make the 'best'. If you had a combination of the originality of this guy, pure skill of Jake and speed and rhythm of Formby... that would be the BEST ukulele player the world has ever seen.
Can't believe how many people think Jake is better. James Hill is the best hands down. Have you seen his other videos? His voodoo child is amazing. Never even seen Jake attempt anything close to that original or creative.
@E4rlGrey They're both amazing and best in the world in their own ways. I have a slight preference for James Hill because I like the songs he plays better and I find him more versatile, but I absolutely love Jake too. And Aldrine! Does it have to be a competition? Can't we just enjoy these players' intense awesomeness and be happy with it?
nice video, for some reason it reminds me of the show friends where Phoebe asks Chrissie Hynde, ' so how many chords do you know?',, or are you just pretendin
Good but search: Search Jake Shimabukuro from Hawaii - lightning fingers! See Jake's rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weep" (A Beatles song by George Harrison). You'll enjoy it!
There are SO many elements to the Worlds best music...Technique...Tone...Timing etc. I shot this video of James at a Music Education conference where he was performing to a room full of music teachers. The theme of the session was that sometimes music educators can ruin the feeling and expression of music by hitting their students over the head with theory. James demonstrated how teaching creativity and music expression will keep their students engaged rather than frustrated.
1:38 idky but that double tap is amazing too me
hoy shit it's Bob ross
Jesus Christ it's Jason Bourne
Jason Bourne it's Jesus Christ
Holy God this is himself
I've been to a ukulele workshop with him and it was AWESOME!
I'd say this guy's tone, style, and technique is up there with Jake or better cause his rhythm is so spot on with all that counterpoint.. I'd love to hear this guy do a piece with K-OS.
Actually, peeps I believe he could play anything Jake plays!! This guy is a Master Uke Player!! They both just walk to the beat of a different strum!!
As far I'm concerned he can play circles around Jake Shimabukuro. Listen to some of his other videos. His name is James Hill. If you want showboating then Jake is good at that. And Jake is a excellent ukulele player. But for technique, accuracy, and, variety of music, James is the man. Check out some of his complex jazz playing.
Still a no imo
I think we have to be a bit careful when we label "best ".
There are a mirriad of brilliant uke players to astound us past and present.
Roy Smeck, John King, Jake Shimarabuko, George Harrison, Joe Brown, to name but a few....the list of highly talented is endless.
There is no " Best".
They/we are all individuals and play different styles fast, slow, classical, fun, pop, blah blah.
Depends on which musical mood you are in at a particlar " now" time?
Yeah. Which song you like best
In my opinion, Sungha is a guitar player who can also play the ukulele. His technique while playing the ukulele shows that he is more used to playing the guitar by the way he uses his strokes. He plays the ukulele fairly but he probably plays the guitar much better.
Jon snow after season 8, he's playing ukulele
You know nothing Jon snow .
He's playing the guitar, the bass, and the drum part all on uke:D thats awesome:D
Sweet.... Love it. You Are a Rockstar. Fun... your uke playin makes us SMILE!!
Could we not just say that this guy is still very good at what he does, instead of comparing him to someone else? Yes the video says World's Best Ukulele Player, but in our society we say things like this as a casual compliment. He is still very good at what he does.
Indeed
can you stop overthinking this
@@stephenc909 Nope this rule is very important to musicains
Awsome song. Great guy to. Met James Hill in April. He taught me the melody to this. I can play melody but chords an drum beat is really hard to do with one hand. JAMES IS THE BEST UKULELE PLAYER EVER!!
If you could find a kid who plays like james hill; one of the most respected uke players and teachers in the world, then that child is the new mozart.
James' playing is incredibly technical and musical, even if this particular video is a showcase of very difficult extended technique and not normal uke practise.
Point is, mr hill is incredible, and definitely up there with the best.
I just hope that people who are so great at playing uke (like James and Jake) don't end up discouraging others to take up the instrument by their intimidating virtuosity. And to be honest, amazing technical abilities that often lack com/passionate emotion can leave me a little cold. Still, I really hope he can play at our uke fest next year! (Australia) Melbourne Ukulele Festival, March 2012.
He makes the Ukele look so super duper fun to play. I want to learn now!!!
So did you learnt ukulele ? 8 years ago 🙂
@@sammyjain5024 ahah, I like your curiosity
Who really cares about Who's the Best lol Just listen enjoy stay simple. Music is simple and human so complicated haha
If we're not supposed to care, it shouldn't be labeled "Best"
This sounds like it's from someone who's insecure and terrible at playing
Smokeyy Saxx It sounds like an Alien!
YOU'RE AN ALIEN AREN'T YOU
@@shoeshine00 oops ..... you still got all your toes left?
1 of d most brilliant musician ever
This is James Hill. Do a search for his name. You can add "like a bird" or "reel" to the search terms if you want to hear him do traditional music, or "rideau canal" or "misirlou"... he does all styles. I like him, Jake, John King... best is just a way of saying wow's that's great, but there are so many great musicians in the world.
Jake Shimabukuro and James Hill are defiantly the best two ukulele players in the world both have beautiful, technical, unique compositions. Sungha Jung is great too, and has the potential to be among the top players, but his guitar compositions are much better than his ukulele videos and performances.
If James and Jake can respect each other, why can't we? They both inspire me.
This guy is to Ukelele what Micheal Hedges was to guitar. This so reminds me of "Come Together" off of "Live from the Double Planet". Great post!
It does make me laugh when people start arguing over who's the best.
Jake Shimubukuru, Sungha Jung and this guy.. THEY'RE ALL BRILLIANT IN THEIR OWN WAY !! and express their music differently. That's what I love about music, it's totally organic and personal to each musician. Just appreciate them for what they do and don't compare. Well.. that's my view anyways :0)
*So, nobody will talk about the fact about boy in the background almost ate the mic!*
I generally am not crazy about the Uke,but your playing has inspired me..even more than George Harrison on the uke... thats something.
The worlds best Uke player was Bill Tapia
He passed away in Dec 2. 2011 at the grand old age of 103
He played at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on opening night in 1927
He returned to play at the Hotels 75th anniversary
Bill will be missed by many friends and Uke players world wide
Exactly. Just enjoy what each individual offers in their own unique way. Ban stupid small-minded 'comparison' comments - so tedious!
Jake is the best at what he does... but he doesn't do what James does. I admire both of these guys, I highly doubt the term better or best has any value in a discussion about them.
WoW, he doesn't need the orchestra. he is the orchestra.
He's just having fun with it, and that's the true point about music, you can go up their and sing and perform and such just for the money, but you don't really have good music, it's nothing without the love for it... I'm just glad he's having fun, and that's why I enjoyed it. But obviously you didn't notice that.
Ah, great, made me smile throughout the song !
this is an excerpt from the 2011 NAMM show, James Hill is very very talented. he is also a great Cello Player. this video does not show the talent that he has.
James Hill is known for his uke playing. He's good. But a gifted uke player is Jake Shimabukuro!! Find Jake's song, "My Guitar Gently Weeps". Hits all notes clearly and can fan strum like no one's business.
Seen people who can imitate the style of all the great players, except for this. Watched him do it live and even from about 4 foot away I couldn't work out how he did it. Easily the best uke player imo.
What ukelele is he using
It's kind of a cool uke treatment for a song.
also, you can get 6 string ukes. and resonator ukes and lapsteel ukes. What i'm saying is you can get a lot of ukes...
quit comparing wonderful musicians who should just be celebrated.
Another uke player I heard on Maui is Derek Sebastian. Give him a listen. I think you'll be impressed.
Check out Brittni Paiva, Kalei Gamiao and Kimo Hussey. These are true masters of the ukulele displaying rock-solid technique and incredible musicianship.
The point is he's playing his "drum track" bass part and the chord progression. Wouldn't say he's the best ever but this sort of thing starts to get tricky when you only have 4 strings and such a small fingerboard
He's great but Jake shimabukuro is better. Watch his video and you will know.
+Yogen Grg Yes Jake is the best
+hinatsu1 i think KYAS is the best
+Yogen Grg
I think they are both great.
Yogen Grg
I like Kalei's style.
Nothing to be gained by comparing. You LIKE one more than the other.
Better than me that’s for sure, and without a “best” we have no reference to strive to be better, so without comparing and competing we wither and die! Think about it... good enough is not good enough if you have passion...
Great little ditty to happen across.
I thoroughly enjoyed that.
I don't know why we have to compare anyway. They just are different. I love Jake's playing to but I also loved Izzy. He was fantastic too.
I agree absolutely with Kanyahon, though they are great Uke players in their respective styles. Jake play to IMPRESS and James play to EXPRESS. Here are two Uke Players who express the feelings of songs rather than impress to name a few: Herb Otha's Stardust, Over the rainbow, and When you wish upon a star: and Akira Karasawa"s Girl from Ipanema, Georgia and What a wonderful world. Search for these songs and you'll know what I mean.
I saw him and Jake Shimabukuro live on stage on the 40th Ukulele festival in Hawaii =)
@fromthebody Ha! Not likely! This was at NAMM, and he was being sponsored by Kala. That's a great model, but it's not a Kamaka. You can get this for about 1/9 of what it would cost for a Kamaka tenor.
When he tours, he uses 2 custom G-String ukuleles.
No one would say that Jake didn't kick ass, but I prefer James as the all-around musician that I enjoy listening to.
@smartins3004 james hill doesn't use loopstations, he's just a really good musician
Smiling & Head Banging🙏
@aibangmaini That's the thing, he's not using a looper, it's all him. That's how awesome he is. I saw him play live a couple months ago, he played this song and there wasn't any looper on stage, trust me.
Time perfect. Really nice vocals, plus the all multitasking. Wau, this
Jake and this guy are both great enough to say thay're cool
the difference of them is just
One is Acoustic Indy Style as Entertainer
another one is Classical Solo Style as Instrumentalist
Don't you thinks thay're both great Musician?
Who gave him that title? Jake shimabukuro is light years ahead of him. This guy here sounds good but Jake is genuis ukulele player for sure.
Bohemian Rhapsody, that's all I'll say
+Ryan Barker i know
Worlds best Ukelele player, super okay singer.
the show is called "deflowered by ukulele"
Both James and Jake are brilliant and yet different. I love them both. C'mon... we are all individuals, though part of a great big family... you feelin' it?
James Hill is def the most innovative player!! You will hear him do stuff that sounds like nobody else! Kinda like a Tuck Andreas of ukulele:)
I do not know is he is the worlds best but he sure is ahead of whoever is in second place. Listen to his DOWN RIDEAU CANAL or FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLE BEE
Andy Eastwood opens March 2010 GFS convention......Now Thats the Best Ukulele player around!
A lot of bad comments here. This is not a very good example of James Hills skills with a ukulele. If you like the ukulele, i strongly suggest you have a look at some of this guys work, he's awesome. Probably not as good as Jake but he has a totally different style and a great sense of humor
@AJHutcherson James play a lot of Music categories- from classical to Jazz to Blues and what have you. The easiest songs are the hardest to portray its musicality. Try to play James's video and the impact will be different.
The title should be "World's Best Electric Acoustic Ukulele Player".
he's not cocky, he's confident. jesus. does everyone need to humble themselves into a corner somewhere?
Great playing.Did you pay any music royalties, or make a deal with youtube to do this song?
I dont know where you come from, but in Switzerland we do have music shops with 50 ukuleles ;)
he is playing the main melody and the high notes with hammer-ons from the base flick
This is James Hill, and if he isn't the best (we all know Jake is the best), he is definitely a close second. Go to his web page and check him out when he gets really serious.
Maybe not the best, but funny and awesome!
@drumdizzy I was waiting for somebody to mention a truly great uke player. Well done.
Jake blows every other ukulele player out of the water. No question.
Pretty creative. I/m more in love with his UKE then I am his song. What is that, a kamaka?
Not better than Jake Shimabukuro, but Moyer has talent.
I don't think he's cocky, he's just confident at what he does and he has a good sense of humour. Besides which, HE hasn't called himself the worlds best Uke player, the person who uploaded this video has !
Jake Shimabukuro I agree is absolutely fantastic, but totally different to this guys style. It's all good stuff :0)
But hey.. each to their own !
Who are these people? I would love to see a sample of the "countless" ukulelists who equal james hill in extended technique.
@JMJgamingproductions Are you kidding?
Of course that's a ukulele. It's very visible - not only because of the FOUR strings, but because of the size and the sound.
James Hill is an expert on the uke. Hard to declear someone the best.
Jake and James has got two different play styles that can't be compared
ask him if he would post tutorials or teach lessons. He has a lot to offer.
It's not electric, it's just a microphone inside the Ukulele, to catch its sound.
Haha! I was about to ask what king of looping pedals he was using.
James Hill is awesome.
He is more comfortable with the ukelele than I am with the banana.
I've seen him before at the ukulele festival in Auckland and played that song there
@E4rlGrey Amazing! Thanks for sharing. I will let the NAMM folks know to check him out.
Most interesting: This guy
Most skilled: Jake Shimabukuro
Fastest: George Formby
There are many things that make the 'best'. If you had a combination of the originality of this guy, pure skill of Jake and speed and rhythm of Formby... that would be the BEST ukulele player the world has ever seen.
to all those saying not the best.... who cares he's amazing i wish i had a tenth the talent he does......
James Hill is one of the best, yes. People talking shit about him need to check him out some more before making any statements.
Can't believe how many people think Jake is better. James Hill is the best hands down. Have you seen his other videos? His voodoo child is amazing. Never even seen Jake attempt anything close to that original or creative.
@E4rlGrey They're both amazing and best in the world in their own ways. I have a slight preference for James Hill because I like the songs he plays better and I find him more versatile, but I absolutely love Jake too. And Aldrine!
Does it have to be a competition? Can't we just enjoy these players' intense awesomeness and be happy with it?
nice video, for some reason it reminds me of the show friends where Phoebe asks Chrissie Hynde, ' so how many chords do you know?',, or are you just pretendin
Hey Jonathan. Excellent! Can I ask what uke and amp you are using? Pickup?
World's Most Overstated Title...
It's sad how his name's not on this video. He's James Hill, from Canada :)
Clever. Really enjoyed this. What kind of ukulele is this?
Fantastic! I didn't even know I liked that song until just now.
Good but search: Search Jake Shimabukuro from Hawaii - lightning fingers! See Jake's rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weep" (A Beatles song by George Harrison). You'll enjoy it!
Quirky, fantastic and super talented and the best one I've heard today ;)
personally I like sungha hung and Jake shimabukuro better but that's just my opinion.
true true
Actually, James Hill is from British Columbia, Canada.
Much agreed. but this guy is still very entertaining.