Photo Credit: Sienna Morales
Jake Shimabukuro and Mick Fleetwood have come together to preview their joint single, a take on the blues standard, “Rollin’ N Tumblin’.” The cover represents the duo’s initial sonic deliverable off their impending full-length fall release, which will arrive via Forty Below Record. Staying true to the numbers instrumentally-led approach (think Eric Clapton met with Jeff Beck), the number exhibits unique psychedelic-dripped uke riffs atop tribal beats, pulsed by the legendary backbeat.
The pairing is the result of a bond that began in the late ’90s, when Shimabukuro and Fleetwood first performed together at the Hawaiian Music Awards ceremony, along with Kenny Logins. Decades later, the two reconvened due to a mutual friend at a Fleetwood Mac reunion concert in Nashville. The resulting rekindling sparked the night of the aforementioned Music City show, and not long after, the duo came together to ignite their plan.
Along with Shimabukuro’s touring bassist Jackson Waldhoff and keyboard player Michael Grande, the group began work on a new studio album in Maui. And, with the help of Mark Johnstone from The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, the group recorded a pair of songs, “Need Your Love So Bad” and “Rockin’ In The Free World.” What ensued was two three-day studio sessions, yielding nine blues laden tracks.
Differing from past interpretations of “Rollin’ N Tumblin’,” Shimabukuro and Fleetwood’s interpretation ascends into the amalgamated musical category of psych and jazz-rock taking the track from a standard presentation to experimental and otherworldly with a genuinely unique rhythmic display paired with swirling strums, adding meaning to Shimabukuro’s status as the so-called “Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele.”
“The power and energy that comes from Mickʻs playing is incredible! Iʻve never experienced anything like it. He really pushed me beyond whatʻs comfortable and inspired me to be more adventurous in my playing,” Jake Shimabukuro exclusively shared with Relix. Fleetwood added, “Jake and I had a full let it all go moment on this one!! Jake let his hair down.. A blues standard being given a wake up call!!”
Pre-save the single “Rollin’ N Tumblin’.” For more information, visit www.jakeshimabukuro.com.
