It Sounds So Sweet: Jug Band Music for Ukulele
“It Sounds So Sweet: Jug Band Music For Ukulele” serves up twenty classic songs from the early years of recording. You’ll get songs from the classic bands like the Memphis Jug Band, Earl McDonald’s Original Louisville Jug Band, The Hokum Boys, and the Mississippi Sheiks among many others.There are even a couple songs from old time Appalachian and early country artists. And you’ll find rarities like the complete 1919 version of “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Give to Me,” and the long lost introduction to “Coney Island Roundelay.”
A 94 page instructional book, with tablature for all of the music and more, is available by clicking here.
Juke’n the Uke
Inspired by the music played in early 20th Century juke joints, rent parties and road house dives, “Juke’n The Uke” is an outstanding collection of classic blues, rags, jug-band songs and hokum artfully arranged for fingerstyle ‘ukulele. Highlights include a rare Hawaiian blues, the ballad “John Henry” played bottleneck style, and gems transcribed from the immortal Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy, Etta Baker, Blind Blake and many others.
“Juke’n the Uke” finally answers the age-old question, “I wish somebody would tell me what Diddy Wa Diddy means…”
Click here to hear music and watch videos for songs not on the CD.
A 94 page instructional book, with tablature for all of the music, “Blues You Can Use” lessons, and more, is available by clicking here.
Slack Key Style `Ukulele
Twenty classic Hawaiian melodies arranged for ‘ukulele…slack key style.
What is slack key? Simply put, it is both a style and a repertoire. The slack key player uses open tunings and finger picking to play both melody and harmonies at the same time. But it is more than simply re-tuning your ‘ukulele. Slack key is the quintessential Hawaiian musical form. I learned it the old fashioned way, by listening and sitting in with wonderful Island musicians. Can you play slack key on the ‘ukulele? Sure, “Jus’ press.”
Tablature for all of the music may be found in “The Uke Book: Learn to Play Slack Key Style ‘Ukulele”
Click here to buy the book.
Funtime UKE-A-RAMA!
All of your favorites from the `Ukulele Happy Hour! Hear “Apache” the way it was meant to be played– on an `ukulele! Thrill to the story of King Edward’s abdication. Relax to the enchanting “Sweet Singing Bamboo.” Do the stroll to Santo & Johnny’s immortal “Sleepwalk.” And please, don’t play “A-11″… unless you play it on the `ukulele.
Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
“Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar” is a collection of solo instrumental songs and medleys featuring the lilting finger-style guitar technique Mark learned by sitting in with master players like Uncle Ray Kane, Keola Beamer, Led Kaapana, John Keawe and Kevin Brown. These are the classic songs, played just as you’d hear them in a backyard kani kapila – full of interesting twists and turns, sometimes richly complex, but always nahenahe ~ “sweet!”
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The 89 page TAB Book contains note-for-note transcriptions of all 24 tunes written in tablature and standard notation.
Click here to buy the book.
Ke Kukima Polinahe ~ Polynesian and Hawaiian Music for Appalachian Dulcimer
The first-ever collection of classic Hawaiian & Polynesian music arranged for the Appalachian dulcimer – “Hi`ilawe,” the essential Hawaiian song about an illicit love affair; “Tiare Tahiti,” a beautiful Tahitian melody, King Kalakaua’s immortal “Sweet Leilehua” – and many more. If you like slack key music, wait until you hear it played on the dulcimer!
Akaka Falls•Kahuli Aku•Lei Ohu•Pupu O Ewa•Wehiwehi ‘Oe•Tiare Tahiti•Ahe Lau Makani•Ahi Wela•Hi‘ilawe•Moloka‘i Waltz•Nanea Kou Maka i ka Le‘ale‘a•Pua Sadinia•Sweet Leilehua•Kaulana Na Pua•Pauoa Liko ka Lehua•Ua Like No a Like•Isa Lei•Aloha ‘Oe•Sanoe
The 76 page TAB Book has all of the music from the CD, plus lessons to get you started playing beautiful slack key style melodies on your dulcimer.
Buy the book.
The Water is Wide
“The Water is Wide is my sunset-have-a-martini-on-the-lanai soundtrack every night.” – Duke Walls, Hana, Maui
Don’t miss The Water is Wide, an extraordinary collection of twelve contemporary instrumentals for slack key guitar and Appalachian dulcimer. The nahenahe sounds of ki ho`alu meets the sweet voice of the dulcimer.
The Water is Wide • The Road to Duke’s • Mood Indigo Slack • The Crossing • `Opihi Blues • Sî Bhean Locha Léin/Samhradh, Samhradh • Annie’s Slack Key Lullaby • Sanoe • Las Blancas Flores • Auntie’s Christmas Goose • Drizzle • Pua Sadinia
“The CD arrived in good order and I am already enjoying your beautiful music.What a musical treasure. I love every track. Your music is pure delight…truly NAHENAHE. Mahalo nui for sharing your musical gifts with others. The world would be a much better place if more folks would listen to and let your music melt away the “hardness” in them. Keep creating and playing your wonderful music.”
Sincerely, Kim Len
Autumn…
A stunning collection of instrumental solos for MIDI dulcimer and acoustic MIDI-guitar, autumn invokes the peaceful spirit of a late fall afternoon in Oregon’s beautiful Siskiyou Mountains.
“You’ll quickly feel a sense of tranquility as if the mountains themselves were singing. Ancient and modern voices are tastefully blended to provide a texture as smooth as an Autumn mountain lake at dawn.” NAIRD Notes
The Faery Hills – Instrumental Music from the Complete Collection of Celtic Music for Appalachian Dulcimer
Beautiful and stirring settings of airs and tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Britain and Brittany, artfully played on dulcimer, hummel, electric dulcimer MIDI dulcimer, harp, guitar & more. Includes a stunning setting of O’Carolan’s immortal Si Beg Si Mor (The Faery Hills) performed by Mark’s groundbreaking band Southern Light. Released at the same time as autumn, this wonderful CD is finally available again!
“The Faery Hills” creates a warm soothing atmosphere perfect for chilling out after a stressful day. Very Nice indeed.” — John O’Regan, Garryowen, Limerick Ireland
Airde Chuain/The Glergy’s Lamentation • Trunkles/Haste to the Wedding • Breton Wedding March/An Dro Arzh/An Dro Noalou • The Bonnie Lass of Bon Accord • The Aran Boat • Another Jig Will Do/Jenny’s Wedding/The Ships are Sailing • Oran Mor MacCloud/The Piobaireachd of Donald Dhu • All through the Night • Sonny Brogan’s Mazurka/Jackie Donnan’s Mazurka • Breton March/An Dro Baod • Si Beg Si Mor (The Faery Hills
Originally released 1996, Wizmak Records.
Southern Light
Mark’s third album, was a musical departure from the Celtic stylings of his previous efforts. It showcased his writing and multi-instrumental skills alongside a veritable who’s who of contemporary new acoustic musicians, including steel pan virtuoso Andy Narel, jazz violinist Dave Balakrisnan of the Turtle Island String Quartet and Celtic bopsters Robin Petrie and Danny Carnahan.
“Southern Light will have you dancing around the room with a planter’s punch in one hand and your ticket to Jamaica in the other.” (Four stars) – Advocate, Fairfield County , CT
Drizzle • The Cuckoo Round • Au Jardin d’Amour • Fernando’s • The Morning Fog • Turlututu • Lithuanian Tune/October/Bourée Nécessaire/Garçon de Montagne • Under Dogwood • Bahia (Southern Light) • Chimpanzee Bounce • Catalina • Larkin
Released 1986, Flying Fish Records.
Listen on Bandcamp
After The Morning
Produced by legendary Irish fiddler Kevin Burke, After the Morning moved the dulcimer to new levels of sophistication. A beautiful record, it was a Book of the Month Club selection.
“The beautiful sleeve art displays visually what is waiting for us aurally inside… to transport us across oceans and eons of time. The full range of the dulcimer is displayed… driving energetic and almost hypnotic, or delicate and transparent.” – Come For To Sing
Mark Nelson: Dulcimer, Hummel, Cittera, Bodhran
Kevin Burke: Fiddles
Tim Crosby: Mandolin, Banjo
Clyde Curley: Guitars, Fiddle
Lance Frodsham: Clavinette
Sylvia Hackathorne: Whistle
The Lonesome Boatman/The Skye Boat Song/The Musical Priest /The Earl’s Chair • An Comhra Donn/Delahunty’s Hornpipe • The Boys of Ballisodare/The Joys of my Life/The Kesh Jig • The Falls of Richmond • Planxty Irwin • Chickens are A’Crowing/Morrison’s Jig/Joe O’Dowd’s • Margaret McArthur’s Soldier’s Joy/Horga Latten • The Kid on the Mountain • Joke on the Puppy/Cold Frosty Morning • My Home
Originally released 1983, Kicking Mule Records.
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Fiddle Tunes for Dulcimer: The Rights of Man
A ground breaking collection of Irish, Scottish, French and old-time tunes featuring some of the Northwest’s pre-eminent musicians.
“Finely wrought arrangements… consistently captivating. Dulcimer playing of the highest order” – Jim Hatlo, FRETS Magazine
Bourrée • Hewlett • The Huntsman’s Chorus/West Fork Girls/Ducks on the Pond/Rock the Cradle Joe • Midnight on the Water • Farewell to Whiskey/Off to California/Crosby’s • Barney Brallaghan/Paddy on the Railroad/The Gravel Walk • The Road to Lisdoonvarna/Campbell’s Farewell to Redgap • The Duke of Fife/Puppy Eating Biscuits • Cherokee Shuffle • Prince William/Petronella • The Rights of Man • Le Chat Va La/Branle
Originally released 1979, Kicking Mule Records.
FLASH!!! After 20 years the TAB book is again available!! All the songs in EZ to read tab and standard notation. Order online here.