A Bohemian (/bəʊˈhiːmɪən/) is a resident of the former Kingdom of Bohemia, either in a narrow sense as the region of Bohemia proper or in a wider meaning as the whole country, now known as the Czech Republic. The word "Bohemian" was used to denote the Czech people as well as the Czech language before the word "Czech" became prevalent in English. "Bohemian" may also denote "a socially unconventional person, especially one who is involved in the arts." (see Bohemianism).^[1]

Etymology[link]

The name "Bohemia" derives from the Latin term for the Celtic tribe inhabiting that area, the Boii, who were called Boiohaemum in the early Middle Ages.^{[citation needed]} The word "Bohemian" was never used by the local Czech (Slavic) population.^{[citation needed]} In Czech, the region since the early Middle Ages has been called only Čechy ("Czech") or Království české ("Czech Kingdom"), and its mainly Czech-speaking inhabitants were called Čechové (in modern Czech Češi).^{[citation needed]}

In most other European vernaculars and in Latin (as Bohemi), the word "Bohemian" or a derivate was used. If the Czech ethnic origin was to be stressed, combinations like "Bohemian of Bohemian language"(Čech českého jazyka), "a real Bohemian" (pravý Čech) etc. were used.^{[citation needed]}

It was not until the 19th century that other European languages began to use the word "Czechs" (in English – Tschechen in German, Tchèques in French) in a deliberate (and successful) attempt to distinguish between Bohemian Slavs and other inhabitants of Bohemia (mostly Germans). Currently, the word "Bohemians" is sometimes used when speaking about persons from Bohemia of non-Czech or mixed ethnic origin, especially before the year 1918, when the Kingdom of Bohemia ceased to exist; also when there is need to distinguish between inhabitants of the western part (Bohemia proper) of Czechia, and the eastern (Moravia) or the north-eastern part (Silesia).

The term "Bohemianism", when used to mean "social unconventionality", comes from the French bohémien "Gypsy" "because Gypsies were thought to come from Bohemia, or because they perhaps entered the West through Bohemia".^[1]

References[link]

Notes

Jake Shimabukuro (born November 3, 1976 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) is a ukulele virtuoso known for his complex finger work.^[1] His music combines elements of jazz and rock.^[2]

History[link]

Shimabukuro's mother gave him an ukulele at age four and he quickly took an interest in the instrument. A fifth generation Japanese-American,^[3] Shimabukuro initially gained attention in Hawaii in 1998 as a member of Pure Heart, a trio with Lopaka Colon (percussion), and Jon Yamasato (guitar). Shimabukuro was working at a music store in Honolulu when the group released its eponymous first album, featuring a sound and style somewhat similar to the Kaʻau Crater Boys. Their first album won them four Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (the Hawaiian counterpart of the Grammy Awards): Island Contemporary Album of the Year, Most Promising Artist(s), Album of the Year and Favorite Entertainment of the Year, the latter determined by unrestricted public vote. Jake also gained attention on his YouTube page, gaining several subscribers with videos of him playing popular songs on his ukelele.

The following year, they released Pure Heart 2, which earned them another Hoku award for Island Contemporary Album of the year. Yamasato informed the others that he was quitting the group via a newspaper story that ran in the Honolulu Advertiser on Thanksgiving Day, and Shimabukuro and Colon formed another group, Colon, which they named in honor of Colon's father, famed percussionist Augie Colon. The new guitarist was Guy Cruz, younger brother of the Kaʻau Crater Boys' Ernie Cruz, Jr., and John Cruz. Colon won the Hoku Award for Favorite Entertainer of the Year in 2001, after which Shimabukuro decided to pursue a solo career.

As a solo artist after the break-up of Colon he experimented with using effect pedals to make new sounds that few would associate with an ukulele. He has released an instructional DVD called Play Loud Ukulele, and in 2006, composed the music to the Japanese film Hula Girls, which featured hula dancing and a Hawaiian spa resort as its primary theme and setting respectively.

Shimabukuro also performed on stage with Jimmy Buffett and his group, The Coral Reefer Band and is featured on Buffett's CD/DVD release, Live in Anguilla.

In November 2009, Shimabukuro accompanied fellow Hawaiian-born Bette Midler at the Royal Variety Show. They performed a rendition of the Beatles song "In My Life" as the first of Midler's three-song set.

Jake is the key spokesman for the "Music is Good Medicine" organization, which uses community outreach programs - and visits to schools, senior centers, and hospitals - to emphasize the importance of a healthy life and mind as well as promoting music and the arts.

Performing in Stockholm during JazzFest'09

Jake was featured on a January 15, 2012 episode of CNN's The Next List. ^[4]

Instruments[link]

Shimabukuro plays a custom-made 4 string tenor ukulele from Kamaka Ukulele. He uses a Line 6 Pod XT Live.^[5]

Discography[link]

Studio Albums:

• Sunday Morning, (2002)
• Crosscurrent, (2003)
• Walking Down Rainhill, (2004)
• Dragon, (2005)
• Gently Weeps, (2006)
• Hula Girls film soundtrack, (2007)
• My Life, (2007)
• Annon, 2009
• Peace Love Ukulele, (2011)

Another album is to be released on 2 October, 2012.^[6]

References[link]

• The 1999 Hoku Award
• Pure Heart member changes
• Jake Shimabukuro Interview

1. ^ http://www.musicplayer.com/article/jake-shimabukuro/Sep-05/13510
2. ^ Official biography
3. ^ Virtuoso more than a novelty act
4. ^ Belsky, Joshua. "Sneak Peek: Peace, love and ukulele with Jake Shimabukuro Sneak Peek: Peace, love and ukulele with Jake Shimabukuro". CNN. http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/10/sneak-peek-peace-love-and-ukulele-with-jake-shimabukruo/. Retrieved 22 February 2012. 
5. ^ http://www.musicplayer.com/article/jake-shimabukuro/Sep-05/13510 Interview with Shimabukuro
6. ^ http://jakeshimabukuro.com/home/. Retrieved 28 May, 2012.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jake Shimabukuro

• Official website
• YouTube clip of live collaboration with beatboxer Jason Tom
• Jake in Concert on midnight ukulele disco
• Jake Shimabukuro collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
• Interview with Jake Shimabukuro 2009
• 2006 Shimabukuro Interview from Modern Guitars Magazine
• 2006 Shimabukuro Interview on NPR
• 2006 Shimabukuro Interview from AsiaXpress.com
• [1] - Photos from live show
• Jake Shimabukuro featured at the Waikiki Shell, Hawaii Romance Festival, May 2008
• Jake Shimabukuro feature by the Pacific Citizen newspaper, Oct. 2009