The Wellington Ukelele Orchestra - The Heartache EP
Hailing from the mighty big town of Wellington comes…The Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra with their debut The Heartache EP!
Those who have seen this entertaining ensemble playing live in cafes, in museum auditoriums and on various stages, listening to The Heartache EP will transport you straight back there. This joyful offering of tunes rendered by eleven ukelele, a double bass and voice harmonies holds onto the unpretentious fun of their live performances and no doubt their rehearsals too.
It does not really seem at all surprising that out of Wellington's bleak winter climate and highly socio-creative scene that a 'music-making form' such as a ukulele orchestra should evolve. This debut offering has wide appeal featuring a mixed bag of the quirky and the home-grown. My favourite track is "The Bucket" (2004) followed by "It's a Heartache" (1978) and "Hoki Mai" (1946). The ukulele and the human voice are used tenderly and passionately to pay homage to each of these great songs producing tunes that invite a diverse 'young and old' audience to toe-tap and cheer.
This 'ukechestra' rides the wave of an international trend and a change in our schools - the new basic default instrument of choice in New Zealand schools being the ukulele. Say goodbye to the recorder - the spit repository you once used to try to claim tunes from. Having strings to strum leaves a talented player free to sing as does practically everyone in this Wellington ensemble.
David
