If the notion of the ukulele as a serious jazz instrument strikes you as no more feasible than playing Beethoven’s Fifth on a comb-and-tissue-paper harmonica, think again. Long out-of-print, Lyle Ritz’s How About Uke? fell on deaf ears upon its release in 1957, but went on to influence generations of Hawaiian players, who in turn revitalized interest in Ritz, culminating in this reissue.
Ritz first fell in love with the tenor ukulele while working at a Los Angeles music shop in the early 1950s. To better demonstrate the instrument to prospective customers, Ritz mastered a host of popular tunes, developing a lively playing style that transcended the uke’s novelty status.
As captured on this thirteen-song disc, his performances of Rodgers & Hart (“Have You Met Miss Jones?”, “Little Girl Blue”) and Duke Ellington (“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, “I’m Beginning To See The Light”) are marked by a lightness of touch, and his rhythm section is careful not to tread on his delicate textures (though occasionally guest Don Shelton’s flute upstages Ritz, simply through sheer volume). Elsewhere, the rock ‘n’ roll bounce of “Playmates” hints at Ritz’s subsequent career as a highly sought-after session bassist and member of Phil Spector’s Wrecking Crew.
Although one of the uke’s big selling points has always been ease of playability, Ritz’s solos aren’t as effortless as they sound. Cock an ear to his signature tune, “Lulu’s Back In Town”, and you’ll realize he’s strumming — not picking — the melody, changing chords for every note. Yowzah!
How About Uke? is a must for fans of this four-stringed instrument, but its appeal should extend to jazz lovers of all types.