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I'm a one-man music laboratory -- mostly centered around the electric and acoustic mountain dulcimer, which I make myself in my workshop in South East Ohio, and more often these days in Wooster, which is Northeast Ohio.

I'm currently working with the aspects of the mountain dulcimer which tend to calm and soothe -- though I go through strong reactionary cycles now and again. When I have had enough of the meditative stuff, I head for the more adventurous realms. Sometimes this takes the form of wild filter-synched electronica, sometimes it is more bluesy, and sometimes it is in the "dark ambient" genre.

My music contains many influences, with Celtic music being the primary one most of the time. I've always been an improviser, and I have had some formal jazz training (Ohio State WI-89 BA Music), though I'm not a jazz musician by any stretch.

I love working with extremely simple, circular chord progressions: those progressions that seem to go on for hours and are hard to stop playing. There is a strong minimalist vibe to this.

I also love the DRONE which is one of the most appealing aspects of the mountain dulcimer. These days, I tend more toward arpeggiating the open drone strings of the dulcimer, rather than the more strident strummed drone typical of the more traditional styles of playing.

This jam was held for a few years in a private clubhouse in Poway, CA. Although the jam no longer takes place, other jams have evolved from this one in various parts of San Diego county. Some of the participants came a long way from Orange County and Los Angeles.

Old-Time Music jams in San Diego and other nearby towns. You will hear an assortment of instruments including fiddles, guitars, banjos, bones, bodhrans, concertinas, harmonicas, hammered and fretted dulcimers, flutes, dulcileles, banjo-ukes, autoharps, washtub bass, upright bass, etc., etc.

The music of Ukulele Jim combines the soulfulness of James Taylor with the pop sensibilities of Jack Johnson. Stylistically he has also been compared to Paul Simon and Chris Isaak, but where Jim really shines is in his ability to seamlessly weave together sensitive, melancholic lyrics with upbeat feel and tempo. The unique combination of bright, fun ukulele and somber, self-reflective themes make for a dynamic listening experience that he has truly made his own. 

As a self-taught musician, Jim has been playing and writing music since 2004. He picked up the ukulele when he found out his wife was pregnant with twins, ensuring that his children would grow up in a home that was always full of music. The ukulele was a natural choice for its uplifting qualities. Music has become a cornerstone in their lives and has brought joy and purpose to his.

From his home studio in Santa Barbara, Ukulele Jim uses the convenience of the Internet to work with talented musicians from all over the world, creating a virtual group free from geographical boundaries. This collaborative freedom allows Jim to switch styles between acoustic solo pieces to songs with a full band sound.

Ukulele Jim's sound encompasses everything that is wholesome about the Americana genre and has been described as "Cali folk with an island vibe". The combination of his lilting voice with the sweetness of the ukulele result in catchy singalong tracks that bridge the gaps between pop, rock, country and folk music.

Vanguard Records, part of Concord Bicycle Music’s Fantasy Label Group, is one of the world’s leading independent record labels. Its eclectic roster of quality artists includes Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Switchfoot, O.A.R., Flogging Molly, Parachute, Sallie Ford, Matt Nathanson, Chris Isaak, Barenaked Ladies, Greg Laswell, Trevor Hall, Indigo Girls, and more. It’s rich history of catalog artists features Levon Helm, Merle Haggard, Joan Baez, Mindy Smith, Buddy Guy, Big Mama Thornton, Junior Wells, John Fahey, to name a few.

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