West Coast 'Ukulele Retreat

This guy. Wow! We just spent a week with Daniel Ward in Ajijic, Mexico at La Semana de Uke-Culinary Fiesta and I can honestly say he is one of the most talented, patient, humble, generous, hard-working professionals that we have ever had the pleasure of working with. We are over the moon to have him joining us again this year, with all new workshops, created specifically for the  West Coast ‘Ukulele Retreat.

After working with Daniel for two years, he continues to impress us with his blazing technique on a wide variety of instruments (born out of his 25 years playing flamenco guitar and touring with Ottmar Liebert) and by delighting his ukulele students with his patience, knowledge, and ready smile. Relatively new to the ‘ukulele, in a few short years, Daniel has become one of its beloved ambassadors–from Shanghai to Haiti to Mexico, and many ports in between, captivating fans from 4 to 64. And, his versatility as a musician has kept him busy over the years composing, performing, and recording everything from jazz to heavy-metal-vaudeville. (Imagine: Spinal Tap meets Frank Zappa).  But, not to worry, he’ll be bringing blues, jazz, flamenco, and Latin beats to us at Asilomar. He is the consummate musician’s musician.

For the past five years, Daniel has worked closely with Heidi Swedberg in creating the Sukey Jump Band, spreading ‘ukulele joy from coast-to-coast, teaching–but mostly encouraging–musical participation across America, including performances at the Austin City Limits festival, KindieFest in Brooklyn, Jiggle Jam in Kansas City, the Waterfront Festival in Chicago, the Wine Country ‘Ukulele Festival, and the West Coast ‘Ukulele Retreat. Daniel’s latest venture with Heidi, Heidi Swedberg & the Smoking Jackets, is one of the freshest acts to hit the ukulele scene in many a year.  Oh yeh. He’s a keeper!

You can read about the rest of our esteemed faculty here. (Remember, we maintain a high instructor/student ratio.) Or you can register now for the 2015 West Coast ‘Ukulele Retreat, while there is still space available. But hurry.  There are a limited number of rooms left!

~ by UkuleleLady on February 10, 2015.

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Tags: 'Ukulele Jams, Asilomar, Asilomar Conference Grounds, California Ukulele Retreat, Daniel Ward, Heidi Swedberg, instructors, music camp, registration, retreat registration, Smoking Jackets, ukulele, ukulele camp, ukulele retreat, West Coast Uke Retreat, West Coast Ukulele Retreat, workshops