Ukulele music? Rock music? Jazz? All of those categories hearken to a certain style. But what happens if you combine, or indeed, 'fuse', those otherwise disparate styles? You get a musical fusion that has not as of yet, been too deeply explored. Is it Island?, is it Jazz? Is it Rock? Is it Reggae? The answer is YES!

The ukulele, by its design, is typically used as an accompaniment instrument. Usually one strums a chord progression so they can supply simple backing for singers.  

But just because that might be the norm, it doesn't mean that that's all you can do on a uke. 

On this album, Jeffrey Xavier Leeds gracefully proves that exception on ten self-written instrumentals, wherein the lead and chordal tracks are played on several different ukuleles. 

Jeff, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, has an especially deep bond with the ukulele as it hearkens back to his days as a schoolboy in Hawaii.  

On this album, you'll hear some of Jeff's many influences; Jazz, Reggae, Rock, Funk, etc. At times you might think you're hearing guitars, but you'd be wrong. What you're actually hearing is simply an adventurous musician who doesn't give in to the perceived limitations of the little, but mighty, uke. 

Jeff not only recently penned these songs, whose titles all refer to some of his favorite Hawaiian locations and memories, but he also plays bass, keys, and percussion. (but no guitars!) 

Now you might be tempted to relegate this album to background music at a party or for your morning yoga or for driving,  but to truly experience the beauty of this album get out your headphones, go to your favorite place to get horizontal, lie down, hit play and close your eyes .   

Let the music transport you.

Terry Carleton 

Guitar Player Magazine

 April, 2022 

CREDITS: 

Jeffrey Xavier Leeds: lead and rhythm ukuleles, fretted and fretless basses, keyboards, and guiro

Terry Carleton: drums, vibes, percussion and keys

Jeff Lewis: trumpet on 3-6-9

Don Dias: keys & vibes on Menehune on the Roof

Recorded, arranged, and mixed by: Terry Carleton and Jeffrey Xavier Leeds at Bones and Knives Studio (2021/2022) 

Mastered by: Bill Hare at Bill Hare Productions

Artwork by: Krystal Penney

Photography: MK Marinovich

Website design: Thom Lukas

Thank you: Marina Lighthouse, Thom Lukas, Buddy Farler, Paul Bodin, Joseph Souza and Kanile'a `Ukulele  

Dedicated to the memory of: Alice (Aleka) Dickieson

Please visit: jxlmusic.net, bonesandknives.com, billhareacappella.com

Find me at: iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music

Mahalo for listening!