Jake Shimabukuro Unveils ‘Calm Seas’ Album, a Reflective Journey with Nature and Ukulele

Jake Shimabukuro has a new album, Calm Seas, released on 30 January, 2026. The 13 original tracks in the new album incorporate calming natural sounds, harmonious with his iconic Ukulele playing. It provides a peaceful and, one would say, meditative soundtrack.

A press release from Jake Shimabukuro’s management also revealed that he is set for a series of live performances, beginning February 11th at Blue Note Hawaii in Honolulu.

Blending masterful technique with emotional depth, the Calm Seas acoustic ambient album marks a reflective new chapter in Shimabukuro’s creative journey, one rooted in simplicity, peace, and the quiet strength of connecting nature to the human spirit. 

Calm Seas features a collection of 13 original compositions, with 12 additional versions for the digital album. Each track is crafted to evoke cinematic landscapes and meditative soundscapes. The project showcases Shimabukuro’s unmistakable ability to push the ‘ukulele beyond convention, delivering performances that are both technically breathtaking and deeply personal.

Listen to Calm Seas:

“Calm Seas was an eye-opening and healing project for me. It rekindled my connection and relationship with nature. As a kid, I spent a lot of time outdoors, swimming in the ocean, camping in the mountains. Some of my favorite memories include sleeping on the beach to the sound of the waves, and waking up to the light of the rising sun,” says Shimabukuro. 

Recorded in Hawai‘i, Calm Seas features warm acoustic textures, and minimalist arrangements that highlight the raw expressiveness of Shimabukuro’s playing. The record invites listeners to slow down, reflect, and immerse themselves in an expansive musical world.

Shimabukuro added, “Usually, when I think of adding the sounds of the ocean, waterfalls, or the sound of native birds to any music score, I write the music first, and later add the background sounds. However, for this project, we recorded nature first and created the music around it. The sound of the birds and the ocean waves served as the leading melodic content for each piece.” 

Songs like “Sounds of Hakalau” was Shimabukuro’s serene tribute to one of Hawai‘i’s most treasured landscapes, the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. Blending his signature ‘ukulele artistry with the calls of critically endangered native Hawaiian bird species found nowhere else in the world, Jake creates an immersive, ambient soundscape that transports listeners to the lush rainforest. 

In “The Passing Storm,” Shimabukuro crafts an immersive sonic journey that rises from quiet unease to cathartic release. What begins as a sparse landscape of resonant ‘ukulele tones slowly gathers force, layers of texture rolling in like thunder on the horizon. Yet beneath the storm’s power lies reflection; every note feels deliberate, and by the time calm finally returns, you are left with the lingering clarity that follows after the storm. 

“This project taught me that sometimes we need to let nature lead the pacing of our lives,” says Shimabukuro. “When we are able to align ourselves with nature’s key center and rhythmic tempo, we can live more harmoniously with everything around us. I hope listeners feel a sense of peace and connection when they hear this album.” 

Shimabukuro will be back on the road in March 2026, promoting his recent projects. Dates and ticket information can be found at https://jakeshimabukuro.com/.  

Calm Seas will be available on all major streaming platforms, with physical copies offered through select retailers and JakeShimabukuro.com. Listen now: http://jakeshimabukuro.lnk.to/calmseas.  

Calm Seas Tracklist

CD Tracklist:

1. Early Morning 
2. Makapu’u Sunrise 
3. Wailau 
4. After The Rain 
5. Waterfall
6. The Stars Are Out 
7. Let’s Go Home 
8. Beneath The Waves (With Nature) 
9. Sounds Of Hakalau (With Nature) 
10. Calm Seas (With Nature) 
11. The Breath Of Life (With Nature) 
12. The Passing Storm (With Nature) 
13. Beneath The Waves (Part 2 With Nature) 

Digital Tracklist:

1. Early Morning
2. Makapu’u Sunrise
3. Wailau
4. After The Rain
5. Waterfall
6. The Stars Are Out
7. Let’s Go Home
8. Beneath The Waves Part 1 (with nature)
9. Sounds of Hakalau (with nature)
10. Calm Seas (with nature)
11. The Breath Of Life (with nature)
12. The Passing Storm (with nature)
13. Beneath The Waves Part 2 (with nature)
14. Sounds of Hakaiau (short version with nature)
15. Calm Seas (short version with nature)
16. The Passing Storm (short version with nature)
17. Beneath The Waves Part 1
18. Beneath The Waves Part 2
19. The Breath Of Life
20. Sounds of Hakalau
21. Sounds of Hakalau (short version)
22. Calm Seas (short version)
23. Calm Seas
24. The Passing Storm (short version)
25. The Passing Storm

Jake Shimabukuro 2026 Tour Dates:

• Feb. 11, 2026 – Honolulu, HI – Blue Note Hawaii 
• Feb. 12, 2026 – Honolulu, HI – Blue Note Hawaii
• Mar. 3, 2026 – Clearwater, FL – Bilheimer Capitol Theatre
• Mar. 7, 2026 – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
• Apr. 2, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
• Apr. 3, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
• Apr. 4, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
• Apr. 5, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
• Apr. 17, 2026 – Brownfield, ME – Stone Mountain Arts Center
• Apr. 24 – 25, 2026 – Wilkesboro, NC – MerleFest 2026

About Jake Shimabukuro:

Jake Shimabukuro is a world-renowned ‘ukulele virtuoso whose groundbreaking artistry has redefined the instrument for the 21st century. Hailed as the “Jimi Hendrix of the ‘ukulele,” Shimabukuro has captivated audiences across the globe with his masterful technique, innovative spirit, and deeply expressive performances that seamlessly blend elements of jazz, rock, classical, blues, folk, and traditional Hawaiian music. 

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Jake began playing the ‘ukulele at age four, quickly developing a unique style that pushed the instrument far beyond its traditional boundaries. He first gained international recognition after his jaw-dropping rendition of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral, introducing millions to the ‘ukulele’s untapped potential. 

Over the course of his career, Shimabukuro has released numerous acclaimed albums, collaborated with an array of legendary artists including Bette Midler, Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffett, Ziggy Marley, and Mick Fleetwood, and performed everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to the Hollywood Bowl and the Kennedy Center. His most recent projects include the Blues Experience album with Mick Fleetwood, a soul-stirring journey through masterful musicianship, capturing the timeless grit and storytelling at the core of blues tradition. And Tis The Season, Shimabukuro’s first ever holiday album of festive classics to capture the magic of the season.

Beyond the stage, Jake is a passionate advocate for music education and community outreach, frequently performing at schools and benefit concerts to inspire the next generation of musicians. Whether playing an intimate solo show or headlining with a full band, Shimabukuro continues to prove that the ‘ukulele is an instrument of infinite possibilities, one that speaks a universal language of joy, connection, and hope. 

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