Album Notes

In UKE'N'SURF 1 John Valentine exhibits a new way of melodically plucking & playing the ukulele - like a surfer radically maneuvering the surfboard on a thrilling North shore monster wave or just playfully gliding the surf at the South shores.

This original, instrumental album takes you on a ride through primitive sounds and captivating rhythms with Santana-style licks and fingering like you’ve never heard before on the ukulele. With its totally new sound and fluid melodies, you will forget you’re listening to a ukulele.

Instrument enhancements: Cajon, congas, fender precision bass, shakers, bells, tambourine, clave, kalimba and steel guitar all performed by John Valentine. Daniel Bayot performs on strings in ‘Never Ending’.

Each track is titled with the perfect surf lingo – thanks to real-life surfer Gary Senaga from Hawaii who helped to describe each unique song and its tie to the emotions of a surfer.

Graphics by John & Jesse Bayot. Album inspired by Lani Teo Gibney when she said “John you should make an ukulele CD”. And so John did ... and had so much fun surfing on the Ukelele.

If you’ve never experienced the joy of riding a wave, these tunes will inspire you to try.

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Honolulu star Bulletin
Island Mele
January 30, 2009

By John Berger

"Uke 'N' Surf 1"
John Valentine
(Studio Valentine)

Multitalented John Valentine has enjoyed consistent success as a musician, singer and recording artist for more than two decades. The Love Notes were an a capella "do wop" vocal group when Valentine was recruited in the late-80s; he not only added his voice to the mix but also introduced the use of pre-recorded backing tracks in their shows. The group morphed into a show band and got some national exposure as the backing group for "the world's youngest Elvis."

Valentine survived the eventual demise of the Love Notes' show and continued to work on his own. His latest solo project is another well-crafted collection of multitracked recordings that display his talents as musician and engineer.

Ukulele and guitar are the featured instruments for this collection of original melodies. One or the other takes the lead, while percussion enhances the sense of energy, action and movement. The songs titles all tie into the "surf" theme of the album -- "Clean Tube Ride" and "Laid Back Re-Entry" -- but Valentine's light and airy arrangements would be equally at home as the soundtrack to a film about competitive sailing, windsurfing or snow boarding.

They also provide the right mix of tempos for jogging, a brisk walk, or aerobics!

Valentine slows the pace a bit a few songs in and mixes things up thereafter. Even the most aggressive surfers occasionally take a breather!