The Jumpin' Flea Circus Players of Los Angeles

Special Guests Daniel Ward and Heidi Swedberg visit Dec. 5th

2019-11-09T23:45:06.595000Z

Daniel Ward

Daniel Ward is a gifted musician who has taken his 30 years experience performing world music, jazz, rock and most notably flamenco and focused it on an unlikely instrument: the ukulele. Born in Los Alamos NM, he holds degrees in classical guitar and composition. As a guitarist, he toured with flamenco dance troupes Yjastros, Dance España, and Maria Benitez, the heavy metal vaudeville band Skümbaag, and went around the world with nouveau flamenco sensation Ottmar Liebert.

Focusing on four strings has allowed Daniel to share his advanced techniques with all levels of player, and he considers his life enriched by the social element of ukulele. In the past five years he has enjoyed performing and teaching at ukulele festivals in England, Canada, Mexico, China and all across the United States. He is a contributing editor at Ukulele Magazine, where his instructional videos and lessons are a perennial favorite. His best-selling book of studies for the ukulele, Arpeggio Meditations for Ukulele has become standard repertoire in the ukulele world. His recording "EL UKULELE" is a lively adventure in what the instrument can do. http://www.danielward.net/

Heidi Swedberg

Heidi Swedberg is passionate about people, which is why she loves the ukulele- the people’s instrument. Encouraging all ages to engage and connect through music, she teaches, writes, lectures and performs for the youngest children to older adults.

She has been a performer for more than 30 years, working in music, film and television, and is known for her role as "Susan" on Seinfeld. Heidi is a contributing editor at Ukulele Magazine, where she writes about community and connectedness, and has published recordings and instructional books, including "Color-Along Ukulele: a Method Book for those Drawn to Play".

Born in Hawaii, her first ukulele came from the Easter Bunny when she was 5 years old. Her family relocated to New Mexico, the place she considers home. Currently based in Los Angeles, Heidi has helped start uke programs internationally: in schools, hospitals, orphanages, churches and libraries. She loves making new friends while performing and teaching at music festivals around the globe.

Uke at the Japanese Garden

2019-11-08T03:28:09.482000Z

Fleas Meet Nov 7, plus Special Guests, Holiday Jubilee

2019-11-09T23:57:44.913000Z

Here are the songs for 11/7/19:

The Addams Family Theme
Arpeggio Meditation
Meditation
Man On The Flying Trapeze
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
The Water Is Wide
Na Moku Eha (Hano Hano) (also in the Big Book)
Runaway

Java Jive (also in the Big Book)

Special Guests Daniel Ward and Heidi Swedberg visit Dec. 5th

Daniel and Heidi are ukulele instructors and authors. Daniel is a jazz, rock and flamenco guitarist who has devised methods to share his advanced techniques with all levels of player, via the uke. Heidi has helped start uke programs internationally, and performs and teaches at music festivals around the globe. She is known for her role as "Susan" on Seinfeld.

Daniel and Heidi will host a demo of arpeggio exercises band simple strumming tricks, and then lead the group in a collection of "super fun and not so usual" holiday songs. This is a big one!

Fleas Holiday Jubilee Dec 14th

Our annual holiday party will be Saturday, Dec 14th at 5 PM, at the usual place: Robin Hood British Pub. Mark it down!

Throwback Thursday

2019-10-25T02:14:44.908000Z

Turn of the Century Fleas

A Short History of the Fleas

2019-10-20T04:53:53.992000Z

It began in 2004 when Darren Wong met the legendary Jim Beloff at an event, and asked Jim if he knew of any ukulele groups in the L.A. area. Jim responded, "Why don't you start one?" And the Jumpin' Flea Circus Players of Los Angeles was born. Darren not only started the group, he also designed the handsome logo that we use to this day.

Soon, Clay Allen was brought on as ringmaster, and the Fleas performed under Clay's tutelage for over a decade. Clay acted as teacher, group leader, coach, friend, and mentor. He set the tone for a group where players young and old, whether novices or virtuosos, come together in a circle of fellowship, dedicated to the brotherhood of the uke. And coffee. Clay was very strict about the coffee.

Rob Curry was Clay's right hand man, and Rob spent countless hours arranging music for the Fleas to perform. The majority of the songs we play are original arrangements by either Rob or Clay, created exclusively for the Fleas.

When work and a quiet life in the mountains summoned Clay to move out east, longtime Flea Francis Stokes took over the leadership. Gina Debuque put together this site, with the help of Mark Bitter who is in charge of the Fleas’ Twitter and Instagram accounts. Facebook is handled by Stokes, who envisions the Fleas reaching a broader audience via social media.

We now meet once a month and play in a song circle format, in which members have the option to contribute a song for the group if they like. We're still a circle of fellowship for players of all levels, young and old, to come out and enjoy the brotherhood of the uke.

Join us!

Darren Wong and Clay Allen, photo by Jeff Leroy

Fleas at Fifteen

2019-10-20T05:11:59.620000Z

Thanks to Flea Louise for sharing her lovely home with us, and to Flea Frank for being party planner extraordinaire!

The Golden West Fair Show 2019

2019-10-20T05:16:18.641000Z

Getting ready for our performance. Best crowd ever for the Fleas! More photos to follow.

Throwback Thursday!

2019-10-20T05:22:07.618000Z

Classic Fleas! Click on the link to view our old blog page: http://thejumpinfleacircusplayersla.blogspot.com

Fleas Meet October 3rd

2019-10-02T02:50:58.306000Z

Where: Congregational Church of the Chimes  

14115 Magnolia Blvd.  Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

  http://www.churchofthechimes.org  

Time:  7:15 - 9:15   PM

Price: a mere $12

We meet again this Thursday, Oct 3rd. Our show is coming up next Saturday! We will mostly be spending our next meet putting the finishing touches on our set list, so it won't be the regular "song circle" format - but I promise, it'll still be fun!

TAKE NOTE: We will be meeting in Bower Hall, which is the big room next to our usual meeting place, Dreier Hall.

Rehearsal 9.26.19

2019-10-01T07:02:10.514000Z

Fleas Perform at 11:30

2019-09-30T22:58:53.115000Z

Golden West Fair Show

2019-09-30T22:58:39.294000Z

The Golden West Fair at the Church of the Chimes (Our usual spot!)

Saturday, October 5th, 2019

Time: Meet 10:30 AM, Performance 11:30 AM

Lunch after the show (location TBD)