For Brad Bordessa, it’s a story of rediscovery. Of returning to the source of joyful music.
The many gigs and music opportunities lost during the COVID pandemic feel more like a willing sacrifice at the alter of insight than a disappointment. Because now, all these years later, it’s finally beginning to sink in and come full circle.
After many years of pursuing a singer-songwriter sound and releasing a corresponding LP, Brad’s playing more Hawaiian music. The first and only kind of music that he could really – and strangely – call his own.
Brad Bordessa is an honors graduate of the University of Hawai‘i Maui Collage Institute of Hawaiian Music program. He has performed onstage with HAPA, Ledward Kaapana, the late Martin Pahinui, Sonny Lim, Jeff Peterson, Hawane Rios, Buckman Coe, and others. Brad has been featured as a solo artist at Seattle’s Folkfest, the Waikoloa ‘Ukulele Festival, and the Slack Key Show.
He’s taught workshops in Hawai‘i and internationally alongside Herb Ohta, Jr., James Hill, Gerald Ross, Kevin Carroll, and others as a staff instructor for George Kahumoku, Jr.’s Slack Key and ʻUkulele Workshop and the Hawai‘i Island ‘Ukulele Retreat.
Brad is the author of two other books: ‘Ukulele Chord Shapes – a guide to movable chords, along with Left- and Right Hand Technique For ‘Ukulele. His website, Live ‘Ukulele, is one of the web’s largest ‘ukulele learning resources. It’s been viewed almost 25 million times.
Along with performing and teaching, Brad writes and records original music. His albums each feature the ‘ukulele differently. Point A is an EP of instrumentals rendered with a band and solo. If Only is an LP of singer-songwriter, folk-rock vocal songs. They are both available on Bandcamp or your favorite digital streaming service.