MEET YOUR UKULELE INSTRUCTOR!

Christopher Davis-Shannon is a London-based jazz ukulele virtuoso, educator, and composer widely regarded as one of the finest jazz players on the instrument today. Equally at home on stage and in the classroom, he is a fixture at international ukulele festivals, celebrated for performances that blend deep jazz harmony with exceptional technical command.

His distinctive style is built on dazzling right-hand technique—drawing from historical masters such as George Formby and Kaʻai—combined with the sophisticated harmonic language of jazz guitar great Johnny Smith. The result is a uniquely elegant jazz ukulele voice capable of navigating the Great American Songbook, Brazilian bossa nova, Hawaiian standards, and original compositions with equal authority. His playing defies easy categorization while remaining firmly rooted in jazz tradition.

As an educator, Christopher is a highly sought-after private instructor and festival clinician, teaching advanced jazz harmony, chord melody, rhythm, and technique to players around the world. He is the author of several instructional books, including studies on Baroque campanella technique, jazz-informed adaptations of clawhammer banjo, and in-depth rhythmic analysis of George Formby’s style. He has also contributed articles on jazz chord theory and rhythm to numerous ukulele publications.

As a composer, Christopher’s work ranges from jazz songs reminiscent of the Great American Songbook to instrumental pieces informed by classical minimalist aesthetics. His album FIFTY/50, featuring accordionist Jacques Pellarin, showcases his refined compositional voice and cements his reputation as a leading figure in modern jazz ukulele.

Follow Chris on: