Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono (Japan)
Virtuoso players Etsuro Ono and Shunsuke Kimura are innovators of the tsugaru-shamisen, an ancient Japanese banjo that demands dexterous, richly percussive playing. Originating from northern Japan, this elegant form of traditional music is now taking a contemporary turn, with its refined sense of dynamic rhythm providing a springboard for jazz-like improvisation.