Shunsuke Kimura x Etsuro Ono

The virtuoso players Shunsuke Kimura and Etsuro Ono  are powerful innovators of the Tsugaru-shamisen and shinobue. They have taken this dynamic semi-improvised style from northern Japan (Tohoku region) in new contemporary directions, presenting both traditional pieces and new material which fuses original folk sound with the soul and blues rhythms of the West.

Formed in 2009, the duo became quickly popular and has performed in Korea, Turkey, and Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo, Malaysia. In March 2011 they performed as part of Hibiki-Festival at Kings Place, London, and RASA, Utrecht. In July 2011 they performed at WOMAD Charlton Park, UK and FMM in Sines, Portugal. In October 2011, They were selected as an official WOMEX showcase artist chosen out of over 750 groups from all over the world. In 2012, they are invited to major festivals and venues including Forde Folk Music Festival(Norway), Les Suds de Arles (France), Masala Festival (Germany), Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome(Italy), and Museum Rietberg ( Switzerland), and Japan Festival 2012 (UK)
They are frequently featured on media including BBC3 radio.

Find more about the  Duo 

WOMAD BBC3 Radio Track Session 31 07 11 by Muartsproduction

Kimura x Ono Duo on facebook

Sonicbids EPK

About Tsugaru Shamisen
Tsugaru-shamisen was originally played by wandering blind artists who performed in front of people’s houses for their living, especially in the Tsugaru region of Northern Japan. By the middle of the 19th century, Tsugaru-shamisen was used simply to provide background music for folk singers. It later came to be appreciated gradually as a solo or ensemble instrument. As a solo instrument, the Tsugaru-shamisen requires very accomplished technique for speedy playing, a refined sense of dynamic rhythm and creativity for improvisation, like jazz. Nowadays, the dynamic, powerful but soulful and sensitive sound of Tsugaru-shamisen fascinates many people in Japan, and it has become popular again with the younger generation.

Shunsuke Kimura has travelled to every corner of Japan to find the various melodies, rhythms and styles of carnival and folk music which he has assimilated into his own music-making. His melodies are haunting and characterised by an ethereal serenity. His works tell a variety of nostalgic stories and he expresses the poetic image in nature, scenery and seasons with delicate nuance of colour and sounds.

In 2005, Shunsuke directed a live performance at the “Sense of Wonder” World Environmental Film Festival at Aichi Expo. In November 2006, he was commissioned to write the music and lyrics for “AMATERASU”, a special theatre project for the 25th anniversary of Kodo, the world famous taiko group, which featured a guest appearance by Bando Tamasaburo, the star kabuki dancer, in the female role. Because of its great success, the performance was repeated in August 2007 at Kabuki-za Theatre Tokyo. Also in 2006, as part of a festival arranged by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs Awards, Shunsuke composed music for a contemporary kabuki dance show “Ouna” featuring Hanayagi Tsurusuga, a noted kabuki dancer with poems by Suzue Miuchi, author of the popular  manga Galasu no Kamen. Recently Shunsuke’s activities have been broadcast in NHK’s (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) programme Geijutsu Gekijo. Kimura lectures at University of Tokyo and Kyoto University.

Etsuro Ono was raised in Akita, North East Japan, a famous region for folk music. Later he moved to Tsugaru, just north of Akita, to study with the famed shamisen master Chisato Yamada. He was soon a prize-winner at the renowned national Tsugaru-shamisen competition in Hirosaki. He has been a core member of the famous folklore theatre company Warabiza. Together their passionate performances of Tsugaru-shamisen  have won them the top award at the Japanese Traditional Music Competition, and critical acclaim on their tours to the USA, Italy, Malaysia and Korea.Now, aside from his performances with Shunsuke Kimura, he is a member of Hanzo, a progressive ensemble featuring shamisen, shakukachi  bamboo flute and taiko drums. Ono is regarded as one of the most prominent Tsugaru-Shamisen performers in the world. He now lives in Miyagi prefecture with his family.