Kaoru Watanabe, a former member and artistic director of the renowned taiko ensemble KODO, is North America’s leading practitioner of the shinobue (Japanese transverse flute) and a master of improvisation and contemporary jazz.
Sumie Kaneko is a Japanese Koto & Shamisen Player and Singer-Songwriter recognized for creating haunting alluring soundscapes by moving effortlessly between the worlds of Japanese classical music and the New York jazz avant-garde scene.
On Ensemble is at the forefront of a growing artistic movement in the taiko world. Founded by childhood friends Shoji Kameda and Masato Baba, On Ensemble infuses the powerful rhythms of taiko with overtone singing, odd meter grooves and soaring melodies.