Aaron Jackson (Mandolin) Quitman, Texas -
J.P. Mathes II (Banjo) Elizabethton, Tennessee -
Dan Boner (Guitar) Bridgeton, New Jersey -
Jason Crawford (Bass) Church Hill, Tennessee -
Takeharu Kunimoto (Shamisen) Tokyo, Japan -
Influences
Bill Monroe, Stanley Brothers, James King, David Grier, Tim Stafford, Carl Story, Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, Blue Highway, Flatt & Scruggs.
Sounds Like
Traditional Bluegrass Music with the usage of a traditional Asian Instrument called the Shamisen. The instrument sounds similar to a civil war era fretless banjo.
Record Label
Shammi Records Tokyo, Japan/Now & Then Records USA
Takeharu Kunimoto
Tokyo, Japan – Shami-sen/Mandolin
Kunimoto’s musical journey began when he attended a Bill Monroe concert in Tokyo as a young boy in Japan. He was moved by Mr. Monroe’s music, so much that he decided to play the mandolin. He was a member of several Japanese Bluegrass Bands in high school and college years.
Kunimoto decided to start performing traditional Japanese folk music and storytelling on the traditional Japanese banjo like instrument called the Sami-sen. Since this time he has performed all across the globe included special performances at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and even acting in a Broadway musical called "Pacific Overtures" directed by famed director Steven Sondheim.
These days Kunimoto is performing many shows each month throughout Japan and he often tries to work in a couple of Bluegrass numbers just to tease the fans. Kunimoto was also part of the 2003 Academy Award nominated animation film “Mt. Head”. He provided the music and most of the narration for the production. He can sometimes be seen on several different veriety music and comedy shows on nightly TV in Japan, and performing music on children’s television shows. Nevertheless, Bluegrass Music has called him back, and he is now releasing his third bluegrass project called “Soy Sauce Blues”. You may purchase our products at:http://www.etsu.edu/cass/store/
