The Yoshida Brothers In New York City

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Ryoichiro and Kenichi Yoshida are superstars in their native land for a unique East-meets-West fusion of traditional Japanese sounds and contemporary music idioms. Their muscular reinvention of the ancient three-stringed Shamisen -- a spare, banjo like instrument -- has been favorably compared to the passion with which Jimi Hendrix coaxed magic out of a guitar. Currently, the Brothers are in the midst of their first ever coast-to-coast tour of the United States, and are about to take on New York with two high profile Big Apple shows. The tour is in support of their latest album "III, " released this spring on Los Angeles-based Domo Records.

Ryoichiro and Kenichi's first Manhattan show is June 13 at the renowned B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. The following night, The Yoshida Brothers headline the Main Space at legendary NYC venue the Knitting Factory.

The Yoshida Brothers' debut stateside tour follows up Domo Records' spring 2006 release of "III, " their third U.S. album (several more have been top sellers in Japan). Produced by rock-pop veteran Tony Berg, the sonically diverse disc takes the Brothers' pan-cultural blend of Tsugaru-shamisen and jazz, rock, pop, folk, blues and world idioms to a new level of artistic bravado. Stand-out tracks include their transcendent version of the Brian Eno song "By This River, " featuring former Remy Zero lead singer Cinjin Tate on vocals, a revelatory take on "Erghen Diado" (first popularized on the 1990 CD "Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares"), the cinematic "Passion, " the Mitchell Froom-penned "Hit Song, " and a spare, elegant version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Oh My Love."

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