The Bruce & Eien duet is a unique trans-Pacific project created to perform original compositions, Japanese traditional music, and jazz. The unusual pairing of the shakuhachi and vibraphone enables a wide range of musical expression. Bruce and Eien’s extensive work in cross-cultural collaborations allows their music to elude boundaries while staying true to the richness of traditional forms and melodies. The group played their debut show in Tokyo in December 2014.

Eien Hunter-Ishikawa is a musician and educator based in Portland, Oregon specializing in drum set, taiko, and shinobue. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education at Central Michigan University, where he performed, recorded, and toured as a member of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble under the direction of the late Robert Hohner, and earned his Master of Music Performance at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He performs with On Ensemble and Kenny Endo.

Bruce Huebner has over 30 years experience of study, performing, composition and music production in Japan. In 1991 he was the first non-Japanese to graduate from the prestigious Tokyo University of Arts where he studied Kinko School shakuhachi under Yamaguchi Goro (National Treasure) as a Monbusho Scholar. After receiving his mastership he has founded jazz and world music projects that have recorded, toured and performed at Kyoto Concert Hall, New York Blue Note, Joe’s Pub, The Toronto Jazz Festival and Yokohama Motion Blue.