FRIDAY NIGHTS AT THE Q

竹と糸 - Také to Ito

Curtis Patterson/koto - Bruce Huebner/shakuhachi

Nurtured by respect for Japanese tradition and the aesthetic of wabi-sabi

Inspired by the beauty in nature

Capturing the essence of shakuhachi - také / bamboo and koto - ito / strings

in both traditional and modern settings

Concept/Profile

Také to Ito is Curtis Patterson (koto) and Bruce Huebner (shakuhachi), a duo from Japan who perform a range of music extending from classical jiuta and honkyoku to modern works including original compositions and arrangements of jazz standards. Conceived in 2003, the duo has performed widely in Japan and is known for their annual tours - Sakura Zensen (cherry blossom) and Momiji-Gari (fall colors) - as well as their work in support of those affected by the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster in Tohoku, especially in the revitalization of Fukushima prefecture.

Curtis Patterson and Bruce Huebner are forging a new path for the koto and shakuhachi, creating an honest and fresh sound that defies expectations. Drawing on over forty years of study, performance, and teaching in Japan, they present a repertoire that seamlessly stretches from classical honkyoku and jiuta to jazz, featuring new works and fresh arrangements along with well known koto/shakuhachi standards.

At times improvisational, their music flows freely, deeply rooted in the past while attuned to the present. It offers a compelling, modern outlook for these ancient instruments—sometimes evoking the mountains and rivers of Japan, and at other times offering a simple reflection on daily life.

Recordings

Curt & Bruce - Orcas Takes (album)

Kataku no Hana - original

After the Rain - jazz arrangement

Jougen no Kyoku - modern koto/shakuhachi

Song of the Plovers - traditional

Videos

Curt ＆ Bruce - Homecoming - Orcas Takes

Curt & Bruce.Introduction

Bruce Huebner (shakuhachi)

Japan-based Californian Bruce Huebner is a globally recognized master of the shakuhachi with a career spanning over four decades. He achieved a historic milestone in 1993 by becoming the first non-Japanese person to graduate from the Japanese Traditional Music Department of the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music, where he studied under the tutelage of National Treasure Yamaguchi Goro. He subsequently earned his traditional mastership in Kinko shakuhachi, producing two acclaimed traditional music recitals in 1995 and 1997 that featured masters like Kawase Junsuke and Yamada koto master Muraoka Shoko.

In 2000, Huebner co-founded the highly successful jazz-world music group Candela with pianist Jonathan Katz. Candela has toured and recorded extensively across the globe, with performances at prestigious venues and festivals in Europe (Rome University), Canada (Toronto Jazz Festival), the US (Blue Note, Joe's Pub), and major jazz festivals throughout Japan. Their debut CD, Mogami, was recognized as one of the best five by Stereo Magazine in 2002.

His ongoing projects include the koto and shakuhachi duo Curt and Bruce, the world music group Aeolian Trio, and the eco-music duo Celestia. He also features his solo work, Tabi Suru Shakuhachi, on YouTube and is a frequent guest performer across Japan and abroad. A fluent bilingual speaker and clinician, he is also the producer of a widely utilized instructional DVD on playing the shakuhachi.

shakuhachibruce.net

Curtis Patterson (koto, shamisen, bass koto)

A Chicago native, Curtis Patterson is an accomplished koto master based in Japan. He pursued his koto studies in Kyoto with Keiko Iwahori before training with the modern koto luminary, Tadao Sawai. Patterson holds a master's license from the prestigious Sawai Koto Institute and is notable as the first foreigner to graduate from the NHK traditional Japanese music performance program.

Patterson has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including actress Keiko Matsuzaka, songwriter Kei Ogura, and the AUN wadaiko drumming unit. His performances have reached international stages, including the main stage at Malaysia's Rain Forest World Music Festival. He is an active member of the Sawai Tadao Koto Ensemble and Soemon. His discography includes the solo CD "Oto No Wa", as well as collaborations with shakuhachi player Bruce Huebner on "Going Home", “Fumon/Tracings” and “Orcas Takes”.

In addition to performing, Curtis maintains a private teaching studio in Tokyo. From 2011 to 2025, he taught in the music department at Yokohama International School, where he worked with students from elementary through high school and served as director of the YIS Japanese Music Program. Students from the program have gone on to study at prestigious institutions such as the New England Conservatory (Boston), the Royal Academy of Music (London), the Paris Conservatoire and Tokyo University of Fine Arts.

curtkoto.com

Mike and Andy Bevan

Mike and Andy Bevan have been playing music together all their

adult lives, despite living on opposite sides of the globe.

Andy, based in Tokyo, plays saxes and flutes, while Mike, from Adelaide,

plays 7-string guitar. Their sophisticated synergy embraces original

compositions and unique arrangements of Brazilian and jazz music

that are exciting and intricate, as well as delicate and romantic.

http://www.andybevanmusic.com

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