Kaoru Watanabe

Kaoru Watanabe (Japanese flutes and percussion). Acclaimed composer and instrumentalist Kaoru Watanabe’s work is grounded in traditional Japanese music while also being imbued with jazz, improvisation, and experimental music elements. His signature skill of merging the music, literature, and aesthetic philosophies of Japan with disparate styles and mediums has made him a much-in-demand collaborator, working with such iconic artists as André 3000, Yo-Yo Ma, Wes Anderson, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Laurie Anderson, Jason Moran, and Japanese National Living Treasure Bando Tamasaburo. A trained jazz musician, he became the first American to become a performer and artistic director of Kodo, the ground-breaking Japanese taiko performing arts ensemble. In 2024, Watanabe launched Bloodlines Interwoven, a multifaceted commissioning project, festival, and ensemble celebrating heritage, immigration, and diaspora through music, cuisine, and storytelling.