Kotaro Oshio

Among contemporary acoustic guitarists, Kotaro Oshio stands out for his seamless ability to navigate multiple musical styles. Although his primary interest lies in new age and easy-listening realms, such categorization falls short of accuracy. Rather than employing the nylon strings typical among acoustic musicians, Oshio opts for steel strings, incorporating tapping techniques and open tunings. His first album appeared in late 1999 via an independent Osaka label, receiving limited attention beyond local boundaries. Greater recognition followed the spring 2001 issuance of his second album, which secured opportunities to compose theme music for television programs along with a singular televised performance. Oshio's initial appearance at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in 2002 earned unexpected praise despite his non-blues and non-jazz orientation, culminating in an invitation to participate in B.B. King's jam session. The subsequent year brought a return solo show plus an opening slot for ZZ Top, further demonstrating his genre-spanning talents. Dramatic, his inaugural major-label album, came out on Narada during fall 2003.