He is fantastic, but let's not forget that great clarinet player in the background!

i was suffering from depression before i came here......thank you happy asian man

I thoroughly enjoy this performance EVERY time I hear it. Marvelous!

Ken Aoki is undoubtedly the finest Plectrum banjoist in the world today. This video proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt! Simply the best!!!!

find you a lover that looks at you the same way this guy looks at his banjo

I think this is the first time I've ever heard a banjo backed up with a band like that. It's awesome.

I've played the five-string banjo for over 30 years (i.e., bluegrass and frailing), but this is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Outstanding!

"amazing!" is too simple to praise about his music but really amazing! Magnificent! His sounds are full of joy. It makes people happy. Thank you so much for sharing this!

Wow! Such an amazing artist that he brings me to tears - his love of music and the banjo shines through. He so reminds me of my father who played banjo from the time he was 12 yrs old and played with bands all his life. Joyful memories here of always music in our home. Thank you to Ken Aoki and I look forward to hearing further music from this artist. Shelvey Butler Madama

I understand while he is smiling so much. The sounds his banjo is making makes him happy. The banjo is a happy instrument. Plus the style of music he is playing. Old time jazz can do that to you.

Didn't know if I would like this- - -but, when they kicked into "HIGH GEAR" hot damn! Great, will be watching this over and over!!!

彼の楽しげな顔を見るだけで乗って演奏しているのが伝わってきますね。テクニックも凄いですが、彼の笑顔が最高！！

As a trumpet, guitar, and banjo player, this is an incredible performance and display of musicianship!

I played a 4 string tenor 40 years ago when Eddie Peabody was the king...I have to say that this young man makes him look like a beginner... Ken..you are without a doubt.. the best in the world.. I can only describe your still as CLASSICAL BANJO...you are the king... no shit...rainmaker.....

His smile and expressiveness is as awesome as his musical talent! Wow!

Absolutely fantastic, his face tells you how he loves his music and his instrument. Great band.

his face says : "I learned this just now!" :D but his perfomance says : "years of years of practice!" love it! TNX

Oh that was fun. Who can be crabby when a banjo is going on. Nice playing Ken Aoki!

四ツ谷の教会のコンサートで、生で拝聴しました。圧巻でしたし、ニューオルリンズジャズへの愛を感じました。

Not only he's playing beautifully, but also thoroughly enjoying what he's doing! Amazing! ))

Ive played Tenor Banjo for many yrs & mainly popular tunes incl Doxieland Jazz, New irleans style & Ken Aoki is A great musician too Playing WORLD IS WAITING FOR THE Sunrise.

素晴らしい…ここまでノってスウイングされると聞いてる方も気持ちいい

BRAVO Ken!!! You are some musician!! Love the Banjo --- it's a happy instrument!!

Everyone knocks the banjo but I just love the damn things.

I've never heard anyone strum a four string so well. He really gets everything out of the instrument. Thanks

ive never seen some one so happy as they play music, he realy loves to play th banjo

This is just amazing, just amazing. You can't help but smile at the expression on his face.

I wanted to hear some banjo, and I ran across this. This made the hair stand up on my neck. I am a young kid, fallen in love with cello, and bass. This right here is music, and anyone who plays an instrument with even a hint of passion can see it right in this guys eyes, his smile, and his hands. That was music, I'm not going to go out of my way to go find racist comments just so I can say something about them, so let's just keep this clean. My god If I can ever play a cello this way...

この人、めちゃくちゃ上手いよね！もっとテレビとか出ればいいのに。。

You are so talented on the american banjo a symbol of the "song writing capital" of nashville, Tennesse. I also wish that Japan shall overcome damages from tsunami & rebuild once more as a tenacious neighboring country. I am also saddened by losses of people from all countries there.

So beautiful and happy. You hope his mom is in the audience. Brilliant and this made my week!

I wish one day i became as happy as this guy in my job

Beautiful! Pure enjoyment! Orchestra sounds great! The soloist is amazing!

I watch this video every morning and his bloody smile always tell me that it's going to be a great day.

That's the first four string I've seen played for quite some years. All of the good "trad" bands in England when I was young had a decent tenor banjo player. Ah happy days. Ken is obviously having a lot of fun. Music makes the world a better place.

Really awesome performance. Thanks a million for sharing.

This is incredible banjo playing. My hats off to this guy.

すごく楽しいです！遊園地に行ったみたいに、ワクワクしちゃいました(◠‿・)-☆

Absolutely astounding! One of my fave tunes, and now one of my fave versions. Domo arigato, Ken. (Thanks, minor, for posting.)

I wish I enjoyed doing anything in life as much as Ken Aoki appears to enjoy playing banjo. He always has that massive smile when he's playing.

初めて見たけど凄すぎて。

Fantástica la versión de Ken Aoki, me fascinó!

that was badass, and the dude was cheesin the whole time!

Mr. Aoki, You and the band are truly "All-Stars"! Thank you.

I have played banjo professionally for 47 years and I can tell you no one has EVER played this song this well in the history of the world. It is wonderful Ken was able to do this with a great band arrangement and great musicians backing him up all on live national T.V.. As for some of the slanderous racists comments I have seen posted on this video you should be ashamed of yourself. I know Ken and he is a warm generous person, so before you make an insulting comment look in the mirror and stfu!

Fantastic and a fantatic band. I've enjoyd it.

Ken you are amazing,thank you for the music!!!

Absolutely brilliant 👏👌

Just saw this video again after quite some time. What realy makes this one great is this guy, Ken Aoki, ain't only a great banjo player, he really looks like he's having the greatest time he could possibly have with his pants on playing this one.

Outstanding! Bravo!!!

Wow - I'm VERY impressed. Nicely done.

当時BSで観ました。Kenさんの楽しそうな演奏が、今でも忘れられません 豪華メンバーのバックバンドもため息ものです 民放では作れない、こんな贅沢な音楽番組を、またNHKで製作しませんか でないと、オジサンも〇〇チューブやらで鬱憤を晴らすようになりますよ

wonderful music!

It's always amazing to me that the rest of the world ALSO likes purely American music! And how he plays his banjo - also the conductor/clarinetist! Fantastic! Thanks so much.

Fantastic musical performance !

I come back to this video every year now

WOW!!! Your styling and interpretation are fantastic.

What for an amazing sound, perfectly tone-engineering and playing.

Amazing right-hand technique... just amazing.

Coming from a banjoist and guitarist and a huge fan of Eddie Peabody's, I must say I really appreciated this video. His style and energy signal a return to the manic, lovable lunacy that pervaded Peabody's performances. Amazing technical ability and, surprisingly, a really tasteful rendition.

That was phenomenal!!!

Those facial expressions though

hes so happy!!! this is awesome

Wow Ken is just amazing!

Awesome job!!!

What a joy to watch.

he looks soo happy. awesome job..

simply magical !!!

I agree, he is truly an amazing banjo player

simply brilliant

i love this! makes me tooooo happy.....

4:42 of pure Happiness!!!!!Hello from Greece!!!!!

what an absolute legend

Wow this is amazing

Yes!! What a good performance.

He is like the gate keeper to heaven, hopefully!

The thing I love the most about Ken is that he´s always smiling. To many musicans these days looks depressed and to serious on stage, As the Jokes would say :"Why so serious?". Ken Aoki is the best :)

This made my day!

How can anyone dislike this? That was absolutely SICK!

I can’t imagine that it is possible to play a plectrum banjo better than that.

you can tell that this guys just havin a fuckin blast, no matter what language you speak or what culture you might be from, music doesnt have a language, music carries whatever the player expresses it. it gives ya that irresistable urge to smile and make goofy faces like a dork and not care cause your the one havin all that fun!

purdy banjo and mad skills! watch this while your blazed! Thumbs up!

simply amazing

i literally started dancing once the whole band came in :D

I just cant stop smiling when he bobs his head back and forth and bends those strings! makes me want to pick up a banjo :D

it will never stop being insane to me that even 'jazz' and indeed any 'improvisation' by japanese is measured and calculated and executed musically with robotic perfection... there are no elongated gaps, no slurs of notes, hardly any human emotion in the technical playing itself - absolutely nothing like emotional improvisation playing on an instrument seen in other regions. it is almost as though the emotion comes out everywhere else around, but not the sounds from within the instrument itself. there is an odd beauty to it though, like a woman crying profusely while singing absolutely perfectly with no changes or mistakes or even one falter or slip in her singing. seems like that is the beauty of the Japanese way.

everything about this video is perfect

dude that was ... awesome ............!!!!!!!!!

gourmet music, move the emotions in a positive way

The guy is shredding and enjoying it. Good times, I'm digging on this pretty hard.

this video is one of those things that make the world great

This is so awesome...

eddy peabody would be proud!!! love it! thank you!

simplesmente sensacional!!

Great! And the band was awsome!

Super stuff, great players, thanks

Fantastic!

The great ones make it look so easy.

Wouahhh !!! Excelent qu'est qe c'est beau, meme les anges de vous envié de jouer une si jolie musique ! Bravoooo :-)

i want to see this live...it's awesome!