Two exceptional American guitarists visit Japan next month. Although at opposite ends of the spectrum in style, background and geography, both operate firmly outside the mainstream, share a desire to innovate and produce music that can be at once both meditative and challenging.

Bill Frisell from Baltimore has long been highly regarded for his original and instantly recognizable guitar sound. Generally known as a jazz guitarist, he is equally influenced by rock, blues and country, which he combines, with more, into a genre-defying music. While there are traces of Jim Hall and Wes Montgomery, Robert Fripp and Jim Hendrix are as much in evidence, and he uses electronics to produce long sustained notes with lots of vibrato and legato, possibly a legacy of his early days as a clarinet player.

Frisell has worked as a sideman for many musicians, including John Zorn, Wayne Horwitz, David Sanborn, Elvis Costello and former ECM stablemates Paul Motian, Paul Bley and Jan Garbarek. Illustrious drummer Jim Keltner joined Frisell on his album released last year in Japan, "Good Dog, Happy Man," as did Ry Cooder on one track.