In their debut duo performance, musicians Samuel James and Michael Kebede bring forward their individual virtuosity, sounds, and cultures to create a new sound within the dynamic landscape of Black American folk. Born in the U.S. of Ethiopian parents and raised in Ethiopia, Michael Kebede draws from American banjo traditions and East African music to create a sound and style uniquely his own. Multi-instrumentalist, historian, writer Samuel James is widely known for his command of blues, Americana and other folk forms. Through banjo, guitar, voice, and storytelling, James and Kebede weave together both traditional and original compositions that celebrate the music created when different sounds, voices, and cultures come together across time and place.