A friend of mine calls improvisational guitarist Steve Kimock "The Master," constantly marveling at his shimmering harmonics, dynamic swings and musical "feel." What does Kimock have to say to this straightforward sort of hero worship? (Think Wayne's World's "We're not worthy!")

Speaking from his Bethlehem, Pa., home studio, north of Philadelphia, Kimock laughs modestly when I tell him this. "Thanks, that's sweet, but I think that this is kind of an important point: When people are really digging music, [they should] be careful to remember that it's their appreciation of music that they're enjoying," he says. "It's like music itself, it's not something that you can personify, you know, so if you like what we do, that music, the feeling that you get when you're listening to the music and you feel good about it, and you really feel it, that's music. It's not the artist; it's about just the human ability to appreciate music and to experience it, like an emotion."

Kimock's instrumental-only sound is best experienced live, and you'll be able to do just that when the Steve Kimock Band pays its fourth visit to Japan later this month.