Taikoza: Live!

(Past) Sun, Mar 7 at 7 pm Peter Jay Sharp Theatre $33; Members, Seniors $25; Students $22; Children $20

"Such sweet thunder..."

Experience the thunderous rhythms of the ancestral Japanese Taiko drums and the magical sounds of the bamboo flutes at the hands of the internationally acclaimed Taikoza drum group. Featuring performanceson large ancestral Taiko drum, the program artfully blends its thunderous sound with colorful dances and soulful melodies played onbamboo flutes. Traditional costumes and dynamic motion make Taikoza shows immensely popular with audiences of all ages. The group's sold out shows have received international critical acclaim as a revitalized art form that creates invigorating energy that thrills audiences all over the world. This exciting group draws from Japan's rich tradition of music and performance to create a highly visual performance. Roughly translated, Taiko means "big drums" - and that's exactly what Taikoza delivers - big drums, powerful rhythms and electrifying, room-thumping energy.

Taikoza was formed in New York City by members of Ondekoza (a performance group that began the renaissance of taiko in Japan during the 1960s, thus introducing taiko to the world). The members of Taikoza have performed in some of the world's most prestigious halls such as Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Suntory Hall, Osaka Festival Hall, Lincoln Center and many others throughout Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Mexico and the Republic
of Georgia. Taikoza gives workshops in America, Europe and in Japan (the annual Kosa International Percussion workshop) and the Biannual North America Taiko Conference. The group has also performed corporate events for worldwide companies such as Merrill Lynch, Gillette, Ameritech, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Dell Computers, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Merck, Diesel and many others. Taikoza presents a very popular program for schools in the tri-state area for Young Audiences and Symphony Space and recently completed an NEA grant funded tour of Birmingham, Alabama, area schools. Taikoza's new CD has been nominated as best Asian Ethnic Album for the "Just Plain Folks" music award. The drum group has appeared on many television programs such as the History Channel's "History vs. Hollywood," ESPN's "S.U.M.O: The battle of the Giants" and the NBC's Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Taikoza also recently record music for the Nintendo Wii videogame: "Red Steel."

"The concert was full of stirring Music from Japan. From the most delicate and mournful bamboo flute song to the loudest and most pulsating beat, the dedicated passion of the musicians was inspiring" - The Richmond News Leader

"Taikoza has moved the drums in the foreground and into an exciting visual Explosion" - The Dothan Eagle

Fan of Neuchatel wrote, "Taikoza is the definition of great art and the audience was not mistaken when they broke into thunderous applause."

Corriere del Ticino: "The performance physical at times, meditative at times was very powerful and emotional. The visual beauty as well as the raw energy took the audience from the drummers pounding on the taiko. It created an emotional tension that was only released at the end with the audience's heartfelt and thunderous applause. .... The members of Taikoza beyond their professionalism were able to make Taiko music more approachable to the audience."

"The members gave their bodies over to musical performance at times a very physical and musical performance... the highly appreciative audience was treated to physical dexterity, lovely and magical flute music." - Boston Herald

"These drummers were clearly enduring some metaphysical test, but less grueling in the program, Marco Lienhard's deeply fanciful solos on the shakuhachi looked fully invested and with more than just energy. It is the layering of drums patterns and sonorities in intricate compositions that represent the key to the experience." - Los Angeles Times

The musicians' strong performance really livened up the audience Taikoza's energic performance is a delicate mixture of tranquility and excitement and while using traditional Japanese  performing arts they are successful at breaking national boundaries."  - The Arts Cure, 2003