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In early September we’ll be heading up to the Seattle area for the second time this year. This time it’s for the 2008 Western Arts Alliance Annual Conference. We have two affiliated showcases on Tuesday, Sept 2nd and one on Wednesday Sept 3rd. Check the calendar section for more details.

We’ll be making a number of stops to give workshops along the way. So far our workshops stops include Eugene, Vancouver and Stockton. Every time we’re on the road we try to connect with as many taiko groups as we can. If you are a taiko group on the way from Los Angeles to Seattle and are interested in workshops contact Kris!

We also have two more big road trips planned for the not too distant future. In November we’ll be heading out to Minnesota for performances in Collegeville and Minneapolis and in January we’ll be making a trek out to New York, Boston, Montreal and Burlington (Vermont). We’re setting up workshop and performances for both of these tours now so contact Kris if you’re interested in having On Ensemble stop by for workshops or performances.

We’re also finalizing plans for our annual concert to held at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center on November 8th! We’ll be posting updates on this as soon as we can!

And finally the recording and mastering of our second studio album “Ume in the Middle” is done and it’s now in the final design stage! We’re working with a great design firm, Chen Design Associates for the CD packaging and we’re really looking forward to this release. I can’t give you all a firm release date yet, but we’re getting closer and we’ll posting updates along the way!

We’re finally starting to make our new site public!  Whew!  Those who have signed up for our email list will get the first look at the site.  Please let us know what you think and what improvements can be made!

On Ensemble’s new website includes “Member Blogs” where Shoj, Maz, Kelvin and I can post personal musings.  I’m very excited about having a place to post DIY projects, computer tutorials, and random writings!  I hope you find some of the info here useful!

Aww… I didn’t get a chance to take many pictures of Shasta Yama, but once again my parents and Mario Rubino (the producer) delivered. It was a very successful show. Mario thinks there were over 1,000 people who came! Even with all the smoke from the insane wild fires around the area and the rising gas prices, people came. What a special event this has become. Shoji said that this is the biggest outdoor taiko festival in the nation and I’d have to agree with him.

I have a lot of thank yous. First and foremost, my dad and mom, Russel Baba and Jeanne Mercer for putting on this awesome event every year and, of course, for believing in us and supporting our vision. Mario Rubino for believing in my mom and dad. Michelle Fujii for the constant vision and role she has played in our path. Mark Miyoshi for the beautiful drums and constant support. And, thank you to Laura Masunaga and Tadashi Kameda (Shoji’s parents) who were the reason why my mom and dad moved up to Mt. Shasta in the first place. What an awesome community that rallied behind Shasta Yama. I am honored to go back every year to make awesome music.