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This week I had my first rehearsal with the Dancing People Company based here in Ashland, OR.  On December 19th, ’09 they will have their 4th annual winter solstice dance celebration and I’ll be collaborating with them on one piece with taiko.  We met this Wednesday and had an improvisational session.  This was a really great experience for me since I’ve never collaborated with dancers before.  Check out their website for more information dancingpeople.com

My sister has unearthed an old CNBC interview of me and Ondekoza.  I had totally forgotten about it.  It’s funny how choppy my English was then due to speaking Japanese and broken English the whole time I was in that group.  Here’s the link:

I’m excited to begin using a new ride cymbal in my setup in On Ensemble.  It’s a Zildjian K Custom 21″ Special Dry cymbal.  What does that mean?  Well, when one strikes the bow of the cymbal all of the articulations project really well.  Also when you strike the edge of it you get a crashing response with a quick decay effect.  Recently I’ve been making a switch from bright, sibilant cymbals to those with darker, earthier tones that compliment the sound of taiko.   This particular cymbal has deep undertones and I believe it’s perfect for the music that On Ensemble produces.

Death and the King’s Horseman closed on Sunday July 5th.  I had a really good time working with the other musicians and actors in the play.  It was a great way to have been introduced to the Yoruban culture in Nigeria.  Thanks to those who came out to see the play.

For the last three months I’ve been offering taiko classes in Ashland, Oregon.  Currently classes are being held on Monday afternoons 12:30-2PM and Friday evenings 7PM-8:30PM.  All levels are welcomed.  A variety of traditional rhythms and really useful techniques are covered.  If you happen to be in the area and you’re interested in lessons just contact me at kdrumlab@hotmail.com or give me a call at (541) 488-5503 for more details.

It was my pleasure to present a taiko demonstration for the Oregon Reads 2009 program last Tuesday in Medford, Oregon.  Oregon Reads 2009 is a community reads program that is encouraging Oregonians to read certain books.  This program will take place in nearly every public library and in every county in Oregon during the state’s sesquicentennial, January through April of 2009.  One of the selected books is Stubborn Twig by Eugene, Oregon author Lauren Kessler.  It’s the true story of three generations of a Japanese-American family, spanning across the 20th century in Hood River, Portland and Eugene.

The pieces that I performed were “Miyake”, “Kaitoryu” and “Yataibayashi”.  It was an interesting experience performing all of these ensemble pieces solo.  This Friday I’ll offer a taiko class here in Ashland, Oregon.  This will be the start of regular taiko classes that will be held once a week at the InnerSpace studio located at 280 East Hersey St. Bldg. #1 Ashland, OR.  For more information contact me at:  kdrumlab@hotmail.com

The tour to the east coast was awesome.  I especially had a lot of fun playing “Miyake” with Kaoru at the Drom show and at Kinokuniya.  It had been a long time since we both had played the piece and man am I sore.  It was also great to share  our experiences with Kodo and Ondekoza.  Now I’m back in Ashland, Oregon and today I’ll begin rehearsals for the Wole Soyinka play “Death and the King’s Horseman“.  It’s a Nigerian play that features Yoruban drumming and I’m one of the percussionists.  I’ll be performing with the Nigerian master drummer Bisi Adeleke.  This will be a lot of fun and an awesome learning experience.  The play opens on February 21st and closes on July 5th.  If you can, come check it out.

As we were conducting workshops on this tour I was reminded of a passage from “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran and I want to share it with you.
“No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge. The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and his lovingness. If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind. The astronomer may speak to you of his understanding of space, but he cannot give you his understanding. The musician may sing to you of the rhythm which is in all space, but he cannot give you the ear which arrests the rhythm nor the voice that echoes it. And he who is versed in the science of numbers can tell of the regions of weight and measure, but he cannot conduct you thither. For the vision of one man lends not its wings to another man.”

-Kelvin