Tatsu Aoki's Taiko Legacy 15 and Reduction 6 Bring the Thunder of the Japanese Taiko Drum to the MCA This December
The iconic and expressive thunder of the taiko drums celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Taiko Legacy with a bang in two programs directed by multi-instrumentalist and media artist Tatsu Aoki, Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave. The 15th Anniversary celebration also includes a special "Chindonya" (Street Troubadour) workshop Sunday, Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m.
Chicago's Tatsu Aoki is a prolific composer and performer of traditional and experimental music forms, a filmmaker, and an educator. As Executive Director of Asian Improv aRts MidWest (AIRMW), an Asian American cultural arts presenter organization, he has initiated and managed several programs to advance the understanding of traditional arts and community through the arts, including the annual Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival, the Tsukasa Taiko Legacy, and the Toyoaki Shamisen arts residency projects.
Reduction 6 - "Kanreki" Special; Saturday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20; children under 12 and seniors $15. Visit taikolegacy.com
The Reduction concerts are a rich, erudite counterpoint to mainstream taiko drumming usually seen on contemporary stages. They find roots in the authentic origins of taiko, but continues to expand and deepen the artistic palette drawing on the rich traditions of classic and contemporary jazz. This year's presentation features special segments from director Tatsu Aoki's renowned Basser Live concerts commemorating his achieving kanreki, or his 60th birthday. In Japan, this significant birthday celebrates the completion of one Zodiac cycle and is a kind of a "second birth" and time to reflect on the past, as well as look ahead towards the future.
Joining the drummers in this memorable kanreki ritual will be Chicago's jazz artists Hamid Drake (drummer and percussionist), Michael Zerang (percussionist) and Nicole Mitchell (flutist/ composer) plus Chizuru Kineya (shamisen) and chindonya performer Yasushi Shimazaki.
Taiko Legacy 15, with Tsukasa Taiko; Sunday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m.
Tickets: $20; children under 12 and seniors $15. Visit taikolegacy.com
Taiko Legacy is a popular perennial celebration of Japanese cultural heritage featuring leading contemporary performers. Taiko literally means "drum," and Taiko Legacy is known for its thunderous sound and stunning, stylized choreography. Joining the Tsukasa Taiko ensemble will be featured guests Melody Takata and the GenRyu Arts of San Francisco, classical music grandmasters from Japan, Chizuru Kineya and chindonya (traditional troubadour) artist Yasushi Shimazaki, leader of the 5:30 p.m. workshop (see below). Tsukasa Taiko is a program of Asian Improv aRts Midwest and the Japanese American Service Committee of Chicago.
Special Workshop: Chindonya (Street Troubadour); Sunday, Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m.
Registration: $25. Visit taikolegacy.com
Taiko Legacy guest artist, Yasushi Shimazaki will present a special hands-on workshop tracing the origins of chindonya culture and explaining various instruments and routines, as well the theatrical implications of being a chindonya in today's time.
Chindonya is a type of Japanese street musician hired to advertise for local shops and businesses. Believed to be part of Japanese culture for more than 150 years, these elaborately dressed performers parade through the streets playing music and singing to gather attention for their clients. Chindonya was especially popular around WWII and today the tradition is experiencing something of a resurgence in Japan.