Kenny Endo Contemporary Taiko Ensemble at Freight & Salvage

Name: Kenny Endo Contemporary Taiko Ensemble at Freight & Salvage
Start: 2023-04-13T20:00:00-07:00
Location: Freight & Salvage

Schedule

Thu Apr 13 2023 at 08:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Freight & Salvage | Berkeley, CA

with Abe Lagrimas Jr, Masayuki Koga, Yi Chieh Lai, and Chizuko Endo
Pre-show conversation with Kenny Endo and journalist Yoshi Kato 7:10-7:35PM
“His ability to interweave … traditional taiko style with … jazz drumming has enabled him to create an incredibly dynamic style of performing that captivated the audience and was literally breathtaking. “ –The Grateful Web, NY
“Kenny Endo has probably taken taiko the farthest among Americans.” –Natural History, the North American Taiko Conference report
Celebrating over 45 years in Taiko, Kenny Endo stands at the vanguard of the taiko genre, as one of the leading personas in contemporary percussion and rhythm in North America and in Japan. For over 4 decades, he has led the way in this Japanese style of drumming in the U.S. as he continues with his 2023 tour: Kenny Endo Contemporary Taiko: Tradition to Innovation.
As a jazz percussionist and early innovator in Japanese taiko, Kenny Endo’s adventurous spirit stretches the taiko genre incorporating influences like funk, jazz, Afro-Cuban & Hawaiian, with roots firmly grounded in tradition. With 45 years of performing and touring, he continues to lead the way in this Japanese style of drumming. His performances are nuanced, brilliant, exciting!
Endo tours with his Contemporary Ensemble – taiko, vibes, drums, ‘ukulele, flute, koto or shamisen. The 45th Anniversary tour will feature prominent artists and long-time collaborators Kaoru Watanabe, flutes, and Abe Lagrimas, vibes, drumkit, ‘ukulele. along with Sumie Kaneko, koto and shamisen.
Endo has received numerous awards and accolades, including special recognition in Japan—he was the first non-national to be honored with a “natori,” a stage name, in Japanese classical drumming and is still esteemed in Japan today. He has won numerous awards, was featured artist on 2005 PBS special Spirit of Taiko, as well as several film soundtracks (including Coppola’s Apocalypse Now), and was honored by the National Endowment for the Arts for American Masterpieces.
“… the concert was absolutely amazing. Each performer was a master soloist in their own right, and you all came together in a very special ensemble … all blended into a modern approach to percussion that I believe is unique in the world today.” –Chair, Dept of Music, Lafayette College
Kenny endo, taiko set
Chizuko Endo - taiko
Abe Lagrimas - drumkit, vibes, 'ukulele
Jay Lai - guzheng (Chinese zither)
Masayuki Koga - shakuhachi (flute)