TaikoArts Midwest presents:
KENNY ENDO’s CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE

45th Anniversary Tour
Breaking Through Tradition to Innovation

Kenny Endo, taiko, kotsuzumi, percussion

Kaoru Watanabe, Nohkan, shinobue, otsuzumi, taiko
Sumie Kaneko, koto, shamisen, vocals
Abe Lagrimas Jr, ukulele, vibraphone, drums
Chizuko Endo, taiko, percussion

with special guests: Ensō Daiko

ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

7:30PM Monday April 25th, 2022

CONCERT HALL

PHOTOGRAPHS, RECORDING, and ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Cameras and recording devices may not be brought into the Theatre without the express prior consent of the Theatre management.  Please “silence” electronic watches, pagers, and phones.

Program

Ensō Daiko

Ryukyu Gissha (Okinawa Ox Cart)
Kumano Ki

Kenny Endo’s Contemporary Taiko Ensemble

Clarity
Yume no Pahu
Spirit Sounds/Miyake

-intermission-

Sounds of Kabuki
Ame, Tears of the Earth
Sunflower
Symmetrical Soundscapes
Spirit of Rice

PROGRAM NOTES 

Ryukyu Gissha (Okinawa Ox Cart) by Hiroshi Yoshino (performed by Ensō Daiko)
This piece is inspired by an experience of riding a cart pulled by a water buffalo on Taketomi Island, Okinawa. It opens with Asadoya Yunta, a folk song from the region, then moves into peaceful melodies with the Okinawa scale to navigate you to a relaxing tropical island. As the ox walks slowly, the cart sways and makes you forget the concept of time. The ox often moves in a slow and steady fashion, but since this piece is composed for taiko, perhaps this ox moves faster occasionally.

Kumano Ki by Rick Shiomi (performed by Ensō Daiko)
This piece is a rhythmic meditation inspired by a visit to the Kumano shrine in Japan.

Clarity by Kenny Endo
This piece relates to the elusive quest for clarity of purpose. The music is inspired by African-American funk. The performers seek to create a cohesive groove through melody and non-traditional rhythms.

Yume no Pahu (Dream of the Pahu drum) by Kenny Endo
This piece was inspired by pahu drum maker, Cioci, who had a dream that he was playing an unusually shaped pahu (Hawaiian drum) and chanting in a clearing in the forest. After awakening, he constructed a drum exactly like that in his dream and which is now in the Drum Museum collection in Tokyo. The first musical section is based on the Hawaiian mele (composition) “Ua Nani o Nu'uanu.” The second section is influenced by a Tahitian rhythm, ‘titau,’ arranged as a solo section. Yume no Pahu is dedicated to the indigenous people of Hawai'i in support of their struggle to control their land, their culture, and their destiny

Spirit Sounds / Miyake by Kenny Endo / Traditional
The odaiko (large taiko) is traditionally carved from a single tree trunk, hundreds of years old, with skins of stretched cowhide. This work features traditional taiko and voice patterns found in Kabuki and an Afro-Cuban 6/8 rhythm. This composition is dedicated to the spirits of the tree and of the cow, which are united and reborn as a powerful musical instrument. When an artist's spirit becomes one with the spirit of the taiko, the full potential of musical experience can occur. Miyake is a powerful traditional style of festival drumming from Miyake Island, Japan. It was arranged in the 1980s into a popular composition by the taiko group, Kodo. This arrangement adds improvisations to the original rhythmic patterns and signature low stance.

--INTERMISSION--

 Sounds of Kabuki (traditional)
This piece features the Nohkan, kotsuzumi, otsuzumi, shamisen, and vocals performing music influenced by traditional Kabuki theatre.

Ame, Tears of the Earth by Kenny Endo
Ame means rain in Japanese. My interpretation is that the Earth is crying out.  Ame is dedicated to victims of aggression all over the world, particularly in recent history, the events surrounding 9-11 and the current crisis in Ukraine. We hope to counter negativity with love and creativity through this musical performance.

Sunflower by Kenny Endo
The sunflower is a source of light and energy. This composition features the ‘ukulele, koto, and shinobue in a pentatonic scale.

Symmetrical Soundscapes by Kenny Endo
The drummers perform mirror imagery through sounds. The first part consists of traditional patterns found in Japanese classical drumming. It then flows into solos intertwined with images of mountains and valleys. The second part is a lively mixture of Brazilian rhythms, Tokyo festival music, and improvised "conversation" between the players.

Spirit of Rice  (Inaho no Sei)  by Kenny Endo
The Honolulu Festival's Mikoshi (portable shrine) is dedicated to the spirit of rice.  This melodic theme was composed for the festival and combines Japanese festival music with African-American funk music.  

KENNY ENDO CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE BIOS

KENNY ENDO
taiko, kotsuzumi, percussion
Kenny Endo is a performer/composer and a leading spirit in contemporary taiko.  Utilizing the traditional Japanese drum in innovative collaborations, his music blends taiko with rhythms influenced from around the world in original melodies and improvisation. Trained in western drums and percussion from childhood, Endo began his studies of kumi daiko (ensemble drumming) in 1975 with Kinnara Taiko (Los Angeles) and the San Francisco Taiko Dojo.  In 1980, Endo embarked on a decade-long odyssey in Japan studying with the masters of hogaku hayashi (classical), matsuri bayashi (festival), and kumi daiko.  He is the first non-Japanese national to be honored with a natori (stage name and master's license) in hogaku hayashi, and has an M.A. in Music specializing in ethnomusicology from the University of Hawai'i.  As a composer, Endo has released ten CDs. He has performed as a taiko soloist with the Honolulu Symphony, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, percussionist Kiyohiko Semba, the Hawaii Opera Theater, and with singer Bobby McFerrin.  Endo also serves as Artistic Director of Taiko Center of the Pacific, a school of traditional Japanese drumming in Honolulu.  Working with artists in various genres, he has paved new directions in using the taiko, bringing a refreshing and creative approach to music through his background in western, ethnic, and traditional Japanese drumming. This year he was honored with a prestigious US Artist Fellowship Award.

KAORU WATANABE
Nohkan, shinobue, otsuzumi, taiko
Kaoru Watanabe is a practitioner of various Japanese transverse bamboo flutes, taiko drum and Western flute. His music is an evershifting blend of Japanese folk and classical traditions with contemporary improvisational and experimental music. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri to symphony musician parents. After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music with a BFA in jazz flute and saxophone performance, he moved to Japan and joined the internationally renowned taiko drum ensemble KODO, where he studied and performed taiko, traditional Japanese folk dance and song, and specialized in various fue (bamboo flute) such as the nohkan, ryuteki and shinobue. In 2005, Kaoru began acting as one of KODO’s artistic directors, focusing on their world music festival, Earth Celebration; and curating and directing collaborations with such artists as Zakir Hussein, Carlos Nunez, Giovanni Hildago and Yamashita Yosuke. Kaoru left KODO and returned to NY in late 2006 to teach and continue performing fue and taiko as well as the western flute in collaboration with musicians, dancers, and visual artists of both western and eastern disciplines. Kaoru has performed and recorded with such artists as Jason Moran, Stefon Harris and with the great Kabuki actor Bando Tamasaburo. 

SUMIE KANEKO
koto, shamisen, vocals
Sumie Kaneko started playing koto (Japanese zither) at the age of five. In 1995, she won the Takasaki International Competition in koto performance. She studied Japanese traditional music at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, then studied Jazz vocals at the Berklee College of Music. Performance highlights include: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, TED Talk, Getty Center, Boston Ballet, and the Museum of Fine Arts. In 2014, her group, J-Trad, was invited to the Washington DC Jazz Festival by the Embassy of Japan. She was the first shamisen player to perform in Pulitzer Prize Paula Vogel's "The Long Christmas Ride Home" and has collaborated with many world instrumentalists. International tours include: Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Jamaica, and Bangladesh.

ABE LAGRIMAS JR
ukulele, vibraphone, drums
Abe Lagrimas Jr. is a versatile multi-instrumentalist who began his musical journey when he first sat behind the drums at the age of four. As he learned more about music, Abe gained an interest in other instruments as his career progressed, becoming highly proficient on vibraphone and `ukulele as well as drums, now performing throughout the world on all three instruments in many musical genres. Abe continued his studies and attended Berklee College of Music as a scholarship recipient. He has performed with notable artists such as Eric Marienthal, Lalo Schifrin, Gabe Baltazar, Jake Shimabukuro, James Ingram, and many others. He is a member of one of South Korea’s top jazz groups, “Prelude,” and a regular member of Hawaii-based groups Don Tiki and Bop Tribal, Boston-based Waitiki 7, and serves as musical director for L.A.-based vocalist Charmaine Clamor. He has released albums on major labels Universal Music Japan, Sony Korea, Pony Canyon Records. Abe received a 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano (Hawaiian Music) Award for his Michael Jackson tribute album Solo ‘Ukulele - The King of Pop. Abe is endorsed by Canopus Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Beato Bags and Koolau Ukuleles. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

CHIZUKO ENDO
Taiko, percussion
Chizuko Endo began playing taiko with the San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1978, then Oedo Sukeroku Taiko of Tokyo, and currently with the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble. In addition to kumi-daiko (ensemble taiko drumming), she has studied classical and festival drumming styles of Japan as well as gagaku “Japanese Court Music.” She serves as Managing Director and instructor at Taiko Center of the Pacific, a school of traditional and contemporary Japanese drumming in Honolulu. She is also an accomplished mask maker having had her masks exhibited and performed with in Japan and the US. She has performed throughout the United States and Japan, as well as in Canada, Germany, Argentina, Malaysia, and Australia with Oedo Sukeroku Taiko (Tokyo) and the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble.

Special Acknowledgements:
With deep appreciation to The Japan Foundation – Performing Arts JAPAN Program.
A special thank you to: Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten of Tokyo, Unosuke Miyamoto, Yoshihiko Miyamoto, Karen Fischer, Pasifika Artists Network, Taiko Arts Center, Seiichi Tanaka, Daihachi Oguchi, Saburo Mochizuki, Bokusei Mochizuki, Kenjiro Maru, Reverend Mas Kodani, Kinnara Taiko, Kirstin Pauka, Doris Endo, KETE Alumni, Taiko Center of the Pacific, and Chizuko Endo.

Kenny Endo uses taiko provided by Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten of Tokyo.

Kenny Endo's costume is designed by Anne Namba.

Artist Representative:
Pasifika Artists Network
Karen A. Fischer
1-808-283-7007, karen@pasifika-artists.com
www.pasifika-artists.com

ENSō DAIKO

Based in the Twin Cities, Ensō Daiko offers loud, energetic performances that combine music, dance, culture, and pure athleticism. The group regularly premieres new work adding their unique voice to the expanding canon and innovation of North American taiko. Through performances, studio classes and school residencies, Ensō Daiko has taught thousands of students of all ages and abilities.

TaikoArts Midwest Acknowledgments: Special thanks to Cat Eye Design, Ordway, MN Taiko, and the TAM board and staff.

This activity is supported, in part, by the City of Saint Paul Cultural Sales Tax Revitalization Program.