The TAIKOPROJECT: DVD is coming soon...
Click here to download the TAIKOPROJECT:(re)generation DVD Order Form
If you can't download it, send an email with your mailing address to bryanyamami@yahoo.com and we'll mail you one!
Click here to check out the new video excerpt of "Expanding" from our forthcoming DVD! More previews to come...order your DVD today!!
08.29.04 08.26.04 08.24.04 08.23.04 08.22.04 08.21.04 08.13.04 08.11.04 08.10.04
And...we're back from our debut in "Paris By Night 75." Thanks to Marie, Richard, Kiet, Ann, and everyone that helped make the huge production happen and hope the video footage turns out well. Check out photos from our trip
here... and stay tuned for info on the "Paris By Night 75" DVD, which should be out in December...
The TAIKOPROJECT is confirmed to play in an upcoming Yiddish Festival in downtown Los Angeles, collaborating with Klezmer clarinetist Leo Chelyapov. Check out updated performance listings on our timeline page!
Jen, Courtney, Yuri, Byron, Bryan, and Yuta play in one of the final rehearsals for this weekend's "Paris By Night 75", which will be presented in San Jose. Check out the promo poster here, but don't strain your eyes looking for us--we're not on it...oh well...maybe we'll make it onto the DVD cover...
Shacho-san (the President) of the Asano Taiko Company stops by Los Angeles on a short visit and meets with Yoko Ito, Bryan, and Tomoko about future touring of the TAIKOPROJECT to Japan...more news to come...
Photos posted from the JACCC/Nisei Week Taiko Gathering and Grand Parade, where Kitsune Taiko made their way through Little Tokyo on the "Bank of the West" float. Check out the photos here...and more to come shortly...in the meantime, the cast gets ready for "Paris By Night" this weekend at the Center for Performing Arts in San Jose, California.
Congratulations to Tiffany Tamaribuchi and the Sacramento Taiko Dan on their 15th Anniversary! The TAIKOPROJECT wishes you all the best in all that the future holds for you...
Today is Bryan's last day at the JACCC. It's an exciting new chapter opening up for his professional taiko career, but also a truly sad time for what was once a vibrant, essential, innovative, healthy, and pioneering organization. Where it's heading now...no one really knows.
Bryan, Courtney, Jen, Byron, and Yuri (and Yuta in absentia) rehearse with the dancers and choreographer Shanda Sawyer for the upcoming "Paris By Night" show in San Jose, California. Picture a taiko/Vietnamese pop music collaboration...with Bao Han at the mic. Should be interesting....
Bryan hangs out with Sheila E for the day, coaching her on taiko and taiko pronunciations for her voice-over/narration recording for the documentary "The Spirit of Taiko," which may be released as early as the end of the year! The documentary traces stories of taiko through three generations--starting with Tanaka-sensei, Kenny Endo, and then our own Maz "Maazu" Baba. Check out photos here!
08.09.04
The TAIKOPROJECT is pleased to announce the following beginners' taiko workshop dates for August, 2004! Workshops are open to the public, anyone over 16 years of age, no experience needed! On-going classes will begin in September, 2004. For more information on classes and workshops, contact Yuta John Kato.
08.05.04
The TAIKOPROJECT starts working with McDonald Selznick Associates and Thuy Nga Productions on "Paris By Night 75," a long-running Vietnamese musical production directed by award-winning director/choreographer Shanda Sawyer If you happen to be in San Jose at the end of August, you can check it out live! Click on the "timeline" page for more info...
08.01.04
Happen to be in Little Tokyo tomorrow night? Come see the TAIKOPROJECT play a short set at the "Tuesday Nights at the Cafe", a free, open-mic-style evening of performance ranging from poetry to music to dance...Check out the two photos we took at the performance here, plus the one we took after playing at a private wedding in Bel Air (and unfortunately the Fresh Prince was not in attendance)...
07.30.04
The TAIKOPROJECT's extended family now has bios up under our concept page! Click here and scroll down to check out our taiko family, including Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko, and USC Kazan Taiko...
07.27.04
Check out the new photo gallery for this past taiko-filled weekend, with Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko, and TAIKOPROJECT performances at Higashi Honganji's Obon Festival and at the 9th Annual Tofu Festival! Thank you Higashi Honganji and LTSC for having us perform at your events this weekend and thank you Bombu, Kitsune, Jodaiko, Kyodo, Kishin, and Zendeko folks for helping us move our drums around Little Tokyo!!!
07.15.04
Come check us out next weekend at Higashi Honganji's Obon Festival and/or the 9th Annual Tofu Festival!
07.13.04
Thank you to everyone who came out to see our performance with Quetzal! It was a fantastic time--both Quetzal and Son de Madera are amazing, wonderfully talented people, and brilliant artists to boot. Check out some photos from the concert and backstage here. Thank you also to the JACCC for producing the show and everyone who helped make it happen!
07.08.04
Rehearsals for this Saturday's performance with local band Quetzal are rolling along... If you're free, come check out Bryan and Shoji along with taiko drummers Maceo Hernandez, Johnny Mori, and Vivian Seki... the blending of the Chicano groove with the J.A. beat... awwww yeeeahhhh... Call (213)680-3700 for tickets!
07.01.04
Please go see this movie: Fahrenheit 9/11. It's hilarious, eye-opening, depressing, inspirational, masterfully done, and every American should see it.
06.28.04
Residency photos by Cherie Lockwood are now online here! Check 'em out! Also...the TAIKOPROJECT website is now ranked as one of the most visited taiko websites, second only to Kodo's website. Not bad...not bad... Click here to see our current ranking...
06.22.04
The Summer, 2004 TAIKOPROJECT newsletter is now out! Click the link below to download your own personal copy in Adobe Acrobat/Reader format. The second issue features segments on our Spring tour, our DVD project, updated performance and class schedules, and articles on Bombu Taiko and Kitsune Taiko! Check it out...and thanks Shozo for your help--
TAIKOPROJECT:NEWS Summer, 2004 edition
And if you missed the first newsletter, click here...
TAIKOPROJECT:NEWS Spring, 2004 edition
06.16.04
It's a sad day for Los Angeles as the Detroit Pistons take away bragging rights from the Lakers...but much props to Detroit, who really outplayed our boys this year...sigh... In happier news, the TAIKOPROJECT DVD order form is now online! Click here and all you have to do is print it out, send it in and our DVD will be on its way to you this fall...
06.15.04
Want to see the TAIKOPROJECT as interpreted by kids across the U.S.? Click here to see drawings and messages sent to us from kids we performed for on our Spring 2004 tour!
06.14.04
Check out resident photographer Mari Nakano's production stills, shot at the Mondavi Center, now online here! Also coming next week, the TAIKOPROJECT Summer Newsletter!! Also, coming in July, special online video previews of the DVD footage and new merchandise to be added to the TAIKOPROJECT Store...
06.07.04
The TAIKOPROJECT prepares for a corporate taiko gig for the opening of OPI's International Sales Conference. Soon to be making their TAIKOPROJECT debuts...Mr. Byron Yamada and Ms. Lesley Handa...awww yeeeaaahhhh...
06.06.04
Bryan and Shoji will appear as guest artists in a "fandangito jarocho," mini-jam session, with "one of L.A.'s leading current Chicano bands," Quetzal, on Saturday, July 10, 8 pm, at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre. Come check it out!
05.30.04
Maz leaves Los Angeles for Shasta, and then, off to Japan for at least a year. The On Ensemble and the TAIKOPROJECT are both sad, but look forward to his eventual return...
05.26_27.04
The TAIKOPROJECT performs for the official Mayor's Reception for the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at the Petersen Automotive Museum, the PACE Setters Awards Dinner, and Santa Monica College Asian Pacific American Celebration. Special thanks to Michelle Suzuki, Renner Davis, and James Lee for bringing us out!!
05.25.04
And...we're back. The TAIKOPROJECT Spring, 2004 tour was a great success, due in entirety to everyone that helped make it happen--all the theatres and producers who brought us out to their communities, all of our supporters, fellow taiko players, and donors, all of our families, friends, and loved ones. Thank you all for being a part of our journey.
What's next for the TAIKOPROJECT? Stay tuned...
05.24.04
Photos updated in the TAIKOPROJECT photo galleries! Check 'em out here...
05.23.04
The TAIKOPROJECT plays in a fun joint concert with Shasta Taiko in Weed, California! Thank you to everyone for coming out and especially Russel and Jeanne for providing a great conclusion to our Spring, 2004 tour! Photos coming soon...
05.22.04
The TAIKOPROJECT conducts workshops at the Sacramento Taiko Dan dojo for Northern California taiko groups--special thanks to all the members and Tiffany Tamaribuchi for bringing us out!!
05.21.04
The TAIKOPROJECT premieres "(re)generation" to Northern California audiences in a sold-out house at the Mondavi Center in Davis, California. Thank you to everyone for coming out and check out the photos here...
05.17.04
Check out recent press for the Spring, 2004 TAIKOPROJECT tour at the links below!
"TAIKOPROJECT drums up interest in ancient Japanese musical form"
By Rasmi Simhan, Arts Critic
Sacramento Bee
Sunday, May 16, 2004
"Young drummers join Shasta Taiko at COS"
Mt. Shasta News
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
"Bring in Da Drums: TAIKOPROJECT has a booming story to tell"
By Tina Potterf, Staff Reporter
The Seattle Times
Friday, April 30, 2004
"TAIKOPROJECT:(re)generation" Preview
By Elaine Iwano, Examiner Contributor
International Examiner
Friday, April 30, 2004
05.15 & 16.04
05.12.04
05.11.04
05.10.04
05.05.04
05.04.04
05.02 - 03.04
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