08.24.09
Major updates done on all of our web applications--redesigned the TP Youtube Channel, Yuri updated the design for our TP Blog, added photos to our Facebook fanpage, and started a TP Twitter page!
08.24.09 08.22.09 08.18.09 08.17.09 08.10.09 08.06.09 08.03.09 07.28.09 07.22.09 07.21.09 07.10.09 07.03.09 06.28.09 06.27.09 06.22.09 06.18.09 06.10.09 06.04.09 05.28.09 05.24.09 05.16.09 05.06.09 05.04.09
The Next Generation Remix is over! Kitsune Taiko had a great performance yesterday at the Nisei Week Taiko Gathering--good job kids! Coming up next, TP has some much needed downtime! Actually, things are coming together for our new studio space...updates to come shortly, but in the next month, we may be finally moving into our own space....woohoo!!
TP bids a fond farewell to performing member Jason Osajima, who is moving up to San Francisco this fall! Good luck Jason! Keep in touch--
Last weekend, we performed for the LA Tap Festival, thanks Jeff for bringing us out to collaborate with your dancers! This coming weekend, we perform for the Next Generation Remix at the JACCC. Come on out, it's free!
Check out the new headers on the TP website! They were shot by photographer Steven Nguyen, who did our most recent photo shoot. Thanks Steve!
The 2009 North American Taiko Conference has come and gone! It was a great weekend of seeing old taiko friends and making a few new ones. Congrats to all the TP members who also served as key parts of the conference, including Darren, who was the overall conference coordinator, Yuri, who was the producer for the Taiko Jam concerts, Jen, who was a conference assistant coordinator, Jason, who coordinated drum logistics, Byron, who was a workshop leader, Maz, who performed with On Ensemble for Taiko Jam, Bryan, who emceed Saturday night's Taiko Jam, Courtney and Tomomi, who helped with the Marketplace logistics, Kitty and Yumi, who played with Kishin Daiko for Taiko Jam, and Kevin & Jenny for being workshop assistants! Yep, that's pretty much our whole group! Good job everyone! Kudos also to Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko, and Chikara Daiko, who were our co-hosts for the opening reception! There was plenty of food, the jam session went well, and our performance wasn't bad either! Check out a couple videos from the conference here--first, our kick-off performance at the Opening Reception and Maz, Bryan, Yuta, Aya, and Julia playing in the big tribute to Oguchi-sensei on Friday night!
We just finished our latest photo shoot for new promotional photos with photographer extraordinaire Steven Nguyen. Check out our new photos here! Our photo galleries have also been updated, so check out photos from our summer 2009 gigs here!
The Orange County Fair run is over! Thanks again to Dan Gaines for inviting us out for the fair! This week, our group is actively involved in planning, coordinating, and facilitating the 2009 North American Taiko Conference! Hope to see you there!
Tomorrow we start a five-day run at the Orange County Fair! We will be performing the "Kids FunZone." Then next week, we get ready for a major influx of taiko players to hit L.A. when the 2009 North American Taiko Conference takes place!
Tonight, we are performing a free concert in Rancho Cucamonga! This weekend, come join us at the Higashi Honganji Obon Festival, where we will share the stage with New York's premiere chindon band, Happyfunsmile, as well as our sister taiko groups Bombu Taiko and Kitsune Taiko!
TP just finished a great photo shoot at the Japan America Theatre with photographer Steven Nguyen. Thanks, Steven for your great work, and stay tuned for new TP photos to be posted soon! Thank you to the staff of the JAT (Leonard, Gabe, and Leihua), and of course, thank you to Scott for doing lighting for us!
Thank you to Billy Kim and Phyllis Chang for inviting us to play for the Little Tokyo Marketplace's 100-day Celebration! Less than a month to the 2009 North American Taiko Conference! See you there?
This Sunday, we play for the 100-Day Celebration of the new Little Tokyo Marketplace in....well, Little Tokyo. Then we head out to Rancho Cucamonga for a kids' performance at the Imagination Courtyard, and then our home performances at the Higashi Honganji Obon Festival, where we will share the stage with New York's premiere chindon band, Happyfunsmile!
Yesterday we played for Mayor Villaraigosa's Day of Service Festival, and he even came up to all of us and shook our hands! Cool. Up next, later today, Kitsune Taiko performs for the JACCC's Annual Gala Dinner, honoring Tanaka-sensei of San Francisco Taiko Dojo, and on Tuesday, we perform for the Asia Society's Annual Dinner, where they are honoring Kobe Bryant of the World Champion LA Lakers! Nice!
We are pleased to start featuring the work of various photographers we have met over the years in our website header images. Every few months, we will be showcasing photos in our headers from photographers who have captured us in action. First up is local photographer Marc Amba! The headers you see above are shot by Marc at our performance at the Japanese American National Museum. Marc has actually shot us a few times in the past couple of years--check out his other work on his Flickr page! You can also check out the full gallery of his photos from the JANM performance here!
This weekend we perform for the Mayor at Los Angeles City Hall for the Day of Service, and then Obon season begins! Stay tuned for some exciting TP news...
Congratulations to our newest TP trainees, Andrew Chen, Liz Ishida, Jenny Mimura, and Emily Yoshihara! Welcome to the TP family!
Maz and Bryan have just returned from a five-day trip to Japan for the Asano Taiko 400th Anniversary Celebration! It was amazing to hang out with some of the legends of the taiko world, including Yoshikazu Fujimoto (Kodo), Yu Imafuku (Ondekoza) who did one of the most entertaining Odaiko solos we have ever seen, Seido Kobayashi (Oedo Sukeroku Taiko) who shook Bryan's hand(!!), Takashi Kikuchi (Hachijo Taiko), and Akio Tsumura (Miyake Taiko), as well as some of Japan's "next-generation" taiko musicians such as Shuichi Hidano, Hiroyuki Hayashida, and Akemi Jige (Hono Taiko). Representing American taiko with us were Tiffany Tamaribuchi, Art Lee, and our new buddy from Orlando, Take Ishikura from Matsuriza!
TP culminated a two-week residency at the Carpenter Center today by performing for about 2,000 kids! Thank you to Michele Roberge, Peggy Magee, and everyone at the Carpenter Center for all their work on the Classroom Connections project! Read more about it on the TP Tour Blog!
TP hosted a workshop with Kodo's Yoshikazu and Yoko Fujimoto along with Bombu Taiko! Thank you to Donna and Kodo Arts Sphere America for making it all possible!
TP is at UC Irvine conducting two workshops for the intercollegiate taiko community. Over 200 college taiko players participated in the annual Invitational, including two of our alumni, Samantha Mark (UCI Jodaiko), and Kevin Chan (CSULB Umidaiko)! Good job kids!
We're back from Chicago! Thank you to everyone at JAM Productions for all their work and efforts! Coming up next, TP conducts workshops at the Intercollegiate Taiko Invitational and then starts a two-week long residency for the Carpenter Center in Long Beach!
TP is off to Chicago to perform for the opening of the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago! Also, this Sunday, two new classes of kids start their taiko journeys at the Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple! Lots of stuff going on--stay tuned for more updates--
Full house at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara! Thank you to William, Dave, and company for bringing us out to Santa Barbara! Check out the preview feature and the short review here!
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