Hamilton students, faculty, and local community members filled Wellin Hall on Friday, Nov. 2 to enjoy a performance by San Jose Taiko. Based in San Jose, California, San Jose Taiko travels around the world performing kumidaiko. Kumidaiko is a Japanese art form consisting of ensembles of taiko plaers. Taiko refers to a wide range of Japanese percussion instruments.
San Jose Taiko’s Friday night performance was a joy to experience. They performed 14 pieces, seven in each half, separated by an intermission. Some pieces were soothing and relaxing, with soft taiko and Japanese bamboo flute, while others were energizing and powerful with robust sounds and rhythms. Moreover, each piece told a story. For example “Iruka” by Franco Imperial tells the story of a dolphin’s life, incorporating sounds of the water. Not only were the taiko rhythms and sounds interesting and powerful, but the performers also made the concert visually compelling. Each ensemble member used expressive body language and a wide array of facial expressions to show the emotion of each piece.
San Jose Taiko’s performance left audience members in awe. Of the show, Megan Buiocchi ’20 said, “The performance on Friday night absolutely blew me away! I knew a little bit about taiko before going in, but the group’s athleticism and their combination of traditional and contemporary music wowed me. I’m from the San Jose area originally and I was shocked that I had never heard about this group before — they were so energetic and infectiously fun!”
Genny Cohen ’21 was also surprised by the theatrical elements of the concert, saying, “The performance was not at all what I was
expecting, but in the best way possible. The combination of the rhythm of the drums and the movement of the performers helped to create a cohesive storyline that carried through both acts. Additionally, the way in which the performers interacted with each other and with the audience was playful and entertaining, so it was almost impossible to refrain from smiling.”
Music major Kelsey Brush ’20 added, “I really loved how much energy the musicians put into every movement; the show was so dynamic, but flowed so smoothly from one piece to another.”
San Jose Taiko was founded in 1973 by a group of third generation Japanese-Americans to creatively express their cultural experiences. While San Jose Taiko initially focused solely on traditional Japanese drumming styles, they have since begun to incorporate a variety of global styles into their performances, including Brazilian, African, and Jazz influences.
San Jose Taiko has been awarded a multitude of honors and grants, making it one of the world’s premier Taiko ensembles. The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded advancement and challenge grants to San Jose Taiko. Additionally, in 2010 the Foreign Minister’s office of the Japanese government awarded San Jose Taiko the Foreign Minister’s Commendation of Achievement, recognizing the group’s strong contributions to the taiko art form.
In addition to performing at Hamilton, San Jose Taiko also performed a mini-concert at the Kirkland Town Library on Thursday, Nov. 1, and they performed for local elementary school students in Wellin Hall on Friday morning. San Jose Taiko’s performance at Hamilton was a stop on their 2018 Rhythm Journey Tour, which will continue on to Albany this weekend.
