Combining thunderous drumming, jazz improvisations, and stylized kimono dance: Taiko Legacy was created in Chicago and remains the country's largest celebration of its kind. Tsukasa Taiko at JASC; tenor saxophonist Edward Wilkerson and percussionist Coco Elysses-Hevia of Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians; and three generations of artists from Chicago, San Francisco, and Tokyo including Yoko Kimura (shamisen/koto) and Yasushi Shimazaki (chindoya), perform for this percussion and movement performance. Tatsu Aoki and Amy Homma co-direct the taiko drumming that grounds Taiko Legacy 8 in an innovative cross-pollination of cultures and artistic forms with roots in theater and ceremonial music. Tsukasa Taiko at JASC returns to the MCA Stage on December 17-18, 2011. Taiko Legacy is a program of Asian Improv aRts Midwest and JASC, the Japanese American Service Committee of Chicago.
The MCA first presented Taiko Legacy in 1998, when Aoki was invited to experimentby combining his Asian Jazz bass performance with a visual artist and taiko drummer; resulting in a groundbreaking collage of Japanese and Korean performing arts. The programs have expanded since 1998 and now include improvisation jazz with traditional pan-Asian music and dance. The Taiko Legacy 8 performances are energetic and colorful with many musicians and drummers on stage, including youth drummers performing in traditional attire.
FULL MEDIA RELEASE AND HI-RES IMAGES
|
TICKET INFO
Taiko Legacy 8 takes place Saturday, December 17, at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 18, at 3 pm and is designed to be a family-friendly event. The tickets are priced to welcome family attendance at $15, and children 12 and under are free. Student tickets are $10 and subject to availability. Tickets are available at the MCA Box Office at 312.397.4010 or www.mcachicago.org. Running time is 90 minutes, no intermission. One free museum admission is granted with an MCA Stage ticket stub, valid up to seven days after the performance.
|
ARTISTS UP CLOSE
Family Day: Movement Saturday, December 10, 11 am - 3 pm Admission is free for families with children 12 and under; Activities are appropriate for all ages Inspired by celebrations and energy at this time of year, use your body and other kinetic objects as you create with movement and a performance by Taiko Legacy Drummers.
Saturday Speakeasy Saturday, December 17 An informal post-show gathering provides a special opportunity for the audience to engage with the artists. Snacks, hot and cold beverages, and beer and wine are available for purchase. |
|
