KHOOMEI-TAIKO ENSEMBLE
Mongolian, Japanese and US artists come together for a fascinating collaboration, highlighting the popular Mongolian art of khoomei (throat singing) with the driving rhythms of Japanese taiko (drums). The Khoomei-Taiko Ensemble features Shinetsog Dorjnyam (khoomei), Shoji Kameda and Tetsuro Naito (taiko), the legendary folk musician Tserendorj Tseyen (magtaal-praise songs, morin khuur – horsehead fiddle, jaw harp), Kaoru Watanabe (fue and Noh Kan-flutes) and Miki Maruta (koto – zither). The program also includes the captivating voice of Mongolia’s urtiin duu (long song) vocalist Khongorzul Ganbaatar, a featured artist in Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project.

The Khoomei-Taiko Ensemble 2009 programs are supported in part, by the Trust for Mutual Understanding, the Asian Cultural Council and the Japan Foundation through the Performing Arts JAPAN program.

Presented by World Music Institute in association with Asia Society.

 
TOUR SCHEDULE:

MONGOLIA
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
Khan Bank Theatre
7:00 pm
Seoul Street – 25
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia

Information please call 96 779885 or 99 702593

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WASHINGTON D.C.
Friday, October 9, 2009
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
6:00pm
2700 F Street,
NW Washington, DC 20566

Tickets and Information: 800-444-1324 or 202-467-4600

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NEW YORK
Friday, Oct 16
Symphony Space
8:00 pm
2537 Broadway at 95th Street,
New York, NY 10025-6990
Tel: 212.864.5400
World Music Institute for Tickets 212 545-7536

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NEW YORK
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Charles B. Wang Center Theatre
8:00pm – 10:00pm
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

Reserved seating for all VIP ticket holders. Reservations highly recommended.
Please reserve your tickets by e-mailing wangcenter@stonybrook.edu or call (631) 632-4400.

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NEW YORK
Tuesday , October 20th
The Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus.
10:15AM & 12:15PM
1 University Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Contact Community Works – performances@communityworksnyc.org or (212) 459-1854

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WASHINGTON
Friday, October 23
Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee – Stanley Civic Center
7:30 pm
123 N. Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98807

Phone: 509-663-ARTS(2787)
Email: tickets@pacwen.org

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WASHINGTON
Sunday, Oct 25
Town Hall Seattle
7:30pm
1119 Eighth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101

Tel:(206) 652-5858

NAKANAKA
Kaoru Watanabe and Tamango with friends!
Sept 18th, 2009 (fri)
9 pm to 11pm
$10 in advance
$12 at the door
DROM
85 Avenue A
New York, NY 10009
http://www.dromnyc.com/

Kaoru Watanabe, NY-based Japanese taiko drum and Japanese flute player with long time collaborator Tamango, tap dancer/singer/percussionist.  Be prepared to witness two extraordinary improvisors capable of creating moments of intense energy and drama, drawing from Japanese drumming and flute traditions, jazz music, Brazilian and various African rhythms and Amazonian Creole culture.   
There will also be a performance by some of Kaoru’s taiko students in the physically demanding piece Miyake.

Please click the title to see for more information;

with Kenny Endo’s Ensemble@The Powell St Festival(Aug.1,2)
@Woodland Park, Vancouver

Workshop@North American Taiko Conference(Aug.7,8)

Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble (KETE) in San Juan Capistrano(Aug.15)

August 15, 2009 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble (KETE) in San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA – San Juan Capistrano Regional Public Library
Tickets available at door only

August 7, 8
Kaoru will be teaching a couple of workshops at the North American Taiko Conference, sitting in on a panel discussion as well as performing with On Ensemble at the Taiko Jam 09 concert. 

Workshop #12
Fue Fundamentals
Kaoru Watanabe
Friday, Aug. 7 @ 1:30 PM

Due to Kaoru’s range and wealth of knowledge accumulated after decades of intense study and performance, even seasoned players may gain insight about this incredibly versatile instrument through this fundamentals class. The workshop will begin with a brief overview of different types of fue, their construction and distinct playing styles. Kaoru will then go over basic hand position, breathing, tone production, fingering exercises and some simple melodies. Participants should bring a #8 or #6 fue if possible. Fue will also be available for sale

Workshop #47
Yoko Uchi Fundamentals
Kaoru Watanabe
Saturday, Aug. 8 @ 9:00 AM

Based on his experience in intensive study and performance with Kodo, including as a soloist in their signature piece Miyake, Kaoru will breakdown yoko uchi (sideways stance playing) in a way that allows the taiko player to better utilize the natural tensions and power inherent in the body through a better understanding of often cited but elusive concepts of relaxation, finding “the center,” and lower body strength, flexibility, and being more grounded. Reexamine the function and movement of each body part, the hand, the wrist, the elbow, the shoulder, and most importantly the back, hips and legs, in a clear and concise way.

Please check here for details: http://www.taikoconference.org/

August 1(6 pm) and 2(3:30) 2009

with Kenny Endo’s Ensemble
The Powell St Festival (Vancouver), Main Stage 

Woodland Park
700 Woodland Drive

for more information, visit
http://www.powellstreetfestival.com/

July 17, 2009
KATARU@Rubin Museum
Kaoru Watanabe/ Tatsuya Nakatani / Adam Rudolph

KATARU meaning “to speak” in Japanese is a trio made up of Kaoru Watanabe on Japanese and Western flutes and taiko drums, Adam Rudolph on Handrumset and percussion and Tatsuya Nakatani on modified drumset , bowed gongs and percussion – three musicians of disparate musical backgrounds who, by seamlessly integrating abstracted Japanese Noh, Gagaku, festival and folk music components with traditional global percussion, free jazz and noise elements create ever shifting emotional soundscapes.  The spontaneity, delicacy and visceral intensity of the trio seeks to reflect, in a contemporary aesthetic, an ancient prototypical human expression.

Friday July 17, 2009 @ 7:00 PM
$18.00 in advance / $20.00 day of
Member Price: $16.20

Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10011
212.620.5000
http://www.rmanyc.org/pages/load/32

July 19, 2009
Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center -The Village @ Gureje

HAPPYOKAI - Come join us for a celebration of Japanese taiko drumming and flute (fue), music, food, drinks, and special guest performances.
Meet the students and friends of the Taiko Center and find out what’s mesmerizing about Taiko.

Performances by:  Kaoru Watanabe & students
Guest Appearance by: Eric Person (MOON POOL)
More Guest appearances and performances to be announced

Time: 4pm
Place: The Village@Gureje
886 Pacific St., Bklyn 11238 New York, NY
718 857-2522 / 718 857-2105
Google Map Direction

Suggested Admission: $10
Raffles, Good food, and Drinks plus lots of Fun!
More info: http://www.gureje.com/ or 718 857 2522

July 13th
EV Kaoru Watanabe / Tomas Fujiwara duo
also: Saco Yasuma group

Evolving Music Series@The Local 269
269 EAST HOUSTON AT SUFFOLK
F TRAIN TO 2ND AVE
7:30 pm
$10

July 3rd, 2009
Natsuda!! NakaNaka Summer Opener@DROM

Come celebrate the arrival of summer@DROM: Naka Naka curator/ Japanese drum and flute performer Kaoru Watanabe will be joined by many of his finest artist friends for a cornucopia of music and dance – appearances by many special guests including Tamango, Adam Rudolph, Lale Sayoko, Nahoko Sugiyama, Trina Basu and his parents Haruka and Ayako Watanabe of the acclaimed St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

8 pm start
$10 advanced tickets
$12 at the door
http://dromnyc.com/home/index.php?option=com_gigcal&task=details&gigcal_gigs_id=789&Itemid=37

DROM
85 Avenue A
New York, NY 10009
http://dromnyc.com/