Internationally Renowned Taiko Artist and His Contemporary Ensemble to Play The Mansfield

Internationally renowned taiko artist, Kenny Endo, and his Contemporary Ensemble will be in concert Thursday, October 20, at 7:30 pm in the Mansfield Theater. Traditional Japanese instruments such as taiko (Japanese drum), koto (Japanese zither), shamisen (Japanese banjo), and fue (Japanese bamboo flute) will be combined with the Western vibraphone and ukulele.  Tickets are $30 adults, $10 students and Great Falls Community Concert members.  They are available at the Mansfield Box Office in the Great Falls Civic Center, by phone 406-455-8495, or on line at ticketing.greatfallsmt.net. 

The day before the concert , Kenny Endo will lead a workshop with high school students in the morning and a cultural exchange with Native American drummers, dancers and singers from the surrounding area, Wednesday, October 19 at 3 pm on stage at the Mansfield Theater in the Great Falls Civic Center.  The cultural sharing session is free and open to the public.  For more information, call Dusty Molyneaux at the Great Falls School District at 268-6097. The performance and workshops are made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, with support from the Great Falls TBID funds, StaRadio and KGPR, Montana Public Radio.

Originally trained as a jazz musician, in the Asian American cultural renaissance of 1970s California, Endo began his taiko career first with L.A.’s groundbreaking Kinnara Taiko, then with the renowned San Francisco Taiko Dojo, the first kumi daiko (ensemble drumming) group outside of Japan. In 1980, he embarked on a decade-long odyssey in his ancestral Japan, studying and performing with the masters of classical drumming, traditional Tokyo festival music, and ensemble drumming. Endo has the honor of being the first non-Japanese national to have received a natori (stage name and masters license) in hogaku hayashi (classical drumming). In the hogaku world, Endo is known as Mochizuki Tajiro.

Endo has recorded numerous CDs of original taiko compositions, and was a featured artist on the PBS special “Spirit of Taiko.” He has performed for musicians Michael Jackson, Prince, as well as Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana.  He opened for The Who, performed a duet with singer Bobby McFerrin, and is featured on the soundtracks for Kayo Hatta’s film “Picture Bride,” Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now,” recorded in motion capture suit for James Cameron’s “Avatar,” as well as numerous TV commercials.

The members of the Kenny Endo Ensemble have impressive credentials and world-recognition as well.  Their combined credentials include collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, accomplished ukulele musicianship, and more than 35 years in taiko. 

To learn more go to www.kennyendo.com .