Joji Hirota and The London Taiko Drummers – Japanese Taiko (Arc Music, 2017)
Japanese Taiko showcases UK-based Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Joji Hirota and his formidable group The London Taiko Drummers. The album is a real treat for fans of percussion and specifically Japanese drumming.
The music selection consists of 10 original contemporary taiko pieces by Hirota and two folk songs. Most of the album features spectacular instrumental multi-layered drumming performances, using various types of Japanese drums and gongs, except for two songs in which Hirota plays the shakuhachi flute and vocals are added.
The CD booklet provides abundant information about the musical pieces, Joji Hirota and also each member of the ensemble: Yoshinori Hayashi, Jorrel Dawoodi, Luke Harrison, Monti Sadler, Yasuna Higuma, Haruna Komatsu, Naomi Potter, Tokiko Minoda, Simona Lombardi, Mayumi Hirata and Eri Kaishima.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.