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Taiko is mostly known to the Western world for its stylized, impressive drumming on large drums. Aoki wants to expand audience’s notion of taiko to include more traditional elements like the Japanese flute, shamisen, and smaller drums played by hand. He also experiments with new sounds; a large roster of performers that weave in and out of the evening include a flutist, saxophonist, three percussionists, and several dancers. The evening’s strongest section is its finale, where all types of sounds collide, representing a Aoki’s own journey from the geisha house to jazz experimentalism. Another highlight is a guest appearance by modern dancer Ayako Kato, whose movements in front of a floodlight create haunting shadows projected onto the drums themselves. Over thirty performers from Chicago, San Francisco, and Japan contributed to this vast, complicated, challenging work.
