ShastaYama 2008
A magical evening of dynamic Japanese drumming, dance & music
Saturday July 26 — 7:30 pm
Shastice Park, Mt. Shasta (Rockfellow & Adams)
In the alpine beauty of Mount Shasta a cultural phenomenon has taken hold. Taiko — Japanese drumming — is gaining popularity worldwide and has found its way to Mt. Shasta, CA . Twenty-three years ago, musicians Russel Baba and Jeanne Mercer founded Shasta Taiko, and their taiko program has had a direct impact on the development of American Taiko.
On July 26, Saturday evening, at the base of majestic Mt. Shasta, the 4th annual ShastaYama Taiko Festival will once again entertain and inspire audiences with a spectacle of Japanese drumming, dance, and music. Last year's festival attracted over a thousand concert-goers, who experienced world class artistry in the dramatic venue of Mt. Shasta's Shastice Park.
ShastaYama 2008's featured guest artists are the electrifying and ground breaking ON Ensemble from Los Angeles, the gifted taiko and dance artist Michelle Fujii, and the always inspirational Shasta Taiko, led by taiko pioneers Baba and Mercer. Preceding the 7:30 pm main show, the audience will be entertained by popular area groups Kazango Jazz and Allison & Victor. Adding to the festivities will be fabulous food and refreshments by Sengthong's, Wild Thyme Café, Red's Cajun Cooking, Brown Trout Café, Food Arts, and more.
Two members of ON Ensemble started taiko training as children with Shasta Taiko - Masato Baba, the son of Russel and Jeanne, and Shoji Kameda. Both are regarded as among the most respected taiko artists and composers in America. The talents of Kristofer Bergstrom and Kelvin Underwood add to ON's creative blend of taiko, percussion, flute, drum kit, koto, and throat singing. On Ensemble's unique sound has been praised as "completely original and brilliantly conceived," and Modern Drummer Magazine calls them "an exciting taiko ensemble looking at new ways to apply traditional Japanese drums." Former ON member Michelle Fujii is known for her innovative fusion of taiko and dance and is a leader in the American taiko movement. All have studied traditional performing arts in Japan. Shasta Taiko, according to the Anchorage Daily News "pushed the bounds of traditional music, bringing a new creativity that will carry taiko into the next generation. . . fashioning a new cultural and artistic tradition." With these dynamic artists, ShastaYama 2008 promises to be a special event of creative depth and beauty.
The gate opens at 5:30 for the pre-concert show and food sales. Bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating on the grass, and warm clothes and flashlight are advised for after sunset.
A Mt. Shasta Chamber Sponsored Event!
Tickets: $20 (13 & up), $15 (5-12), 4 & under free w/adult ticket