Taiko Legend TAIKOPROJECT Makes (Sound) Waves in Malibu

“A feast for the eyes and the ears.”—Cache Valley News

“Drum nirvana.”—Fresno Bee 

MALIBU, CA – September 9, 2024 – Feel the beat of the drum with taiko legend TAIKOPROJECT Saturday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Smothers Theatre on Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus. A dynamic contemporary blend of taiko, music, storytelling, and choreography, TAIKOPROJECT unites ancient Japanese tradition with 21st-century American innovation. 

TAIKOPROJECT’s latest full-length concert program "BENZAITEN" is inspired by the Japanese goddess of wisdom, beauty, and dance. Always seeking to break the boundaries of traditional taiko, TAIKOPROJECT creates new music and choreography based in the art form while expanding past its original expressions. Challenging gender roles in taiko music, they emphasize the equity present in the genre. In a multi-layered exploration of taiko and gender, TAIKOPROJECT showcases their female members in powerful, strenuous roles, while delving into their male members' delicacy and grace. 

“We are excited to return to Malibu and share our distinctive American taiko music,” says Executive Director of TAIKOPROJECT Bryan Yamami, “We pride ourselves on being able to showcase taiko's versatility as a musical instrument. At times, the drums will be loud and the audience will be able to physically feel the rhythms in their bodies. And at other times, we will showcase the delicateness that can be evoked from the instruments. We will take the audience on an awesome taiko ride!”

 

About TAIKOPROJECT

TAIKOPROJECT was founded in 2000 in Los Angeles, California by a group of young, emerging taiko drummers seeking to define a modern American style of taiko. The group maintains powerful traditional taiko songs and styles while also composing new music and choreography that pushes the boundaries of taiko artistry. Over the last 24 years, they have become America’s leading professional taiko drum ensemble and a leader in the global taiko community.

TAIKOPROJECT first made waves when they became the first American taiko group to win the prestigious Tokyo International Taiko Contest in 2005. They were then cast in a Mitsubishi Eclipse commercial—the first and only national advertising campaign to prominently feature taiko. The group has performed on the Academy Awards, the GRAMMY Awards, NBC's "The Voice,” “The X-Factor,” rock band 30 Seconds to Mars' "Up in the Air" music video, “Conan,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Playing For Change,” and have appeared with Alicia Keys, John Legend, Sean Paul, Peter Gabriel, and Stevie Wonder. They recently appeared on Ovation TV's "The Art Of,” “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Food Network's “Iron Chef Gauntlet," and in MTV’s AAPI Month commercials.

TAIKOPROJECT has performed at many of the country’s top performing arts centers and has toured to over 20 states in the US and internationally to Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Germany. They have released three full-length albums, “Surrounding Suns” (2010), “Our Many Sides” (2015), and “Benzaiten” (2019). 

Tickets are available now and are priced at $25.50–$48 for the public. Price includes ticket fees. Discounted tickets are available for groups, Military, Wave Associates, and Pepperdine faculty, staff, students, and alumni. To purchase tickets, call the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts box office at (310) 506-4522 or visit the TAIKOPROJECT event page. 

 

About the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts

Delighting more than 50,000 patrons and participants annually with live performances, art exhibitions, and local outreach opportunities, the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts serves as a hub for the arts on Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus, uniquely linking professional guest artists with Pepperdine students as well as patrons from surrounding Southern California communities. Three performance spaces, including the 450-seat Smothers Theatre, the 124-seat Raitt Recital Hall, and the “black box” Lindhurst Theatre, host hundreds of performances, rehearsals, and master classes throughout the year. The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, a dynamic, two-story exhibition space, showcases a revolving selection of modern and contemporary art with a focus on art made in California.

 

Event Details

WHAT: TAIKOPROJECT
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or TAIKOPROJECT event page 
PRICES: $25.50–$48 for the public. Price includes ticket fees. Discounted tickets are available for groups, Military, Wave Associates, and Pepperdine faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

 

Photos

Download a photo of TAIKOPROJECT 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

 

Media Contact 

Jessica Burdzinski
Marketing and Publicity Manager
jessica.burdzinski@pepperdine.edu
310.506.4055