Kaoru Watanabe and Shoji Kameda played Japanese taiko drums at Town Hall Sunday night.

In one of the more unusual and interesting presentations of the Earshot Jazz Festival the Khoomei Taiko Ensemble presents cultural history while forging rare musical pathway by partnering ancient Mongolian and Japanese traditions.
Mongolian, Japanese, and U.S. artists come together for a fascinating collaboration, highlighting the popular Mongolian art of khoomei (throat singing) with the driving rhythms of Japanese taiko (drums). The Khoomei-Taiko Ensemble features Shinetsog Dorjnyam (khoomei), Shoji Kameda and Kaoru Watanabe (taiko), the legendary folk musician Tserendorj Tseyen (magtaal-praise songs, morin khuur-horsehead fiddle, jaw harp), Kaoru Watanabe (fue and Noh Kan-flutes) and Miki Maruta (koto – zither). The program also includes the captivating voice of Mongolia’s urtiin duu (long song) vocalist Khongorzul Ganbaatar, a featured artist in Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project.

Miki Maruta on koto.