Ten years is a great time to look back to the origins and forward to the future, and Mu Daiko is at that point in time. We have come from the world of kumi daiko, the ensemble drumming style that has become hugely popular in Japan and is growing rapidly here in North America. In July 2005, Mu Daiko was one of four groups invited to perform at the mainstage production of the National Taiko Conference in Los Angeles where over 700 participants attended. It was a great honor and our work was truly well received. It was a high point for all of us but we are already moving forward.

As I look at the new compositions being created for our concert, I can feel in Iris Shiraishi's new song Soaring, a classic sense of the rootedness in her work on the Hachijo style of odaiko playing and her innovative musicality where she has players playing our shime taiko, small drums, by hand. In Tawamure by Jen Weir, I see her playfulness mixed with her high energy and creative configurations of the drums. Jen is all about trying new things based upon her solid foundations in taiko. And finally we will have a new short piece for our new odaiko, our largest drum that will make you feel the thunder in your heart. Wrapped around these new works with be some of our favorite songs that reflect the breadth and depth of our taiko.

Our guest artist this year will be Tiffany Tamarabuchi and her touring group, Jodaiko.
I saw this group perform in Vancouver, Canada recently and was deeply impressed by the power and intensity of the group. Some of our members performed with the group then and they will again for our concert, so we are all excited about that. Tiffany is one of the premiere taiko players in North America and has won the prestigious National Odaiko Contest in Tokyo. We are all excited to have her perform for and with us. Ten years of intense work and great times, and we are just beginning.
-Rick Shiomi