I always thought of Africa when I thought of drumming. This included products of the African diaspora like Brazil (Olodum), Cuban rhythms, etc. This is a stereotype most people hold I would guess. I was watching OvationTV, a station I only recently discovered and they had a special on Kodo. This album is kind of a best of and contains many of the pieces performed by Kodo in that particular show. I would say this group is much more of an act to see live. There is a very important visual aspect to it including the movements and positions of the drummers, the size of the drums and how they are attacked, and additional dancers. Some of that is lost in an audio recording, but the rhythms and melodies (played on on the fue and shamisen) are enough.
Kodo is a taiko drumming troupe. Members begin as apprentices living within the Kodo village community until they are full time members. This makes Kodo a very large, very tight knit, and very serious group. They play traditional Japanese rhythms and melodies combined with compositions by contemporary composers and their own members.
That's awesome. You should apprentice!
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