TaikoProject’s Rhythmic Relations 2008 at Ford Amphitheatre, Jul. 12-13, 2008

Cultural News, June 2008

TaikoProject’s Rhythmic Relations Concert

    The award winning TaikoProject presents an exhilarating demonstration of the innovative art of American Taiko with the 100 cast member production “Rhythmic Relations 2008,” at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood .

    Joined by sister groups, Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko and UCLA’s Yukai Daiko, members of the San Francisco Dojo Taiko (the first American Taiko group) and special guest Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka (the “father of taiko in America”), these ground-breaking artists will rock the Ford stage, for a second time with their big drums, skilled collaborations and innovative style, July 12 and 13 at 8:00 p.m.

    John Anson Ford Amphitheatre is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood , CA 90068. Free parking and handicap accessible. Tickets are $35, $30 for general, $12 for students/children. Box Office: (323) 461-3673. www.taikoproject.com/RR08/, www.FordTheatres.org

     TaikoProject, leaders in the evolution of the taiko art form, continue to pave the way for the next generation of drummers in “Rhythmic Relations 2008,” adding fresh grooves to traditional Japanese taiko and cross-cultural music influences such aship hop, pop & classical. Led by musical director Masato Baba, the event will feature San Francisco Dojo Taiko’s signature piece Tsunami, a new work by Byron Yamada (former Director of UCLA Kyodo Taiko and TaikoProject member) performed by Bombu Taiko and the award winning Omiyage, written in 2003 by composer Shoji Kameda, one of America’s most promising young taiko artists.

     On-site, stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening shows. For evening shows only, free non-stacked parking serviced by a free shuttle to the Ford, for evening amphitheatre performances only, is available at the Universal City Metro Station lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle, which cycles every 15-20 minutes, stops in the "kiss and ride" area.

 “Rhythmic Relations 2008” on July 12 and 13 are part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2008 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County- based arts organizations.