Dagakkibashi打楽器橋

Dagakkibashi

(Percussion Bridge)
Four of Tokyo's fiercest drummers will gather for the first time. No need for words. Not even thought. Just rhythm. From Africa to America and India to Japan, come join us on this journey as we transcend cultures, and perhaps even time and space itself, on the way across Dagakkibashi.
Featured: Ryutaro Kaneko, U-zhaan, Samm Bennett, Winchester Nii Tete



Artist info:

Ryutaro Kaneko

In 1987, Ryutaro Kaneko became a member of Kodo, the internationally acclaimed taiko group based on Sado Island in Niigata, Japan. He has been performing both throughout Japan and around the world ever since. Ryutaro was a central player in Kodo, performing with them in 32 countries on six continents. Beyond his stage work, he was also a key figure in both composing and arranging pieces for the stage as well as recordings and held the positions of musical director and artistic director for the group. From early on, Ryutaro began performing in unique and different styles, both individually and collaboratively. His performance contradicts the traditional image of Japanese drums that is predominantly based on sheer stength, and instead also expresses delicacy and richness in various types of rhythm and sound. He has been involved in a great number of on-stage jam sessions and collaborations with artists from many different genres, such as jazz, rock, world music, traditional Japanese music, and dance to name a few. Ryutaro left Kodo to become an independent artist in 2007. He continues to perform and teach both in Japan and around the world.
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U-zhaan

U-zhaan is considered to be one of Japan's foremost tabla players. He is a disciple of the legendary tabla maestro Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, and has also studied seriously with the world renowned maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. U-zhaan's many projects and Collaborations span the wide array of genres in Japan. From the traditional music of Japan and classical music of India, to modern fusion and contemporary music, his tasteful and inspiring musicianship always shines through, touching everyone who comes to listen.
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Samm Bennett

Whether using drums, percussion, voice, electronics, jaw harps, mouth bow, strumstick, toys or random objects, Samm Bennett has spent the last few decades trying to put the right sound in the right place at the right time. He is a frequent performer on the Tokyo scene, where he is known as both a masterful improviser and a unique singer/songwriter. He has very recently launched two new group projects, MEDICINE BONE (featuring original songs by himself and guitarist Ken Shima) and GHOST STEPPERS (an old-time/country blues band performing classic Americana, with guitarist Tomo, banjoist "Ushi" and blues harp player Junzo Suzuki). He is a member of the electro-acoustic duo SKIST, (with singer Ito Haruna), and is a former member of New York-based groups SEMANTICS, THIRD PERSON, BOSHO, the KROPOTKINS and CHUNK. He has performed countless solo concerts over the years, and continues to do so, with a focus on his original songs. These are presented with stark, simple accompaniment, and draw equal inspiration from music traditions of the American south (such as Appalachian folk and Delta blues) as well as from African traditional styles.
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Winchester Nii Tete

Master percussionist Winchester Nii Tete hails from the honorable Addy-Amo-Boye families of drummers in Ghana. His finely textured repertoire is centered around exuberant traditional rhythms and his performance is a true testament to his technical finesse and sensitive expressiveness. He has performed with the Ghana National Troupe, Sachi Hayasaka, Yoshio Harada, Takasitar, Naoki Kubojima, Tsuyoshi Furuhashi and many other. He has played in various genres, including jazz, hip-hop, reggae, pop and world music. Accomplished on the kplango, talking drum and many other instruments of Ghana, he is a brilliant young star who is certain to follow in the footsteps of his legendary uncles Obo Addy and Aja Addy as he gains international acclaim.
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