Imani Uzuri Brings The Gypsy Life To Joe’s Pub
Last Friday, Kaoru performed with Imani Uzuri at Joe’s Pub. Imani was celebrating the release of her newest CD, The Gypsy Diaries. Carol Cooper wrote a great review of the performance on The Village Voice’s music blog! I’ve pasted two excerpts of the review below, but check out the full text here–Live: Imani Uzuri Brings The [...]
KWTC Weekly Update 5/25
Are you signed up for our free newsletter? If not, simply subscribe here! In case you’re not subscribed to our listserv yet, here is a sampling of some recent announcements… BEGINNER CLASS We have decided to make this a regular weekly class. So no need to RSVP, just come at 4:00! All kinds of beginners–from [...]
WED, MAY 23
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Improvisations with Kenny Endo (taiko set, odaiko, tsuzumi) and Kaoru Watanabe (bamboo flutes, taiko) Lush Life Gallery, Jazz Heritage Center, 1320 Fillmore Street $12 at door, limited seating! %50 of proceeds benefit the Jazz Heritage Center, link 8pm BROOKLYN, NY: Open level taiko class with Evan! 6:00pm.
May 5 Wesleyan Taiko Concert
Just found some great pictures from the student taiko concert at Wesleyan University on May 5 here: http://wesleying.org/2012/05/05/scenes-from-taiko-spring-concert/ In case you were curious, our Youtube Channel has a playlist titled, ‘Education’ in which you can find clips (like the one below!) of Kaoru’s work outside of KWTC: Wesleyan Advanced Taiko Class, Yatai Bayashi
Kaoru in the California
Hi everyone– Kaoru sent over some pictures from his week in San Francisco and Berkeley. He is performing one more time on the 23rd with Kenny Endo. See the poster below! “This is at the end of a fun 6 hour workshop with Tatsumaki Taiko in Berkeley. From here I rushed to a performance with [...]
Kaoru in California May 18-May 27
Hi, Kaoru here! Had a great week last week, performing at Jason and Alicia Hall Moran’s epic residency, Bleed at the Whitney Museum as well as with Marika Hughes as part of the Jazz Shrines Festival. From here, I head to San Francisco for some performances and workshops. Looking forward to seeing all my Bay [...]
BLEED Recap: 3 Highlights
Sunday the 13th, Mother’s Day, marked the last day of Alicia Hall Moran and Jason Moran’s 5 day-long Biennial Residency at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Months ago, Alicia and Jason, who have known Kaoru for a very long time, asked him to re-arrange Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” for taiko ensemble. It’s been [...]
Update and Class Announcements
BOTTOM HEAVY Tonight at 7pm, Kaoru performs with cellist Marika Hughe’s band, Bottom Heavy! Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival The venue is on the 2nd Floor of the Magic Johnson Theater 2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 124th St (enter thru theater) Marika Hughes & Bottom Heavy with special guest Kaoru Watanabe $10 (Will Calhoun & [...]
Busy Busy May
Hello all, These past few weeks have been pretty busy for KWTC, with more to come, so sit back, relax, and enjoy a nice lengthy blog post. On the 26th, we did a workshop at Juilliard for students. A good number of students came out to see us perform a few pieces and talk a [...]
Sunday Class 5/6
Hi everyone! It’s 2am, and we just got back from tonight’s WesTaiko Class Spring Semester Concert at Wesleyan University. CLASS SUNDAY Open level class from 2-4pm (with Evan) Beginner class will happen from 4-6pm (with Evan) Tonight, Kaoru and Barbara, Evan, and Patty are performing during the 12th annual Ryu Shu Kan Taiko [...]
Sunday Classes
Hi all! Just a reminder that classes are on as usual for Sunday, and that includes the beginner class from 4-6! Also on Sunday, Soh Daiko will be playing in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens at noon, so you can check them out, then come to class. See you all Sunday, Evan
BLEED! And Star Wars?
We are incredibly privileged to be a part of Alicia Hall Moran and Jason Moran’s Whitney Museum Biennial Residency, which they have entitled BLEED. Click the link to read more about the five day-long series of concerts and events Alicia and Jason have planned. BLEED May 9-13 Live music and mixed-media installation Commissioned by the Whitney Museum of [...]
Sunday 4/22
Hi everyone, please join us for regular class from 2-4pm this Sunday. No beginner class from 4-6. Have a great weekend!
Sunday April 15
Hi everyone, Good luck to you this Friday the 13th! There will not be beginner class from 4-6 this Sunday, instead we invite students of all levels to Riley Lee’s guest workshop from 2-4pm in lieu of regular class. See you there. Questions and RSVP’s: taikonyc@gmail.com. http://www.taikonyc.com/workshops/ https://www.facebook.com/events/265922103495613/
Reviewing Kenny Endo, looking forward to Riley Lee
Hi folks, Another exciting week in KWTC land, and a lot of exciting events to come, so hold on to your bachi! We had the privilege of having a workshop with the great Kenny Endo last Wednesday. We covered so much and really stretched our minds in what was a fantastic class for all involved. [...]
Sunday 4/8
Hi everyone! We are teaching class on Sunday. Open level from 2-4 and beginner’s taiko is ON from 4-6pm! Have a great holiday weekend.
March Recap and April Announcements
Hi everyone, April Announcements: Kenny Endo’s Guest Instructor Workshop here at KWTC is tomorrow evening from 6-8pm. There is room for a couple more participants, so please email taikonyc@gmail.com if you would like to attend. If you would like to attend our Beginner’s Class on Sunday from 4-6pm, please RSVP to taikonyc@gmail.com by Friday 12pm. [...]
Sunday 4/1
REMEMBER: No taiko class at KWTC this Sunday! Some quick updates: –Patrick Graham workshop on Wednesday was great. As usual, there was so much to learn in only two hours of time…but students got to work on both chappa (Japanese hand cymbals) and katsugi oke daiko (sling-style drumming). Thank you to the awesome participants. –Kaoru’s [...]
Class Sunday 3/25
Although Evan & Patty are teaching the open-level class from 2-4pm as usual, there is no beginner-specific class this Sunday 3/25! Have a great weekend, Patty
Classes Sunday 3/18
Join us: –Open level class 2-4pm –Beginner level class is ON from 4-6pm! Evan & Patty will lead. Have a great weekend!
KWTC Blog Update 3/14/2012
Announcements Class tonight from 6-8pm. Kaoru is teaching. Sunday 2-4pm, Evan and Patty will lead class. Patrick Graham’s Intro to Chappa and Katsugi-Daiko Workshop is only two weeks away! Kenny Endo’s workshop at KWTC has been confirmed for April 4, from 6-8pm Recent Events Friday, 2/27: Evan and I performed as guests with Princeton University’s [...]
March Update from Kaoru
Hello friends! Besides my weekly trips to Wesleyan University where I’m teaching three taiko classes and my ongoing biweekly taiko classes at The Village@Gureje in Prospect Heights, here are some upcoming and ongoing performances in my life: March 7th Radio Appearance with Belinda Becker I’ll be appearing with incredible dj/dancer Belinda Becker on her weekly radio [...]
Save the date!
We are pleased to announce three upcoming guest instructor workshops at Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center!! Stay posted! Check the Workshops tab on the menu bar for updates. PATRICK GRAHAM, Wednesday, March 28, 2012 6:00-8:00pm KENNY ENDO, Wednesday, April 4, 2012 6:00-8:00pm RILEY LEE, Sunday, April 15, 2012 2:00-4:00pm
Recent Workshop Intensives
Hi everyone, In addition to Kaoru’s performance touring and regular teaching in Brooklyn and at Wesleyan University, he’s recently traveled to guest teach at Edmonton’s Kita No Taiko and Cornell University’s Yamatai.