Taiko Extravaganza 2021 Flower of Life by Ken Koshio

TAIKO EXTRAVAGANZA 2021
Flower of Life
Friday, December 17th at 7:30 p.m.

Flower of Life

Appreciation, Dedication, and Celebration for our life

The mission of Ken Koshio is to resonate with all individuals and all things in the universe, using the rhythm of taiko to co-exist in the universe through the synergy of our human heartbeats. He pursues a peaceful world while transcending borders through his own special earth-groove music, in synchrony with nature and the universe.

Program

Jomon (縄文) - Roots of Life

Tree of Life (命の樹)

Migrations

I AM、SAMURAI - Center of the Universe

Four Colors

(East meets west and north meets south)

Katsina Spirits – Fujin (風神), Raijin (雷神) and Ryujin (龍神)

Hiroshima Calling / Hopi to Wa ( ホピトワ)

Flower of Life (命の華)

Soul Flower Gathering - Pow Wow (Prayer and Celebration)

K2 Enterprise presents “Ken Koshio TAIKO EXTRAVAGANZA 2021 – Flower of LIfe” taking place at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts for the 6th annual show in Arizona.

Our past shows have been a huge success, reaching many local people through the message of Koshio’s Life Beats. At our most recent show, we received many comments from our audience that they felt a deep connection between the soul and energy produced throughout this masterpiece of performing art.

The theme of this year’s show is “Flower of Life”. It is one of the basic sacred geometry shapes and it symbolizes the cycle of creation and reminds us of the unity of everything: we’re all built from the same origin.

Our desire is to express the art of drum beats and the roots of our indigenous spirit are intertwined to celebrate and experience the colorful diversity of cultures and generations and to remember our life and consciousness arise from one source.

Taiko in Japanese means “drumming beats” (太鼓) and “ancient time” (太古). Since ancient times, Taiko has connected our ancestral expression from the past to the future.

Ken Koshio’s passion is to share the most rewarding experience possible and express the importance of our origin. This amazing collaboration of diverse cultures and different styles of artistic expressions will be brought to the stage in tune with the rhythms of nature within our Grand Canyon State of Arizona as the “womb” (胎内) of the earth.

This show will feature a variety of expressions, dynamics of fusion beats, music, dance, and vibrations for all generations!

Date: Friday, December 17th

Time; 7:30pm

Location:

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

7380 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Sponsers and Partners

Supporting Artists : Taiko Extravaganza 2021 - Flower of Life

Derrick Suwaima Davis

Derrick Suwaima Davis is a Native Arizonan from the Hopi and Choctaw Na- tions. Suwaima is a performing artist as well as the founder and Artistic Director of The Living Traditions Dance Troupe. He is the only 7 times Hoop Dance World Champion! Suwaima has traveled the world as a Cultural Ambassador, sharing his dance and his culture through programs ranging from solo dance performances and speaking engagements.

Ryon Polequaptewa

Ryon Polequaptewa is not only one of the best kachina doll carvers, but writes, sings, and drums for Blu Thunder, a group of Hopi city dwellers who left their beloved homeland. The Blu Thunder singers have been singing together over a span of 10 years, and the singers never stop thanking The Creator for giving them the gift of singing and guidance in all of their endeavors. Listen to Ryon’s Grass- dance from the Blu Thunder CD.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has been learning the tabla since he was 7 years old. His innate passion and dedication to learning this complex art form has been furthered by gurus like Pt. Nandan Mehta, Pt. Tribhuvan Dabhi, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Shri Ty Burhoe, Shri Aditya Kalyanpur, Shri Steve Oda, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan to name a few. He has accompanied several local and international

Jin Sokushin

Jin Soku-Shin has been studying Autogenic Training, Yoga, Martial Arts, Qi- gong and Taoism since 1982. Since 2003, he has studied Japanese Shakuhachi flute and Zen music meditation tradition. He enjoys Native American flute, Didgeridoo, Armenian Duduk, and several other woodwind and percussion instruments. Jin studied with Mary Lu Brandwein (2003-2006) and Masakazu Yo- shizawa (2006-2007). Since 2007, he has been studying with Bill Schozan Schultz and Kaoru Kakizakai. Jin was given the stage name Soku Shin by his teacher in the tradition of the “Taizan Ha” lineage. He enjoys collaboration with other musicians in ethnic fusion and relaxation genres.

Dashmesh

Dashmesh has been collaborated with producers and musicians of international renown such as Bill Laswell, Steve Roach and Bryon Metcalf; and he is considered one of the best didgeridoo players in the southwest. Dash’s music has been on National Public Radio and XM Satellite Radio. Through his didgeridoo, percussion, sound design, and production prowess, Dash continues to study and dedicate his life to the arts of healing, consciousness, and music for a better planet.

Wes Hawkins

Wes Hawkins is a Percussionist and Music Educator in the Phoenix area with a diverse array of experiences. He earned undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Percussion Performance (University of Arizona, '97) and a Master’s degree in Music Education with a Jazz Studies emphasis (Arizona State, '03). Currently Wes teaches Jazz History and Percussion at Phoenix College, and is the Regional Director for UpBeat Percussion, a hand drumming and rhythmic literacy program for Title I schools in Phoenix. He is the owner of the Rhythm Is Life Percussion Studio, and maintains an active roster of private students, many of which have gone on to receive regional, state, and national accolades, or have gone on to earn graduate degrees, teach percussion at the college level, or become professional performers.

Keith Johnson

Keith Johnson is a percussionist who plays rhythms from Africa and the African diaspora. A craftsman of traditional instruments such as blekete drums, shekeres, gourd rattles from Togo, and the 21-string Kora harp as well as traditional dress such as hats and headdresses. He has performed in Arizona schools for three decades, using music and storytelling to share traditional African Folklore. Growing up in Washington, DC, he was introduced to music and culture from his parents and from attending events like the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which exposed him to various African cultures. He has studied with master drummers and musicians such as Yacub T Addy, C.K. Ganyo, Kendra Sissoko, Arouna Diarra, and Babatunde Olatunji. Johnson will work with apprentice, Rohan Williams, to teach the artform of making and playing drums and other instruments.

Garrison Jones

Garrison Jones is a Phoenix native jazz pianist, producer and composer. He is an active member of the Phoenix music community and member of the bands House of Stairs and Jazz/Hip-Hop group, MAKE BEATS. He advocates for a more connected music scene. As a graduate of the ASU Music program, Garrison had the opportunity to study with Raul Yanez and also the Director of Jazz studies, Michael Kocour. It was during this time that he developed his skills as a pianist, organist composer and producer. As an educator he instructs his students in a way that allows for their creativity to develop and flourish alongside their technical ability. Garrison takes inspiration from a wide spectrum of music including Classical, Jazz, Indie-Rock, Neo-soul and Electronic music.

Johnny Walker

Johnny Walker is a Berklee College of Music alum, hestarted playing bass professionally at the age of 15. As an Ohio native, Johnny was indoctrinated early in the deep funky grooves of musical infuences of the region, including The Ohio Players, Slave, Sunn, Zapp, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, Lakeside, and Midnight Starr. Since Berklee, he has spent a couple of years playing on the Las Vegas Strip, with some the
best musicians at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Recently, he played with world renown jazz guitarist, Steve Laury, as well as with Native American Grammy nominee, Radmilla Cody. Johnny joined the R. Carlos Nakai Quartet and brought his funky bass vibe to the award-winning group’s worldly, eclectic style.

Stevie Hagel

Stevie Hagel is a Drummer, performer, and educator, Stevie started teaching music in high school. After graduating, Stevie was hired as a full-time percussion instructor at Coronado HS (2006-2007). In 2008, he began teaching at Casa Grande Union HS. The highlight of his teaching career came in April 2011, when the CG Indoor Drumline competed in WGI World Championships and placed 5th in Scholastic A Class. He
has performed with numerous groups of all genres including BOOM Percussion Entertainment, his band The Lark and Key, and prominent Japanese artist Ken Koshio. Stevie teaches private lessons out of his home studio in Scottsdale.

Ted Niko

Ted Niko is originally from Kanagawa, Japan, Ted Niko started playing the Chinese two-stringed fiddle, or erhu, with professional musician WeiWei Wuu in Tokyo in 1998.
After Ted moved to Taiwan in 2005, he studied under world-class erhu virtuoso Kenny Wen and other professional players, including Jiayu Lee and Jasmine Liao. While in Taiwan, Ted performed both as a soloist and as part of a traditional Chinese instrument orchestra, in addition to producing
numerous collaborative concerts involving Taiwanese and Japanese amateur musicians.

After returning to Japan, he became an instructor at one of Tokyo's largest erhu schools and regularly gave live solo performances.Ted moved to the USA in 2020 and currently resides in Arizona.

John Paul Mendes

John Paul Mendes has been a Koshio Gumi member and in Ken’s Jakara for 10 years. He is also a Taiko instructor. As a brass/percussionist and martial artist, he has performed with various marching and competitive band groups. He was a member of Momentum Percussion Theater in 2005-06 and a member of the Academy Drum & Bugle Corps (2007) as a trumpet player. He was also on the trumpet line for the ASU Sun Devil Marching Band (2008-09). As a student and apprentice of taiko drums, John Paul has performed with Ken Koshio at many Arizona and California venues in addition to being a cast member of Sakura No Ne (Root of the Cherry Tree) in 2012 and annal concert, Taiko Extravaganza.

Taiko drumming, Folk music artist and singer/songwriter
KEN KOSHIO

-A Global Peace Warrior-

TAIKO EXTRAVAGANZA 2021
Flower of Life
Friday, December 17th at 7:30 p.m.

Sponsers and Partners

Supporting Artists : Taiko Extravaganza 2021 - Flower of Life

TAIKO EXTRAVAGANZA 2021 Flower of Life Friday, December 17th at 7:30 p.m.

​Sponsers and Partners

Supporting Artists : Taiko Extravaganza 2021 - Flower of Life

TAIKO EXTRAVAGANZA 2021
Flower of Life
Friday, December 17th at 7:30 p.m.

Sponsers and Partners