Kodo drums up excitement at Power

A Taiko drum heard from a distance was an old Japanese method of establishing a community boundary. This past Tuesday night, the popular Japanese drum troupe, Kodo, pulled Ann Arbor into its community as they performed at the Power Center to a nearly sold-out crowd.

Kodo's performance proved that music can cross all cultural barriers. The group's sound is based entirely around the traditional Japanese drums. Flutes and group singing are rarely included. So Kodo's music is constructed almost strictly on (by Western standards) very odd drum patterns and syncopation. It is a wonder then, that with so few melodies and without a single word spoken in English, Kodo managed to mystify the crowd.

The 15 artists took turns onstage and collectively performed a 10 song set and added two more as encore numbers. The wide range of drums used and the different sounds they made evoked many different moods throughout the night's performance. It was amazing to see that the drums, usually used as a means to keep the beat of a song, could be so expressive as a focal instrument. From playful and upbeat numbers like "Chonlima" to the darker ones like "Fu-Rai-Do," the group showcased its versatility in performance.

Another amazing aspect of the night was the incredible physical discipline and endurance that members of Kodo exhibited. Some of the drums were played by pounding on them while sitting on the floor and setting the upper body at an almost 45 degree angle. Just imagine the stress on the body, as Kodo songs run an average of seven minutes!

The night's proceedings were not limited to merely the drums however, as heard when Kodo performed "Yae-No-Furyu." In this number, the group moved in a dance from Japan's Obon festival, the festival of the dead. As mentioned earlier, rare appearances of flutes and group singing were showcased as well.

What was also plentiful was youthful vigor and spirit in the performance. The majority of Kodo performers were made up of fairly young looking members who kept their discipline during the morose numbers, but were not afraid to let their hair down and have a good time during the more upbeat ones. This was especially so as during one of the numbers, the Kodo member playing the cymbals jumped around and showcased moves worthy of Elvis.

The group was given a standing ovation after finishing its 10 song set. The crowd response was so overwhelming that Kodo had to return to the stage twice to humbly bow to the crowd's approval. A two song encore was then performed, which consisted of two irresistible numbers, "Shake" and "Itsuka Mata." "Itsuka Mata" was appropriately a song about wishing well until someday meeting again.

Feb. 23, 1999

Power Center

Kodo

REVIEW

02-26-99