Masato Baba : taiko, yokobue, voice, percussion
(bottom right)
Born into a musical family, Maz started playing taiko at age 6 under the tutelage of his parents and professional taiko players, Russel Baba and Jeanne Mercer. In his twenty-four years of studying, performing, and teaching, Maz has become one of the most respected taiko players in North America. He has toured the United States, Japan, Macau, and Germany and has recorded with many of North America’s leading taiko artists. He was featured in the David Mamet film Redbelt and lends his talents as Musical Director to “TAIKOPROJECT: (re)generation” a multimedia theatre production. Maz is also sought after as a teacher and workshop leader and serves as lead instructor to several Los Angeles-based taiko groups.
Kristofer Bergstrom : taiko, turntable, shamisen, koto
(top left)
Kris began his taiko career as a member, composer, and leader of the university group, Stanford Taiko. He then spent 3 years in Japan where he studied and performed traditional dance within the Wakayagi school, kumidaiko with Nihon Taiko Dojo, and nagauta shamisen with Kineya Katsuyukie, one of the world’s most respected shamisen players. An artist of many talents, Kris maintains an active teaching schedule of taiko technique, turntable scratching, and shamisen, and currently serves as mentor to a small group of dedicated apprentices. His recent composition work explores puzzles and riddles buried in rhythm.
Shoji Kameda : taiko, throat singing, yokobue, percussion
(top right)
Shoji started playing taiko at the age of 8 and has played continuously since. In 2006 he was selected through a highly competitive process as an Asian Pacific Performance Exchange fellow, collaborating with master artists from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the USA. He produced On Ensemble’s critically acclaimed album Dust and Sand and composed an original score for Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story, Audience Award winner for Best Documentary at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival. In 2007 Shoji was invited to Malaysia as a guest artist for “Qadim” a production at the Nation Arts Academy. He was featured in the music of the hit NBC TV show Heroes performed with Stevie Wonder at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and continues to tour and record with the Grammy nominated Jazz fusion band Hiroshima.
Kelvin Underwood : taiko, drum set, voice, percussion
(bottom left)
Born in North Carolina, Kelvin’s musical journey began with a drum set and two understanding parents. At age 19, Kelvin was recruited by Tagayasu Den to join the world-famous taiko group, Ondekoza. As a member of Ondekoza he has performed in some of the worlds most prestigious stages including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall. After touring internationally for four hears, Kelvin returned to the US to enroll at Berklee College of Music, where he graduated with a degree in Professional Music. He has collaborated with electronic-instrument-maker Sudhu Tewari to produce “Meidoko: Unearth” and has studied the Brazilian martial art Capoeira. Currently living in Ashland, Oregon, Kelvin teaches taiko and drum set and is an active solo artist.