Drumming group Kodo has taken the art of playing Japanese taiko drums to new heights both musically and as spectacle, achieving international fame in the process. Kodo traces its origins to Ondekoza, which was formed in 1969 on Sado Island in the Sea of Japan by people from various parts of the country who wanted to escape city life, as well as to get seriously into taiko. On one memorable occasion, the members of Ondekoza -- the first taiko group to take taiko to an international audience -- ran the 1975 Boston Marathon and then went on stage to give their regular performance. In 1981, Ondekoza split into two groups, one of which became Kodo. Like Ondekoza, the members of Kodo led a Spartan, communal lifestyle, although these days the older members of the troupe live separately with their families and commute daily to Kodo’s office/practice hall. There’s no substitute for seeing Kodo play live, and unless you’re a hardcore percussion freak, listening to a Kodo album can be heavy going. Including their debut set,
Ubu-Suna (1988), they’ve released a total of 14 albums, including compilations. Most of them have been released overseas. Kodo often works with non-Japanese producers and musicians to add some variety to their recordings. In 1997, for example, Bill Laswell produced their album
Ibuki with Laswell setting Kodo’s powerful beats against his trademark dark dub textures. In a similar vein, one of the group’s more accessible albums is 2002’s
M...
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Drumming group Kodo has taken the art of playing Japanese taiko drums to new heights both musically and as spectacle, achieving international fame in the process. Kodo traces its origins to Ondekoza, which was formed in 1969 on Sado Island in the Sea of Japan by people from various parts of the country who wanted to escape city life, as well as to get seriously into taiko. On one memorable occasion, the members of Ondekoza -- the first taiko group to take taiko to an international audience -- ran the 1975 Boston Marathon and then went on stage to give their regular performance. In 1981, Ondekoza split into two groups, one of which became Kodo. Like Ondekoza, the members of Kodo led a Spartan, communal lifestyle, although these days the older members of the troupe live separately with their families and commute daily to Kodo’s office/practice hall. There’s no substitute for seeing Kodo play live, and unless you’re a hardcore percussion freak, listening to a Kodo album can be heavy going. Including their debut set,
Ubu-Suna (1988), they’ve released a total of 14 albums, including compilations. Most of them have been released overseas. Kodo often works with non-Japanese producers and musicians to add some variety to their recordings. In 1997, for example, Bill Laswell produced their album
Ibuki with Laswell setting Kodo’s powerful beats against his trademark dark dub textures. In a similar vein, one of the group’s more accessible albums is 2002’s
Mondo Head, which was produced by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey “Planet Drum” Hart. Under Hart’s direction, Kodo was joined by musicians from all over the world, including Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira, tabla drummer Zakir Hussian, Tibet's Gyuto Tantric Choir and Cuban vocalist/percussionist Nengue Hernandez. Kodo divides its annual schedule into thirds: the first part touring North America and Europe, the second touring Japan, and the remainder at home, where they prepare new material and overseeing the group's summer Earth Celebration drumming festival.
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