Nagata Shachu to Celebrate 15th Year with CD Release Concert at Enwave Theatre, 11/22-23

Canada's pre-eminent taiko (Japanese drum) group Nagata Shachu will celebrate a milestone with a 15th Anniversary concert on November 22 and 23, 2013 at the Enwave Theatre. These performances will also mark the release of the group's sixth CD, Hymus Road, named after the street where their studio is located. Nagata Shachu was founded in 1998 by celebrated composer, teacher and taiko soloist Kiyoshi Nagata.

The 15th Anniversary Nagata Shachu concert will include songs written by each of the five ensemble members including five world premieres. Combining thunderous, primal drumbeats with subtle, intricate rhythms, the ensemble will produce a wide spectrum of sound with a vast array of Japanese taiko (including the massive O-Daiko), gongs, bells, wooden clappers and bamboo flutes.

Highlights from 15th Anniversary Concert include Kaleidoscope and Tayou, where the entire Nagata Shachu ensemble plays one large taiko drum in a circle; Hokage, which translates to "shadows by the firelight", featuring the bamboo flute, hand cymbals, hand gongs and various taiko drums; Yama Nobori, where each drummer, while intensely focused on his or her own drumming, is connected through the challenge of playing various patterns in unison on eight different taiko drums and various wood blocks; and Baku, where Nagata Shachu uses three high-pitched taiko drums, four low-pitched taiko drums and gongs to tell the story of Baku, supernatural beings in Japanese folklore that devour dreams and nightmares.

Nagata Shachu will continue their 15th Anniversary celebrations with their first-ever subscription season at Harbourfront Centre. On March 15, 2014 Nagata Shachu will welcome leading shakuhachi (Japanese end-blown bamboo flute) player Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos for an exclusive performance at the Brigantine Room, and on June 13, 2014 Nagata Shachu will join forces with Toronto's Korean drum and dance powerhouse, Jeng Yi at the Enwave Theatre.

Nagata Shachu (formerly Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble), based in Toronto, Canada, has enthralled audiences with its mesmerizing and heart-pounding performances of the Japanese taiko drum since its formation 15 years ago. The ensemble has toured widely throughout North America and overseas, performing in theatres, concert halls, and major music festivals.

Tickets: $25-35/ $20 Seniors and Students. Tickets available online: http://tickets.harbourfrontcentre.com/calendar.aspx. By Phone: 416.973.4000 x1 In person: Harbourfront Centre Box Office, 235 Queens Quay West.