Taiko to Tabla

by Joji Jirota and Pete Lockett

Reviewed by Michelle

A fusion of drums from around the world create this unique and interesting CD from European percussionist Pete Lockett and Japanese percussionist Joji Jirota. Taiko drums, Indian tablas, Arabic frame drums, African djembes, and Cuban bongos are blended throughout the 10 tracks and are often accompanied by the Japanese bamboo flute the shakuhachi and Japanese folkloric singing.

Some traditional-sounding Japanese songs are interspersed with more cutting edge pieces like the off-the-wall vocal percussion song "First Thoughts" inspired by, of all things, an alarm clock. The beautiful "M'bira Dream" features a wooden thumb piano which provides a subtle gong-like sound which evokes thoughts of steel drums. The original folkloric-inspired pieces incorporate the greatest variety of instruments to create distinctly out-there Japanese and Indian style pieces.

Having used Taiko drumming quite successfully in the past for belly dance, I turned on "Taiko to Tabla" with high hopes that it would prove a wealth of dynamic and unique drum solos. The songs on this CD would work well for slow, introspective Tribal style belly dance, although for the high-intensity drum solos of Raks Sharki or Egyptian Pop style belly dance, these songs are not what you're looking for. That being said, this is still a fascinating CD. In the ever-growing genre of "World Fusion" music, this CD is at once rooted in tradition and yet still fresh enough to require your ears' full attention.

Farfesha Belly Dance © 2004