'TAO' performers use athleticism, variety of instruments during show

"TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming" was performed Saturday for a nearly sold-out crowd at the Bedell Performance Hall on Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. People from all over Southeast Missouri attended the performance, based upon the principles of Taiko drumming.

"This has been such an intense show," said Joseph Manning of Jackson. "We had seen clips of the show on YouTube, but there is no comparison to the live experience." Copies of the show on CD and DVD, along with other merchandise, were available in the lobby. Manning said he was planning on picking up a DVD.

"Mugenkyo," the show's fast-tempo opening selection, showcased the musicians' athleticism.

Many traditional Japanese percussive instruments appeared in "TAO," including the odaiko, which are the large, long drums on a stand.

"TAO" wasn't all huge sounds. Solos and duets played on the shakuhachi, or traditional bamboo flutes, intermingled with the drums. The audience was asked to participate in the show during "Festa," an energetic piece that had the crowd clapping. The musicians of "TAO" used that steady clapping to build their closing number for the first half of the show.

The show is part of the group's first North American tour. After the U.S. and Canada, "TAO" will travel to Australia for a tour there.

"I am amazed by how perfectly coordinated and timed everything is," Manning said. "I've seen marching band drum lines before, and this is like the wild side of that. Definitely one of the coolest things I've ever seen."

For more information on "TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming," visit the show's website at www.drum-tao.com.