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Music, comedy, culture. The Maine Center for the Arts had it all in one event this past Friday with the Japanese drummer group, Yamato. From the very beginning of the show, it was obvious why the MCA decided to bring the group here, and why so many people came out to see it. Yamato’s fusion of high-energy entertainment and the taiko drumming style kept the audience transfixed on the stage. As the show began and the lights came up, the waves of percussive force that emanated from the stage were pure magic. The talent of the drummers was evident along with their strength, as they all had quite muscular arms from years of practice. Flowing from rhythm to rhythm, all were carried by the emotion held in each beat of the drum.
In one segment, performed by only two of the drummers, the crowd participation became, itself, a part of the show. When it began, only one drummer was onstage, beating simple one-two-three-four counts on a drum and convincing the audience to repeat the rhythms he played by clapping. He would play and then stare at the crowd with a goofy grin on his face that you could not help but laugh at.
As he was playing one rhythm, another drummer walked up and began playing an extremely fast and technical rhythm. When he stopped, the original drummer frowned and looked down, and then walked off into the darkness. He returned several seconds later with a bigger drum. Everyone was able to see what would come next, as they took turns playing and then running off to grab a bigger drum.
By the end of the segment, they were playing at a speed only definable as “obscene,” and when it was over, they were both rewarded with applause and cheers.
In another section, a lone woman sat in the middle of the stage playing a shamisen (a type of Japanese lute). She performed a series of beautiful, oriental melodies. As the piece progressed, she was joined by two other women playing shamisen, producing harmonies to move the soul. Finally, they were joined by the rest of the drummers, creating a musical tapestry both mind-blowing and sonically pleasing.
The energy exuded by every member of Yamato added with the excitement and awe of the audience combined in an awe-inspiring mix. It was an evening of magic put to music through the use of rhythm, the most primal form of musicality ever created by the human race. In few words, Yamato is entertainment at its best.
Bangor Daily News