2007: KIOKU

Wynn Yamami, Christopher Ariza, Ali Sakkal

Based in New York City, the musical group KIOKU presents traditional Asian folk music within a new context of collaborative experimentation and improvisation. The trio consists of Wynn Yamami (East and Southeast Asian percussion, including Japanese taiko, Korean gongs, and Filipino kulintang), Christopher Ariza (live laptop electronics), and Ali Sakkal (saxophones, percussion). While committed to the preservation of musical traditions, KIOKU (Japanese for "memory") acknowledges the plasticity of tradition and freely adopts musical techniques found within improv-based and new music circles.

They will perform four distinct compositions as well as present an interactive narrative with the attending audience. The first composition, Binalig, is inspired by the musical tradition Kulintang developed on the Filipino island of Mindanao. The second is Miyake inspired by the remote volcanic island of Miyake-jima of the eastern coast of Japan, a drumming style that mirrors the strenuous physical movement of island fishermen. The third is Pinari based on the Korean prayer song performed by shamans to invoke blessings to the spirits. The fourth is Yatai Bayashi inspired by the Shinto practice of talking to the kami spirits which take on many forms and can be found inhabiting natural and man-made objects.

Artist (photo by Photographer)