The Brazz Brothers
Jarle Førde (trp,fl.h.), Jan Magne Førde (trp,fl.h.), Runar Tafjord (fr.horn), Helge Førde (trb.), Stein Erik Tafjord (tuba), Marcus Lewin (drums)
The Norwegian group, The Brazz Brothers, formed in 1981, has been blending ethnic music from different parts of the world with their own national folk music for many years. Through their consummate musicianship and adventurous consepts, they have built a reputation which extends far beyond their native country. The group, which today plays 120 concerts a year world wide, consists of three brothers of Førde and two brothers of Tafjord, highly accomplished and versatile brass players who are also gifted composers and arrangers. Together with the young and talented drummer from Sweden; Marcus Lewin, they represents one of the most celebrated groups of the Scandinavian jazz scene today. Many years touring and working with African musicians have led up to their new released CD: "Ngoma" with music inspired by Abdullah Ibrahim (South Africa) and Hukwe Zawose (Tanzania).

Shidara
Shidara is a traditional Japanese music group that gives performances based on three primary instruments : Japanese taiko drums, the three-stringed shamisen, and the bamboo flute.
The members (13) live and practice in a closed down elementary school in the rich natural environment of Toei Town, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Shidara's home base, the Okumikawa area,
is located in a mountainous region of central Honshu, the main island of Japan.
This area is presently experiencing a significant population decline. However, many folk performing arts, including the 700 year old Hana-Matsuri, a local festival designated as an Important National Folk Cultural Property, have been preserved in this area.
In this region people seem to have a spirit of coexistence with nature,a kind of practical wisdom or sagacity born of day to day living, and an important understanding of life that is often forgotten by modern people.Through the medium of the performance stage, Shidara hopes to bring people together, symbolically joining hands in reciprocal support while walking the essential path of mutual encouragement, much as was done at ancient festivals where circles of harmonious human relations were created, born of the spirit of gratitude proffered to the earth and natural world.
The Etymology of Shidara
Shidara was a god who was prayed to in order to escape plagues, and was widely believed in during the Heian Period (794-1192). Even today, songs that are sung at religious ceremonies while clapping the hands are called Shidara uta, or Shidara songs. The name also remains in various places throughout Japan as a game in which children sing while keeping the beat by clapping their hands.
In modern times, the word fushidara (untidy, loose, or dissipated) is used in the definitions of the sayings darashi ga nai (to have slovenly or sloppy manners and behavior), and shimari ga nai (to be flabby or slack). In the etymology of the word fushidara, it appears that disputes for the rights to water sources were determined by taiko competitions. In these competitions, the village representatives who lost were called "fushidara people." This seems to be the origin of the word.

Traditional japanese drumming "Taiko" (also called "Wadaiko")
The traditional japanese drumming "Taiko" (also called "Wadaiko") is a synthesis of "rhythm, power and spirit". The roots of Taiko were located in China and Korea. In ancient times Taiko accompanied the people on the battlefield as on the festivals; it joined all power at the hard daily work and conjured the gods and demons with thundering voice.
The renaissance of Wadaiko was initiated by a small group of young guys at the Sado island in the early 70th's. They want to interest the people for the japanese folk music. The drumming of the group, which was at first called "Ondekoza" and later become world-wide renowned as "Kodo", was characterized by an incredible intensity. After that, the sound of the drums and bamboo flutes, the shamisen and cymbals spreads over the whole world.
There is an immense number of taiko groups in Japan now. Some of them focussing their efforts on that tunes and rhythms, which are traditional played at their hometown respectively province. Other groups are influenced by the modern western music and even comprise synthesizers in their arrangements. But only the few of them, which are really talented and ardent, manage it, to make their passion also to their profession and thrill the always growing number of Taiko fans in their concerts all over the world.
Even in Amerika, Europe and other parts of the world, more and more people take the huge drumsticks and fathom the secret of the magic drums. Japan has produced a lot of cultural and spiritual treasuries in their history. One of them is Wadaiko.