John Pizzarelli and The Swing 7
Friday | 7:30 p.m.
October 3, 2025
Extraordinarily talented percussion artists, and seductive, alluring performers.
—Chicago Tribune
While wadaiko (taiko for short) drums have been a part of Japanese culture for centuries, Ikuo Fujitaka, the founder and artistic director of Drum Tao (established in 1993), traces a bit of his inspiration to North America. After seeing Cirque du Soleil use a Japanese wadaiko drum in their show Mystère, he was inspired to build a production that would showcase traditional taiko drumming of Japan in a modern context.
Known for their virtuosity and power, Drum Tao creates a mesmerizing spectacle with dazzling staging, costumes, and lighting. You will be amazed by the thunderous rhythms, breathtaking choreography, and cutting-edge stagecraft. Based in Oita, Japan, Drum Tao performances have touched more than nine million spectators around the world.
