TADAIMA

Russel Baba started taiko training in 1972 with the San Francisco Taiko Dojo under Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka,. Russel Baba and Jeanne Mercer founded Shasta Taiko in 1985 and ShastaYama, an annual summer outdoor taiko/music festival at the base of majestic Mount Shasta in 2005

Russel Baba has influenced and inspired his peers as well as the next generation artists and is a recognized pioneer in Asian American jazz and American taiko.

With Russell Baba of Shasta Taiko Russel may be one of the first Asian American artists to produce his own work with the critically acclaimed recording “Hisashi” in 1978. In 1992 he produced “ Earth Prayer” which features pianist Andrew Hill and in 1999 “Spirit Drum- Taiko Stories From America" with Jeanne Mercer, Masato Baba, and Shoji Kameda. In 2010 he recorded "Tadaima" and "KorewaKorewa" which features original work with Jeanne Mercer and Masato Baba. ..not only plays conventional items such as the alto saxophone, but a variety of ethnic instruments from all over the world. Even when Baba plays the alto, he gives it an eerie other-worldly quality that puts the music right into the twilight zone...a daring approach to the music, a worthwhile deviation from the norm.

- San Francisco Chronicle

Jeanne Aiko Mercer is a recognized and honored American taiko pioneer. She has inspired a new generation of taiko artists. Jeanne trained and toured with San Francisco Taiko Dojo under Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka and established Shasta Taiko and the ShastaYama Festival with Russel Baba.

Jeanne has taken taiko to new areas performing and recording jazz influenced music and improvisation as well as writing original compositions for taiko and jazz. Her taiko compositions are the center of Shasta Taiko’s repertoire and are considered “classic” in modern American taiko.

She leads workshops with Russel Baba at national, regional, and collegiate conferences in taiko and improvisation.

Mercer has collaborated and performed original work with Russel Baba and jazz artists - Eddie Moore, Michael White, Andrew Hill, Gary Fitzgerald, Mark Izu, Makoto Horiuchi,; taiko artists - Seiichi Tanaka, Kenny Endo, Masato Baba, San Jose Taiko, Portland Taiko, and On Ensemble; Japanese butoh dancer Koichi Tamano; writer Lawson Inada; and painter Hisako Hibi.

She has contributed to movie soundtracks – Star Wars and Apocalypse Now, and is featured on recordings by Russel Baba – Hisashi, Spirit Drum, Tadaima, and Korewakorewa.

Gary Fitzgerald is known for his dynamic bass sound, creative spontaneity, and a unique writing approach.

Gary has performed and recorded original music with jazz artists - wnd player Russel Baba, drummer Eddie Moore, violinist Michael White, drummer E. W. Wainwright, and pianist Ron Hart. He has also performed with trumpeter Eddie Henderson and guitarist Bill deArango. Fitzgerald has toured and recorded with Eddie Moore’s Space Shuttle Omnibus and E.W. Wainwright’s Afro Roots of Jazz. He currently performs music with several Los Angeles based ensembles.