Prayer’s Tale: Taiko Drums & Asian Percussion

Joji Hirota is a percussionist, shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player and vocalist who has been presenting Japanese music to worldwide audiences for decades. On this latest release, he has focused the full range of his talents on an extraordinary solo album of percussion featuring not only taiko drums, but bells, gongs and chimes, accompanied by his intense, often wordless vocals. Hirota’s technique and stamina are impressive, with his playing of the shimedaiko taiko (shallow drum) on the almost Indian-sounding eight-minute long ‘The Limitless Swing’ a remarkable performance. On ‘Prayer’s Tale’ Hirota uses kin prayer bells and some deep throat singing type chants to communicate with the spiritual world.

Solo percussion albums can often be a hard listen, with the audience’s attention fading less than halfway through. And Hirota in the liner notes boldly states this album’s theme is nothing less than nature, the cosmos and all humanity. But rather than the ponderous journey I was expecting, this was a riveting album, dynamic and enchanting, with a range of percussion sounds that will leave the listener in awe that it’s the work of one performer. Joji Hirota is a major artist and this is likely his masterpiece.