Drumming for Hope

A Japanese drumming ensemble and a prison outreach group are collaborating on a presentation to show how community can come together to support each other. Smokin’ Bachi Taiko returns to the Complex after its performance in the Occam’s Razor opening, joined by Help Other People Evolve through Honest Open Willing Self-Evaluation (HOPE-HOWSE ) to offer a night of music and education at Santa Fe Complex on Saturday, March 28, at 7:00pm. Suggested donation is $15. Refreshments and designer earplugs provided.

Last fall, SBT played in the prison outside Santa Fe to support HOPE-HOWSE’s monthly “Concerts in the Yard” series of music and spoken word. “Two things stood out for me at that show,” said Jon Whitsell, SBT Event Coordinator. “The crowd came in and saw all our drums, including our new large Odaiko. All the Native Americans sat in the front row. That really honored us. Secondly, guys came up to personally thank us for bringing our show inside the prison walls. One man, obviously excited, had never seen anything like taiko. He was overwhelmed.” This is a common HOPE-HOWSE experience where the service and celebration are a two-way experience.

Smokin’ Bachi Taiko’s non-profit mission is to promote the art and culture of Japanese drumming and drum making. For SBT, art makes life worth living. The group strives to bring beauty to the community by developing, sharing, and teaching the art form of Japanese Taiko Drumming. Bachi are the taiko style sticks which come in a variety of woods and shapes. At the benefit concert, SBT will perform traditional and contemporary taiko pieces.

The aim of HOPE-HOWSE is to contribute to creating peace and human dignity in the world by creating a spiritual and physical place for people to come together, to connect to the love that we all share in being human. Representatives from HOPE-HOWSE, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, will share stories about their work in the prison. Former inmates will tell of how they turned their lives around.

Please join us for an inspiring evening of music, spoken word, and education. Check web sites here: HOPE-HOWSE and Smokin’ Bachi