Taku Hirano, one of the top percussionists on the touring and recording circuit, has been referred to by Grammy Award-winning rock legend Mick Fleetwood as the "Secret Weapon" for good reason. Trained in Classical percussion as well as traditional Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, West African, Middle Eastern, Japanese, and Indian styles and instruments, his client list is made up of luminaries spanning practically every genre.
He has toured the world with Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Isaac Hayes, Lindsey Buckingham, A.R. Rahman (Academy Award: "Slumdog Millionaire"), Japanese popstar Utada Hikaru, and with Cirque du Soleil's "Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour."
Other performances include Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, John Mayer, Beyoncé, Dr. Dre, Lady Gaga, Annie Lennox, Usher, Pharrell, Shakira, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudsson, Ziggy Marley, Mary J. Blige, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
she honestly sounded great in her poland concert, many people didn’t like her performance but they have to remember that colder temperatures affected her voice, and even though this was in summer, whitney is american, and 25 degree weather is considered “chilly” or “cold” to americans and thats why she and bobbi kris were dressed in thicker layers, also to the people who are saying her performance is “disrespectful” cuz she doesn’t seem to be enjoying herself need to grow up, considering EVERYTHING she went through during this tour, its a miracle she even showed up on stage without walking off.
Also, this was the first show of our European tour - actually a "pre-show" since even though it was our "working setlist" of songs, none of the usual production elements (our video screens, lighting, choreography, certain set pieces, etc) were there, so all technical aspects of the show were completely different - not to mention it was so cold even under the stage lights that we could see our breath. Whitney would routinely have the air conditioning turned off several hours before her shows in theaters so that the temperature was optimal for her vocal chords - which meant a hot room for the audience! For her to sing in that cold air was a drastic difference from a regular show. Considering all of that, she did great. I remember seeing Lionel Richie the night before (who's band I joined after this Whitney tour), and the weather was far warmer. We were all a bit shocked at how cold it was!
Hi Taku, great idea for the hand percussion community, thanks a lot for the design!! I would like to know wich rod section is the correct for the mount Thanks!!
Hi! Honestly, I use a snare stand - it is much more stable, and then I am able to use the rod for cowbells. I believe a standard 3/8" accessory rod works, though.
I am definitely very right-handed in regular life. I spent countless hours working on my left hand - it's just about having a concept of what you're trying to achieve (so that you're not aimlessly trying things), breaking down movements, and then spending 10's of thousands of hours doing it.
Well stated. I'm actually playing through an injury sustained from a car accident left arm was completely shot. So therapy is bringing it back. Right side is fine, it's just my left wrist is stiff and can't get much from it, but I improvise. Like u said, it's about being consistent and putting in time. Literally starting over again, but I'm getting there. Thanks for the inspiration 🙏🏾
I personally use a 13" REMO Renaissance head in the Diplomat thickness (thinnest). I like Renaissance because it has qualities like a coated head (like overtone control), but also isn't too rough for hand play. I have also used a REMO Black Suede or a Tattoo Skyn head - both of those are Ambassador weight (mid-thickness)... mainly for the look. The slightly thicker Ambassador head works for more pop/rock settings, which was also essentially why I went for the look anyway - for more of a rock vibe in a setup.
Thanks, Taku! I got an Ambassador Black Suede for it and works for me! By the way, what happened with your signature katana multipercussion sticks from Vater? I cant find them anywhere, are they discontinued? Any help on that matter? 😢
@@findesemana1989 The Vater Katana sticks are being worked on... I used the prototypes throughout the 2018-2019 Fleetwood Mac world tour and we went back in to make some changes. And then, COVID hit and the factories all shut down, and the main people who were working on cutting the actual prototype shapes went away. Lots of delays!
@@TAKUpercussion could you keep tabs on that situation? I guess im not the only one that uses your sticks too and they asking themselves the same thing.
@@TAKUpercussion oh congratulations 👏🎉!!! And you were so young with that huge accomplishment!! 👏 Bravo! You definitely made the percussion 🪇 community proud.
It is a 22" gong drum, custom made for me by DW Drums. That drum and the matching concert toms are all single-headed, and were made for my touring rig for the Fleetwood Mac 2018-2019 world tour. I loved them so much that I incorporated them into the recording session for my 2 libraries for Splice!
Touring with Lindsey was definitely fun! It was such a great group we had, with my Fleetwood Mac touring friends Neale Heywood and the late, great Brett Tuggle. Lots of laughs and good times for sure!
If you put a piece of acoustic foam (generic sound treatment tile) inside your macho, it will eliminate that super high pitch overtone. Only full sound. Just something I do to my meinl leopard burl marathon congas.
doubles are amazingly hard, been working on them for decades. Your video is inspirational. There's a guy in israel named chen pepe meir who's got them very solid. Also Heinrich Klingmann: out of germany. And of couse a lot of latin dudes. But , Giovani is the master IMO.
I will check them out! And, yes, Giovanni is amazing. I credit him for many of the advanced techniques I use, learned during my 4 years studying with him.
Dear Mr. Hirano, I really admire your playing. How do you achieve this "rubbing" technique at 01:50-02:10? Does it have a special name? Is it your invention? Thank you.
Definitely not my invention! A lot of conga players have used this technique/sound effect for decades. I call it a "conga moan" but I have heard it called a "groan" or even a "moose"! No idea what the proper term is. It it achieved by hitting the drum and immediately sliding your finger on the drum head, catching the vibration. Most players lick their fingertip to get maximum friction - since my hands are naturally a bit sweaty once I start playing, I can do it with no preparation. Granted, it took me quite a long time to become very consistent with it. The lower the pitch or looser the head, the easier it is to get the drum to vibrate and make the sound.
