Entertainer Information

Founded in 1953, San Jose’s own Chidori Band is a group of vocalists, instrumentalists, and sound technicians dedicated to performing Japanese songs for the community. Each spring the band holds a concert in San Jose. In the summer the band travels to several Buddhist temples in the Bay Area to perform for Obon Festivals. The band has made several CDs which are available at Nikkei Traditions in Japantown. Michael Yoshihara and Duane Takahashi direct the Band.

The Wesley Ukulele Band performs traditional and popular Hawaiian music and more. They play many festivals and charity events in the Bay Area including the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco and the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival. Recently they played a Luau here at Wesley Church. Director Tina Urata invites those interested in joining to come to rehearsal the second Sunday of every month at 1:00pm at Wesley.

The Wesley Jazz Ensemble, directed by Wayne Adachi, has been performing for 25 years. The band’s music includes jazz, blues, latin, rock and roll, pop, Motown, and some J-pop songs. They perform benefits at Wesley Church, community organizations such as Yu Ai Kai and the Japanese American Museum, and local senior centers. Recently, the band participated in a special collaboration with San Jose Taiko called  “Swingposium”, a live musical about Japanese American Internment Camps centered around the big band music with the Taiko drums.

COSMO/Silicon Valley Community Chorus began in 1998 with 11 members, with a friendly, family-oriented atmosphere. Currently they have about 40 members. Activities include holding annual concerts, attending musical gatherings and appearing at various charitable functions. They enjoy singing many genres of music including sacred music, Songs in many languages, Broadway musicals, American standards, jazz, opera, and more. Keiko Kagawa serves as the group’s Director.

Since 1973, San Jose Taiko has been mesmerizing audiences with the powerful, spellbinding, and propulsive sounds of the taiko. Inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, they have broadened this historical art form into a style that joins traditional rhythms with other world and contemporary music, including African, Brazilian,Filipino, Latin, jazz and hip hop, bridging many styles. San Jose Taiko performs over 120 times each year at festivals, schools and corporate and private events around the bay area as well as in full theatrical concerts all over the USA. Artistic Director is Franco Imperial.