American Diaspora - PAD Showcase SESSION
Welcome to the final week of the PAD Showcase SESSIONS—Week Eleven (11)! We invite you to experience how these artists of the American Diaspora are reshaping the nation's musical landscape.
Experience performances from musicians who embrace their cultural roots from South Asia, Eastern Europe, Brazil, Spain, Japan, and other places, while also expanding their artistry as Americans.
—Byron Au Yong
Meet the host: Byron Au Yong
Photo credit: Gaku Shiroma
Byron Au Yong is a composer whose music has been performed at the American Conservatory Theater, Asian Arts Initiative, Hawai’i Opera Theatre, International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Jeonju Sanjo Festival, Live Arts Miami, Moss Arts Center, Nashville Opera, and more. Invited artist residencies include the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU, Exploratorium, Livable Futures: Climate Gathering, Montalvo Arts Center, and Yale Institute for Music Theater. Honors include a Creative Capital Award, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Building Demand for the Arts Grant, and Sundance Institute Time Warner Foundation Fellowship.
Au Yong is currently an Associate Professor and Director of Arts Leadership at Seattle University. He previously served as an Associate Professor at the University of San Francisco, Adjunct Faculty at Cornish College of the Arts, and Public Programs Manager for the Wing Luke Museum. In addition, he has been an Artist Advisor and Workshop Leader for Asian Musical Voices of America, Stanford University, Strategic Planning Partners, and Taiko Community Alliance. Honors include a Creative Capital Award, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Building Demand for the Arts Grant, and Sundance Institute Time Warner Foundation Fellowship.
Meet the Artists
Sunny Jain
Photo courtesy of the artist
Sunny Jain is a celebrated composer, drummer, and dhol player whose work embodies the fusion of cultural traditions and contemporary music. As the founder of Red Baraat, he has pioneered a vibrant blend of bhangra, hip-hop, jazz, and rock, earning acclaim from NPR as "the best party band in years." Jain's solo endeavors include the 2020 album "Wild Wild East," released on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, which explores themes of immigrant identity through a mix of South Asian rhythms and Western styles. His innovative projects extend to musical theater with "Love Force," developed during his 2023-24 residency at Wesleyan University, reflecting on the immigrant experience. Beyond performance, Jain is an author of instructional drum books and has collaborated with artists like Peter Gabriel and Norah Jones, continually pushing the boundaries of cross-cultural musical expression.
Blato Zlato
Photo courtesy of the artist
Blato Zlato is a New Orleans-based, all-women contemporary folk ensemble that reimagines traditional Bulgarian music through modern arrangements and original compositions. Their performances feature dynamic three-part vocal harmonies and driving instrumentals, blending Eastern European heritage with contemporary themes such as climate change and immigration. The group has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe, earning international acclaim and inspiring audiences to reconnect with Balkan traditions. Their 2019 album, "In The Wake," reflects their dual musical homes of New Orleans and Bulgaria, and charted at #33 on the Transglobal World Music Chart’s 2019-2020 Top 100 Albums. Blato Zlato has graced stages at festivals like the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and SXSW, and in 2023, they were named a Performing Arts Discovery Showcase Artist by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Dendê & Band
Photo: Leslie Macedo
Dendê is a percussionist, singer, composer, bandleader, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist. He’s been a professional musician since the age of 14, when he appeared in the frontline of Timbalada, Carlinhos Brown’s superstar percussion ensemble. Since 2001, he’s been splitting his time between the US and Bahia, working with his own ensembles.
His flagship group, Dendê & Band reflects the cross-section of his deep roots in traditions like samba de roda and Candomblé and his eclectic musical appetite for other global rhythms like rumba, afrobeat and mbalax. Over the past two decades, Dendê & Band have performed at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles; the KW Latinfest in Canada; the Penang World Music Festival in Malaysia; the Kalalu Festival in Saint Lucia, Summerdance and Old Town School in Chicago the Lincoln Center Atrium in NYC among many others.
Jesús Muñoz Flamenco
Photo courtesy of the artist
Founded in 2010 by artistic director Jesús Muñoz in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jesús Muñoz Flamenco is renowned for its innovative fusion of traditional Flamenco with Latin, Jazz, and Hip-hop elements, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its artists and audiences. The company has performed over 2,000 shows across the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Spain, reaching more than 65,000 people through arts education and producing eight original full-length concerts. Their work has been recognized by Spain's Ministry of Culture and Dance Magazine for its unique approach to primitive Flamenco rhythms, bringing the art form's timeless message of human perseverance to new generations. Notable performances include appearances at the Ford Theatre in Los Angeles, the Cowles Center in Minneapolis, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall, Detroit Institute of the Arts, and 13 seasons at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Farofa
Photo courtesy of the artist
Farofa is a dynamic Brazilian ensemble based in Los Angeles, renowned for their electrifying fusion of traditional Brazilian rhythms with contemporary genres such as pop, jazz, Afro-Brazilian beats, rock, and original compositions. The band's lineup features percussionist Felipe Fraga, bassist Nando Raio, guitarist JP Mourão, and violinist Ted Falcon, each bringing a wealth of experience from collaborations with artists like Ricky Martin, Lee Ritenour, Selena Gomez, and the Foo Fighters. Farofa's performances have been described as "engaging," "dynamic," and "captivating," earning them the California Presenters Spotlight Award and recognition as runners-up at the Samsung E-Festival in 2016.
TAIKOPROJECT
Founded in 2000 in Los Angeles by Bryan Yamami and Masato Baba, TAIKOPROJECT has redefined modern American taiko by fusing traditional Japanese drumming with innovative aesthetics. Their groundbreaking approach led them to become the first American taiko group to win the prestigious Tokyo International Taiko Contest in 2005. Beyond their notable performances at events like the Academy Awards and collaborations with artists such as 30 Seconds to Mars, TAIKOPROJECT is dedicated to education and community outreach. They have conducted workshops and performances for students, aiming to share the rich history and art of taiko with younger generations.
Photo credit: Knocking Bird Creative