“the professional drummer Takafumi Nikaido (also the production’s djembe coach) could easily steal the entire production. - the new york times
“A Takafumi Nikaido le envío nuestras felicitaciones por su profesionalidad, virtuosismo y dominio de las turbadoras” -Giraldo Piloto Barreto (KLIMAX)
“To Takafumi Nikaido, I send my congrats for his professionalism, virtuosity, and control of his techniques on the congas“
-Giraldo piloto barreto (KLIMAX)
TAKAFUMI NIKAIDO
Born in Sapporo, Japan in 1993, Takafumi began playing percussion at the age of 7 and studied under Fujio Saito.
Upon graduating high school, he attended Berklee College of Music as a scholarship student, where he studied theory and performance under faculty including Eguie Castrillo, Tiger Okoshi, Mark Walker, Oscar Stagnaro, and Jim Odgren. During his time at Berklee, he performed alongside artists such as Carlos Vives, Yosvany Terry, Oscar Feldman, Terence Blanchard, Jon Secada, Darren Barrett, Sivamani, Ruben Rada, Totó La Momposina, and Mane de la Parra. He also performed at international jazz festivals including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival, and the DC Jazz Festival, among others. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree.
In 2014, he traveled to Cuba to compete in the Fiesta del Tambor Percussion Competition, where he received the “Best Foreign Entrant Award.” During his time in Cuba, he studied with prominent percussionists José Luis Quintana “Changuito,” Adel González, Adonis Panter Calderón, Bárbaro Crespo “Machito,” and Osain del Monte.
His Latin trio group “Mixcla” was nominated for “International Artist of the Year” at the Boston Music Awards in both 2018 and 2019. He has also recorded percussion for the soundtrack of Final Fantasy XV — a video game title with over 6 million copies sold worldwide — as well as for the Dr. Stone original anime soundtrack.
Since relocating to New York in 2020, he has continued performing with legendary artists including Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo O’Farrill, and Dayramir González. He is set to perform as ensemble percussionist and drummer in the Off-Broadway musical The Visitor, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.
二階堂貴文
1993年北海道札幌市出身。
７歳でパーカッションを始め、斎藤不二男氏に師事。
高校卒業後、奨学生としてバークリー音楽大学に入学。音楽理論、演奏法をEguie Castrillo, Tiger Okoshi, Mark Walker, Oscar Stagnaro, Jim Odgrenに師事。また、在学中にCarlos Vives, Yosvany Terry, Oscar Feldman, Terence Blanchard, Jon Secada, Darren Barrett, Sivamani, Ruben Rada,Totó la Momposina, Mane De La Parra等様々なアーティストと共演。2016年秋にバークリー音楽大学学士号を得て卒業。
2014年にキューバで開催された大会”Fiesta Del Tambor 2014”にて最優秀外国人賞を受賞。キューバにてjose Luis Quintana “Changuiuto“, Adel Gonzalez, Adonis Pantar Calderon, Barbaro Crespo”Machito”, Osain Del Monteに師事。
