Christopher Hardy is a highly acclaimed percussionist, composer and educator. Chris has a background in Western percussion from the University of Michigan and is a hand drum specialist whose primary focus is on Middle Eastern, North African, West African, Brazilian and Latin percussion.

In addition to co-leading “Tatopani” & “TGA”, Tokyo-based world music groups, Chris has performed with such diverse artists as Sting, Kazuya Yoshii, AI, UA, Hamza El Din, Kazumi Watanabe, Yosuke Yamashita, Ikuko Kawai, Kunihiko Ryo, Origa, John Neptune, Eitetsu Hayashi (taiko), Shuntaro Tanikawa (poet), Kazutoki Umezu, Sizzle Ohtaka, Akina Nakamori, Minako Honda, Dereb Desalegn, Ted Piltzecker, El Zafete and composers Lou Harrison, Elliot Carter, Kaoru Wada and George Crumb.

Chris has performed at the Edinburgh Festival and at major music festivals in Japan, as well as actively performing throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa, South America, Australia and the United States. He performed with the resident Cirque du Soleil show “Zed” and served as musical ensemble director for the Tokyo performances of the “O Vertigo” dance troupe (Canada). Chris presently tours with The Brad Kelly Big Band and Disney World Beat.