Kyaw Kyaw Naing

Kyaw Kyaw Naing is a Burmese master musician with command of all of
the drums, tuned drum sets, xylophones, tuned gong sets, and other percussion instruments. He learned these traditions from his late father, Chein Tit Tee, one of the most famous masters of his generation.

Kyaw Kyaw performs mostly on the pat waing, the Burmese Drum Circle, a traditional instrument made of 21 separately tuned drums. These drums surround the player completely, and are played melodically at lightning fast speed. Naing’s blazing tempos and blistering musicality have made him famous throughout Southeast Asia, and he has used his gifts to become highly sought- after as a composer of music for film, and as a live performer at Burma’s traditional kickboxing tournaments.

Now in the US, Naing is spreading the word about Burmese music – so far largely unknown – throughout the country. After a performance at the Asia Society last season, The New York Times called his music “an exhilarating tease, defying expectations of symmetry or steady tempo.”

He regularly performs with Bang On a Can.

Learn more about Kyaw Kyaw Naing on Wikipedia.