You’ve probably heard the jokes; What do you call someone who hangs around musicians? A drummer. What would you find on an exam paper taken by a drummer? Drool.

The many cruel jibes in the same vein show a lack of respect for and understanding of the drummer’s craft. For instance, take Jools Holland’s Gilson Lavis, who performs long and complex drum solos, to the delight of an appreciative audience.

But conventional drum breaks only last a few minutes. The Yamato drummers from Japan are on stage for the whole evening. How do you sustain that without losing half your audience at the interval?

The answer lies in the sheer brilliance and energy of their performance. Eight drummers weave complex rhythmic strands into ninety minutes of composite sound that frequently shakes your very insides.

Their drums range from the small to veritable monsters that stand as tall as a man and are occasionally played with something that looks like a baseball bat.

But it’s not just a decibel-fest: there are many moments of delicacy and fun, particularly the one where five of the players engage in a comedy routine with mini-cymbals. Beautifully choreographed, it had the audience in stitches.

Nothing succeeds like success, and this talented team has been performing since 1993 in over fifty countries. Go see them when they are next in town. You won’t be disappointed.