Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2011

The South American country celebrates its national day with a free concert at Hibiya Park next weekend that will for the first time feature cross-cultural collaborations with Japanese taiko drummers Kuryu and koto ensemble Waon. They will be joining featured Colombian band Maria Mulata, a unit that matches renowned vocalist Diane Hernandez to a rhythmic ensemble of four percussionists. The band plays a type of music native to Colombia’s Atlantic coast known as “bullerengue.”

Sho Ongakudo, Hibiya Park, July 17. See concert listings (jazz/world) for details.