Doing Harm

When we first heard about Joe Powers the tango harmonica player, we did some laughing. Wacky! And perfect, since tango people tend to take themselves fairly seriously. Maybe the homey little instrument could put a smile on the scene's straight face. But we forgot something important: The traditional instrument and the soul of Argentine tango is the bandoneon, an accordion-like instrument which — think about it — sounds a lot like a harmonica. So it turns out that Powers is no joke; he's an internationally appreciated and serious tango musician, and his concerts are fully danceable and highly respected. At Tango Harmony, Powers and his frequent musical partner, Japanese piano player Naoko Aoki, commemorate Hiroshima Peace Day, displaying international cooperation, collaborative creativity, and the peaceful power of tango harmonica.
Sun., Aug. 9, 7 p.m., 2009