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Global trio bringing a new sound to Acton Conservatory of Music

Biribá Union will bring their blend of hip-hop rhythms and Brazilian styles to Acton on April 10.

Biribá Union will play April 10. The trio comprises Patricia Ligia (left), Mike Block (center), and Christylez Bacon (right). Courtesy photo
Biribá Union will play April 10. The trio comprises Patricia Ligia (left), Mike Block (center), and Christylez Bacon (right). Courtesy photo

A trio of internationally acclaimed musicians will bring a global sound to Acton this month.

The Acton Conservatory of Music will host Biribá Union on Friday. CCM Executive Director Kate Yoder said the group blends musical traditions from around the world. 

“They are just so happy and joyful and different than anything that has been presented out here before,” Yoder said.

The ensemble was formed through Silkroad, an organization that promotes cross-cultural collaboration among musical artists. The trio features cellist and singer Mike Block, beatboxer and songwriter Christylez Bacon, and bassist and composer Patricia Ligia. 

“Everything just felt magical from day one, and then we started writing our own music, because no music already exists for our particular instrumentation,” Block said.

The group blends hip-hop rhythms with Brazilian styles such as Forró and Choro, along with elements of American roots music and jazz.

“What we really enjoy is this feeling that every performance is different, and we’ve got a strong improvisational element, so there’s a lot of spontaneous interaction and a lot of just positive energy that we’re kind of feeding off of each other,” Block said.

Yoder said the group stood out immediately when she first heard them.

“I think that [concertgoers] should be expecting an evening of wonderful rhythms and interpretations of music that they may know, but never imagined it being reintroduced in Biribá Union’s fashion.”

Biribá Union performs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10, at the Acton Conservatory of Music. Tickets are $35 or free for students 18 and under. They are available at concordconservatory.org and at the door.

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