Last April I got an email from bassist Chris Bates saying, "Come and check out Tatsuya ... have I ever led you astray?” He hasn’t, so we headed to the Clown Lounge for a show that started at 11 p.m. (on a Monday). It was almost indescribable and equally indelible.

Not only is Japanese percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani originally from another country and culture, he may be from another planet. He plays what looks like a traditional drum set, except for the giant Chinese gong. He calls it an "orchestral kit" and treats it like an orchestra: bowing gong and cymbals to create long notes, blowing into cymbal holes as if they were trumpets, creating textured electronica with hands and brushes. (Find sound clips here.) This is pure improvisation, something you’ve never heard before and will never hear again. Back in April, I could swear I heard angels and banshees, laughter and rain.

And now he’s back tonight. First set: solo Nakatani. Second set: Nakatani with bassists Bates and Adam Linz — all acoustic, no amps. Arrive a bit early; the gallery’s door is noisy. 8 p.m. tonight (Jan. 21), Rogue Buddha Art Gallery, Minneapolis. ($5-$10; whatever you can afford).