Chinese musician Wu Man is the master of the pipa, the Chinese lute. For the past few decades, she's made it her mission to introduce the little-known instrument to western audiences, combining it with different music genres and experimenting with new styles. And the pipa master was back with a special concert on Friday at Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts, taking the audience on a musical journey around the world. Shen Li was there and has more.

SHEN LI BEIJING "The world's premier pipa virtuoso and leading ambassador of Chinese music is bringing the traditional Chinese lute-like instrument on the stage. Wu Man has given new life to the Chinese pipa giving this ancient instrument a new role in both traditional and contemporary music."

With the pipa, ukelele, bass, and drums, the concert offers a distinct take on popular and classic folk tunes from countries across the globe, including France, Australia, and Mexico and China.

For Wu Man, showing the versatile side of the traditional instrument has always been her mission.

WU MAN PIPA ARTIST "I've got a lot of crazy ideas, but this is a great time to show the audience the traditional instrument pipa, played with ukelele, bass, drums, very pop and jazz kind of music. Music speaks itself, it doesn't matter what instrument you play."

The pieces are from Wu Man's 2014 album "Our Song in the World: An Odyssey of Musical Treasures".

Among the arrangements are the French children's tune "Frère Jacques," the Chinese folk classic "Jasmine Flower," and the Japanese folk song "Sakura, Sakura."

For drummer Randy Drake and bassist Brandon Wong, the music from Japan was the most challenging part.

RANDY DRAKE PERCUSSIONIST "Sakura, Sakura. it's in seven so it's difficult to play. The meter is very challenging."

BRANDON WONG BASS "The other song which is quite challenging and fun is Frere Jacques. You would know the song as Two Tigers (Singing in Chinese), it's based on that. the last concert we did, Wu Man asked everybody what song it was, and all the kids said Two Tigers, which is fun for us."

This concert is part of Wu's series of cross-cultural collaborations, beginning with "Wu Man and Friends in 2006," an album in which she performs folk songs from China, Ukraine, Uganda, and the Appalachian mountains alongside soloists from these regions.

She said she's always been interested in working with musicians from different cultures and genres, and exploring the relationship between tradition and innovation in music from East and West.

WU MAN PIPA ARTIST "I don't want to limit myself as a pipa player. I really want to be a musician. What does it mean to be a musician, you have to share all kinds of music, blend a lot of cultures together, and that's what I want to do, especially to share it with the younger generation."

Wu Man and her ensemble will next head to Shanghai for the annual "Music in the Summer Air" festival. CGTN.