介绍:
What's the first thing that comes to your mind at the mention of jazz?
The plaintive "My Funny Valentine" by Chet Baker, or the croon of the legendary singer Frank Sinatra?
But during the ongoing Summit between Chinese, European and American Jazz Musicians, the multi-award winning saxophonist and flautist David Liebman is determined to bring something instrumental and less-heard of for Chinese audiences.
"Jazz has many styles like classical dance. What we play tonight is very influenced by the particular John Coltrane, who was a very famous saxophonist and very influential (figure) since the 1960s. We call it post-modern. I hate to put a category on music, but the root comes from the 1960s, it's really a part of historical style of jazz. So it's what we call Bebop, so it's what we call swing music. So it's another style now, post-Coltrane. "
Invited by saxophonist Li Gaoyang, a rising star in Chinese music scene, four top jazz musicians from America, Denmark and Sweden come to China as a quintet to perform for a week. Last year, the event had a successful first run as the star-studded team fused free jazz with Buddhist music and traditional Chinese folk songs.
As the two-time veteran of the event, Danish drummer Anders Mogensen says this year's performance will focus on the alternation of the fast-paced, intense melodies and quiet, smooth tunes. Meanwhile, musical influences from different countries will be shown.
"I think that we have to play both moods. So you have the intensity and you have the influence (from) all over the world. The interesting thing is that jazz is kind of words, kind of vocal language. It picks up music from all over the world and of course you take that with you into the jazz vocabulary. You know I am from Denmark, so there is another flavor we add to it. "
Besides rehabilitating classical pieces from the 1960s, the quintet will also play original arrangements to showcase the passion, creativity and diversity of this particular musical genre.
Hailed as the Godfather of Chinese jazz music, Liu Yuan comments that this transnational cooperation may trigger interest among the general public.
"We haven't known jazz long enough and the styles we are familiar with are limited. So when people start to watch a show like this, they would be surprised. But it's not a bad thing. Chinese people need to watch the live show to experience the atmosphere. Communication is extremely important in that regard. "
When asked whether he would be worried about audiences' reaction, American musician David Liebman appeared to be pretty confident.
"I believe in this music. It's a very powerful music, a universal music and very positive music for good. People who play jazz and like jazz are usually very intelligent, sophisticated, smart and sensitive. I think certain people, certain percentage of the population really enjoy that kind of art. Jazz is new here in China. Gao (Li Gaoyang) told me that there will be a school next year here in Beijing for jazz and popular music. So I think it will grow here a lot. "
After performing in Beijing, the newly-formed quintet will stop in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
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