Shanghai swings and sings

From September 25 to 29, the He Luting Concert Hall at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music will be the main venue for the city's jazz festival. Weng Shihui previews some of the bands and artists who will be performing.

September is the month for jazz in Shanghai. In addition to the Shanghai Oriental Art Center's weekend jazz salon, artists from all over the world will stage a jazz fiesta in the upcoming "Jazz It Up Festival 2007" from September 25 to 29 at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Originating in New Orleans, the United States, jazz was originally played by black laborers using African rhythms. Now, it is played everywhere - in cafes, restaurants, nightclubs and even in churches.

Zhang Xiaolu, a saxophone artist from Shanghai Conservatory of Music who will perform in the festival, recalls that when he was in Boston, he went to a church near the university every Sunday afternoon to enjoy a live jazz performance. "The feeling was great and unusual," he says.

Artists are now beginning to combine jazz with classical and ethnic music from around the world. "The point is musicians can share a lot together in the process of creating new jazz music, though they may be a world apart in musical style," says trombone artist David Beatty from the US who will join the Shanghai Conservatory of Music's Big Band for the festival.

Jazz is truly becoming a fusion music that can be mixed with European classical, hip-hop, Latino music and ethnic music. There are also artists creating melodies with a sea snail in a jazz band.