Akiyoshi promises Asian accents at concert

Japanese musician Toshiko Akiyoshi has promised her Chinese fans that her jazz concerts in Beijing and Shanghai will have some Asian elements.

The pianist will use the nogaku and gagaku, two styles of classical Japanese music, as preludes to each melody, before switching to pure jazz for the main part.

She will also try to use traditional Chinese instruments, the erhu (two-stringed fiddle) and guzheng (Chinese zither), in her performances. Audiences can expect to be treated to a jazz version of the Sichuan folk melody Love Song in Kangding (Kangding Qingge).