Jazz outside of the US
Jazz History In China
American Jazz highly influenced Chinese Jazz. Most of the rhythmic aspects of Chinese Jazz are extremely similar to that of American Jazz. When I was listening to a few Chinese Jazz singers, the only difference I noticed was the language these songs were sung in.
"1966: Under Mao Zedong, Western music was banned altogether, in favor of Chinese traditional music."-https://www.wqxr.org/story/182733-chinas-embrace-western-classical-music-timeline/
"In mainland China, songs about romantic love and living lush that once filled the dance halls of Shanghai's jazz age had virtually disappeared after the government deemed them 'yellow music'-https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/01/28/265468566/remaking-all-that-jazz-from-shanghais-lost-era
"But the tunes eventually reemerged in China through pop-y cover versions after the end of the Cultural Revolution in the late 1970s, when the Chinese government began loosening its control of popular culture."- https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/01/28/265468566/remaking-all-that-jazz-from-shanghais-lost-era
"many popular Chinese jazz tunes at the time were simply translations of English standards, keeping the melodies and harmonies intact."-https://www.goldthread2.com/culture/chinese-jazz-hot-again-thanks-crazy-rich-asians/article/3000128
"The soundtrack for Crazy Rich Asians played a pivotal role in drawing attention to Chinese Jazz music"-https://www.goldthread2.com/culture/chinese-jazz-hot-again-thanks-crazy-rich-asians/article/3000128
With 7 out of the 14 songs on the soundtrack being Jazz, specifically Chinese Jazz, this really brought attention to foreign Jazz in America.
Song: "Waiting for your return" & "Give me a Kiss" Artist: Jasmine Chen
Song: "Wo Yao Ni De Ai" & "Wo Yao Fei Shang Qing Tian"
Artist: Grace Chang
"Grace Chang, (a.k.a. Ge Lan) was born in 1934 during the Shanghai Golden Age of Jazz. Moving from her hometown in Nanjing, ... Grace quickly rose to fame. The starlet shone on the HK silver screen for a decade, her apple cheeks and fiery Jazz performances lighting up every scene." -https://www.admerasia.com/who-are-the-vintage-voices-behind-crazy-rich-asians-soundtrack/
"Jasmine Chen is a jazz singer and songwriter, based in Shanghai, China...In addition to her film work, Chen is an ambassador for jazz music and culture. She has given talks for TEDx, and frequently speaks about jazz, music and the cultural context for any number of audiences, from corporations to universities and arts organizations" -http://www.jasminechen.cn/bio-3161620171.html
Song: “Ren Sheng Jiu Shi Xi” Artist: Yao Lee
"Yao Lee (a.k.a Yao Li) was born in China in 1922 and raised in Shanghai. Similar to Grace Chang, Yao Lee came of age during a spectacle time for jazz in Shanghai. At 13, Lee found herself on the radio and, a year later, recorded her first single. She was the voice behind the hit, “Rose, Rose, I Love You”, composed by Chen Gexin. " https://www.admerasia.com/who-are-the-vintage-voices-behind-crazy-rich-asians-soundtrack/
Another moment of recognition for Chinese Jazz was when artist, Dongfeng Liu, performed in Carnegie Hall.
"a fusion of Chinese and Latin music just had its debut at New York's Carnegie Hall featuring Chinese artist Dongfeng Liu"- https://news.cgtn.com/news/34557a4e77494464776c6d636a4e6e62684a4856/share_p.html
Link to his new album: https://open.spotify.com/album/2mCS8wZlfs7sTIKrUSmDrT
"Dongfeng Liu is a Latin and Jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and music educator. In 2012, he performed at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse for Chinese President Xi Jinping and then Cuban President Raul Castro. Mr. Liu is Jazz Director of the New York Big Apple Music Festival, and he received his Master of Music degree from Queens College, City University of New York. In 2018, he released a new album, "China Caribe," on ZOHO Music." https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2018/09/21/DONGFENG-LIU-BAND-0800PM
Rebirth of Chinese Jazz
Shanghai Restoration Project
"The Shanghai Restoration Project (SRP) is the Brooklyn based electronic duo of Dave Liang and Sun Yunfan. Initially inspired by the 1930s Shanghai jazz scene, SRP’s genre-bending, border-traversing, retro-futuristic soundscape often uses poetic melodies to draw audiences into imaginary settings where unexpected adventures unfold with a dissonant and polyrhythmic palette. "https://open.spotify.com/artist/0EP5EpsiMP8oLYy7sPHwf9/about
Jazz Portrayed in the US
Coco Zhao
Coco Zhao brings a new sound to Chinese Jazz https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12808843
"Coco Zhao is one of the most sought after singers in China. His music provides the link between the Shanghai jazz era and the modern American jazz scene. Once a student of composition at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Coco has since been immersed in the study of Chinese traditional music, western classical music and jazz. His music is a stunning blend of Chinese, particularly Shanghainese, and western elements." https://www.pianojazz.com/cocozhao.htm
Chinese Jazz Festival
"Frequently described as the oldest jazz band on the planet and once recognised as such by Guinness World Records, its six wizened members range from a relatively youthful 63 to a scarcely believable 97-year-old trumpeter." https://www.scmp.com/culture/music/article/2110028/worlds-oldest-jazz-band-shanghai-rare-constant-amid-chinas-breakneck
"Since their inception in 2004, JZ Music has organized thousands of music events across China featuring the biggest names in the local and international jazz community. And the most influential event is JZ Festival. For 12 years, JZ Festival has been recognized as the biggest jazz festival in China and the second biggest jazz festival in Asia. " https://www.facebook.com/pg/jzfestival/about/?ref=page_internal