JZ Festival

When: Sep 19, 7-10.30pm; Sep 20 2-10pm; Sep 21, 2-10.30pm.

Who: Gilles Peterson, The Rhythm Junks, Laura Fygi, Incognito, David Friesen and more.

Where: Jing’an Park, Nanjing Xi Lu, near Huashan Lu. Nearest metro Jing’an Temple (line 2).

Price: ¥100 each day.

More info: www.jzfestival.com.

“This is a big, big event,” says Mark Elliott, International Liaison at JZ Club and the man responsible for booking the festival’s international acts. “We’re hoping it’ll be a big step up this year.” He will not be alone in wanting the festival to be better than last year. Despite famous names like Cui Jian, 2007’s JZ Festival struggled with numbers and left many disappointed. “Last year [at the New Factories] wasn’t the right setting,” says Elliott, who admits that previous outings have been tough for the festival. “We lose money on it at the moment. But we do it to try and create something here, to get something going. It’s an investment.”

These challenges haven’t deterred the organizers and they expect to draw big crowds this time round with a better location and a stronger line-up. Following on from Fuxing Park in 2006, the festival will return to a green setting, which Elliott anticipates will make a big difference: “We’ve always been talking about having the festival in Jing’an Park – it’s the venue we wanted, and it’s the venue we’ve got.” 

The line-up features a blend of foreign and Chinese artists with big name headline acts, some of whom are rather different from the performers normally found at JZ Club. “We didn’t want it to be only jazz. That’s why we’ve got Gilles Peterson playing and Eugene Hideaway Bridges, a blues artist. There’s something for everyone.” While Peterson might be an institution in the UK, he is less well known in China and many of the foreign acts have had little exposure here before. Nevertheless, Elliott is confident that the foreign names will appeal to a broad audience. “We want as many people as possible to get to see these artists. We want it to be more inclusive, we want some cross pollination, to make foreigners more aware of Chinese jazz and vice versa. We don’t want people to just come and see the names they know.” Some of these acts may also be more famous in China than it seems. “When our Festival Director had a meeting with the local government he showed them the proposed line-up and they said ‘we really want Laura Fygi and Gilles Peterson.’ They’re big fans!”

With two main stages, including one set atop Jing’an Park’s small lake, a good range of performers, and a much more suitable setting, organizers are hoping that this year’s JZ Festival will eclipse those of previous years. “We have a few things on our side this year,” says Elliott.  “The ticket prices are cheaper; there’s not a lot of other festivals going on at the same time; and we’ve got some nice performers and a nice location. We’ve done what we can.”

Steven De Bruyn, harmonicaman and singer, The Rhythm Junks

“I believe Shanghai is becoming a hip place for jazz cats these days, but this is our first time ever performing in Asia. We have the reputation of being an energetic and driving band with a unique sound, due to our rather exceptional line-up. Up front: drums, bass and harmonica; in the back: three horns and most of us singing as well. We like strong grooves and crazy arrangements, hence our name. We are not a categorical band. It’s our speciality to brew our own mix of different musical styles that we like and create new music.

“It’s always hard to predict beforehand, but we believe that our performance at the JZ Festival in Shanghai, given their great organisation and interesting line-up, might result in something very special. We are really curious how our music will be appreciated by the Chinese audience – we also wonder if they will take a chance to dance.”

David Friesen

“When people see me live they see a musician totally dedicated to the moment, the music, and the musicians he is playing with. That, and his respect and appreciation for the audience, always giving 100 percent of himself for those who choose to listen. It’s music that is not perfect, but is heartfelt, has a lot of melody and unusual harmonies.”

“I was not aware of the jazz scene in Shanghai until a few months ago, but I always look forward to listening to great musicians at jazz festivals. Those who are known and those who are less known. I will especially look forward to hearing Chinese jazz musicians and how they will hopefully infuse their own culture into an improvised musical art form.”
tion with the audience and the show is one big party.”

Coco Zhao

“It’s really hard to explain our musical style. There’s only 12 notes and within those 12 notes every musician is trying to create their own sound, but I think we do something unexpected. For someone who hasn’t seen us before, I’d just tell them to expect Possicobilities!

“The jazz scene in China is still pretty small and immature but festivals like this will effect its development. It's an opportunity for musicians to learn from each other and to party together. What's better than learning through partying?

“I think this year's festival should be a really nice atmosphere. I prefer the festival when it's on grass, it's more relaxed. It brings the audience and the artists closer together. We want to have a big party with whoever comes along.”

Laura Fygi

“I have never done an outdoor festival like this in Shanghai before but it is always great to meet a Chinese audience because they respond so well to my performance. And playing with a Chinese big band will make it an even greater joy. People who just know me from my CDs will be happily surprised by my performance as there is a lot of interaction with the audience."

China Now

When: Sep 13-14, 3-11pm.

Who: Cold Fairyland, Crazy Mushroom, The Honeys, Lan Cao, Lucius & Pharaoh, and more.

Where: Huaihai Park, Huaihai Lu, near Pu’an Lu. Nearest metro Huangpi Nan Lu (line 1).

Price: Free.

This free festival being organized by the people behind Taikang Lu's 288 Melting Pot bar is part of the Shanghai Tourism Festival. According to Head Organizer Ruby Hsiao, “It is the government’s intention to support original music, and to earn more attention from the younger generation in Shanghai – Chinese or expatriates.” While it might not sound like the most rock ‘n’ roll event, the line-up is good. Stalwarts of the Shanghai music scene Cold Fairyland will kick off their first of three festival dates here and will be joined by Crazy Mushroom, a local band increasingly redefining their nu-metal label, as well as a range of international and locally based acts. 

NOTCH (Nordic + Chinese)

When: Oct 2-4.

Who: Tape, Efterklang, Shining, diskJokke, Nils Petter Molvaer, and more.

Where: 669 Greenhouse, Caohejing Development Park. Nearest metro Caohejing (line 9).

Price: ¥80 each day (¥50 for students), ¥180 three day pass.

More info: www.notch08.com.

NOTCH combined with JZ last year, something which probably didn't do either of them any favors, but this year they're on their own again. With a Shanghai leg organized by leading creative website Neocha, a line-up featuring some of the best and most experimental Nordic musicians, and the most original live music venue in the city, this year's NOTCH could be the best yet.
Featuring artists from throughout the Nordic countries, as well as domestic acts (Shanghai will host local favorites Cold Fairyland and B6), NOTCH also takes place simultaneously in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong with the bands swapping between the four cities. “There'll be acoustic, jazz, techno – there’s quite a crossover of genres,” says Sean Leow of Neocha and NOTCH's Shanghai organizer.

As well as Sigur Ros-style atmospheric indie acts like Tape and Efterklang, NOTCH will feature trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer and electro DJ diskJokke. Avant-garde musicians like Hildur Gudnadottir, the Icelandic neo-classical cellist who has toured with the likes of Animal Collective, and Shining – initially an experimental jazz act but increasingly difficult to categorize – should make for some fascinating performances. “I'm looking forward to seeing Efterklang and Tape,” says Leow, “Shining’s live show is supposed to be amazing too, he has this sort of electronic flute thing.”

And then there's the venue. “It’s literally a greenhouse – they’re growing plants in one half of it,” says Leow. “The other half is like this indoor forest – there’s green everywhere – but they’ve converted it into a bar and restaurant and in the middle there’s a big stage. First we thought ‘what the hell?’ but the theme we’re pushing is environmental protection and it seems to fit with the nature of Nordic music. It’s definitely different from anywhere anyone’s gone before.”

Zhujiajiao Water Village World Music Festival

When: Sep 30, 2-9pm; Oct 1-2, 11am-5pm; Oct 3-4, 11am-9pm.

Who: Ray Lema, Cold Fairyland, Glorious Pharmacy, Bob Aves, Nah Youn Sun & The French All Stars, and more.

Where: Various locations in Zhujiajiao. Tourist bus No. 4 leaves from the Tourist Bus Center at Shanghai Stadium, every hour from 7.30am.

Price: Free.

More info: www.zjjwwmf.com.

Last year's world music showcase in Zhujiajiao attracted over 55,000 people and once again this year they have a truly international line up. “The music festival is about introducing world music to Chinese people,” says Festival Organizer Zhang Jie. “We expect at least 70,000 people to attend over the five days this year. We’ve invited a bunch of amazing and representative bands like Cold Fairyland and Wang Lei – the renowned Chinese musician who wrote a lot of his latest songs in Sichuan around the time of the earthquake.” Also on the bill: Congolese jazz/Afro-beat star Ray Lema, Beijing experimental folk outfit Glorious Pharmacy, and Korean jazz princess Nah Youn Sun. “I hope these acts will feed music fans’ appetites,” says Zhang.

The return of live music isn't just limited to our city. The next few weeks will see some big music festivals around the country. To read more on these, including the Lijiang Snow Mountain Festival with Avril Lavigne, click here.

For details on how to win tickets to JZ Festival, NOTCH, and the Lijiang Snow Mountain Festival, pick up a copy of this week's SH magazine.