And, JQ is back in Shanghai after vacation on sunny beaches of Qingdao
I haven’t posted for about two weeks because I have been vacationing in Qingdao while my gigs are still few and far between. However now that I’m back in Shanghai I have lots of things ahead of me, much having to do with the fall opening of the JZ jazz school. More about that as it happens of course. But first I need to get some more news onto the ol’ blog…so…
JZ Jazz Fest very likely to feature Wallace Roney Sextet
This will be the first annual JZ Jazz Festival, run by many of the same people who put together the jazz festival in fuxing park 2 years ago. At the time it was more of an “international music festival” and brought many singing and dancing people from every part of the world it seemed like. It was interesting, but sort of thrown together at the last minute so wasn’t super successful. I don’t have many details to give you yet about this one, but I believe the dates are Oct 20-22, and the location is fuxing park.
Anyway, I’m so excited that I have to let one cat out of the bag: Wallace Roney is probably coming to Shanghai! This is one of the more amazing trumpeters out there currently, who I have only had the pleasure of hearing live once. He got a lot of mileage and fame from doing a Miles Davis tribute thing, which he did really well. Sounded just like him. However if I wanted to hear Miles, I would pull out a Miles record…so I was not expecting a lot from the show, which was booked as the Miles tribute. But it was nothing like the Kind of Blue copycat stuff I had heard out of him previously, in fact I think they didn’t do much Miles that day, if any. It was some of the most burning, hip music I’ve heard in fact, and his playing especially blew me away. Playing crazy fast stuff for one, but with control and expressiveness too. So I can’t wait to hear him again…
Also pretty much confirmed to come play for the festival is the New York-based Cuban band Ochun. It sounds like a tight group as well, according to trombonist Andy Hunter, who has been playing with them regularly for a while now and has facilitated their inclusion into the festival.
I have word on a few other groups that will probably come play for the festival, one is Jean Vanasse, a vibraphonist and composer from Quebec. The other is also from Quebec, award-winning saxophonist and composer Yannick Rieu. This festival is going to rock! I can’t wait!