Begin your week with lots of sextets
In preparation for the release of some new albums, there’s two special shows coming up next week at JZ.?? I don’t think either one is an actual CD release party per se, but both groups are planning to release albums in the coming months.?? Monday June 25 is going to feature lots of original music from bassist Michael Hicks and his group of six players, a mix of local and foreign musicians who are all based in Shanghai.?? Mike, who works regularly these days at CJW Xintiandi, recorded, mixed, and mastered his album a while ago already but is only just now having it produced here in Shanghai through the JZ production company.
Tuesday June 26 will see the club featuring the Toby Mak sextet, which will include players from all over the globe.?? Bassist Peter Scherr is coming up from Hong Kong, and Matt McMahon (pno) and Simon Barker (dr) from Sydney, and tenor saxophonist Anton Delecca from Toby’s own home town of Melbourne.?? This should be a great show also, as these players are all top-notch and I’ve always been impressed by everything I’ve heard from any of them.?? Toby’s a killer trumpeter who also writes great music, much of which is showcased on his first album “Joyfull”.?? Interestingly enough, his album is reviewed on this page over at allaboutjazz.com, together with albums by a few other jazzers from down under (including Anton and Shanghai-based drummer Nicholas McBride).
Jungle Cat show last saturday
In other news, I made it by JZ club for the first set last saturday from the fabulous Jungle Cat, my favorite band from Beijing.?? I think they caught the saturday night crowd a bit off guard, as people seemed a bit shocked by the funky beats and electronic grooviness on a night that usually sees the big band playing! However they were still well received, as always.?? If you haven’t heard them before, check them out the next time they make it down (or next time you get to Beijing) because they’re making music like nobody else around.?? Not that I’m really up on the rock scene here, but their music has a strong jazz influence that probably is what sets them apart from other electro-rockin’ fusion bands both here and in Beijing.?? Instead of trying to describe their music for the next three paragraphs, I’ll just recommend you listen to them on their myspace page.