I recently read an article featuring Coco Zhao’s account of the development of the jazz scene in Shanghai (link at the bottom of this article). When considering that Coco Zhao is among many of the early trailblazers from within the local Chinese contingent of the Shanghai jazz scene and that him and his peers are still in their 30s, it demonstrates how new this music is to China and how young the music scene is here in China.
Of course, there is a tradition of old songs from the 1930s jazz era of Shanghai but outside of the old men performers that still survive within the Peace Hotel it is far from apparent. Whilst many musicians from other countries have benefited from the guidance of elders in their musical tradition, musicians such as vocalist Coco Zhao had to seize any opportunity for musical information available to them, “I remember back in the 1990s, we only had very limited resources for us to listen to and play jazz. We had to ask our friends to bring back all kinds of CDs, tapes and books from overseas so that we could read, listen and learn.”
Coco Zhao also talks about the limited image many local Chinese associate with Jazz, “Whilst jazz music is happily making its home in China with all these foreign and local musicians, there is also misunderstanding from the audience. Many listeners still associate jazz with scenes from 1930s old Shanghai, and for them, jazz is probably just a way to display their social and financial positions.”
The types of jazz that the Chinese public are given exposure to are often very limited and Coco Zhao suggests his hopes for more open-minded acceptance of the artform’s more artistic possibilities against its current constrictions. “If Chinese television, radio, magazines and newspapers are only willing to play and promote commercial and easy listening music, then Chinese listeners will never be able to understand and accept new sounds. And the risk-taking and self-challenging musicians will never have their chance to let their music be heard across the country or even across the world.”
I feel this is an important historical article for Chinese jazz and very well written by Coco, who wrote it in English himself without the aid of a translator. Coco’s group Possicobilities was one of the first Chinese lead jazz groups to gain international recognition and upon hearing their CD “Dream Situation” it is no surprise why, with masterful arrangements by Peng Fei and Coco’s velvety vocal tones it a true aural pleasure. Please read the full article below-
http://www.asianculturalcouncil.org.hk/en/welcome/features_detail/16