shanghai jazz scene .com

Yes, it is true. The gorgeous bright orange lane house that has been the home of Shanghai’s jazz education nexus for most of the last two years will soon cease to be such, and the jazz school will move to a larger space in the same neighborhood. The new location, which is is still undergoing renovations, is located in a lane off Wukang rd near Hunan rd. It has more space than the current location, including more large rooms for ensemble classes, rehearsals, kids classes, and even a larger room for student concerts which will double as a dance studio.

There are beautiful green tree views from many of the windows, and the charm of the French Concession is just as strong as the old JZ School’s lane house. The new space will be open just in time for the fall semester to begin, and of course that will mean lots of great back-to-school packages and class offers.

The new location is Wu Kang Rd Lane 280 – No.12, which is between the Hunan Rd junction and Ferguson lane. A good reference point is the Elementary School on the corner of Wukang Rd and Lane 280. They’ve just torn down some old ugly buildings in front of it and renovated it.

For other news about new classes and events for fall 2008 at the school, check the school’s website.

They’re not coming to play together, but rather in two separate shows happening this week. Swiss trumpeter Erik Truffaz is performing Thursday (tomorrow) at JZ Club with his band, and Saturday is Mike Stern’s show. Each of them are bringing a quartet, ostensibly touring to promote new albums. Mike Stern’s quartet consists of Bob Franceschini, Lincoln Goines, Lionel Cordew. Erik Truffaz is bringing Marcello Giuliani, Marc Erbetta, and Patrick Muller in his band. Both of these guys are pretty big names, and so the cover will be 100RMB each of the nights. As usual, the show will start at 10pm.

Also, after Mike Stern finishes his show Saturday, the “In Between Band” will play one late set. This is a group that has been playing the pre-big band set for the last few Saturdays while Flamenco guitarist Abraham Carmona is off touring for one month. The group consists mostly of members of the JZ Latin Project, but rather than playing salsa for dancing like they do on Friday nights, this show is more oriented toward original Latin jazz. Abraham’s Flamenco-jazz group will return in two weeks to take over the early Saturday set again from June 14.

For all the musicians out there

Mike Stern will also give an hour-long master class earlier on Saturday, to answer questions about music and offer advice on playing and practicing, etc. This short session should be an interesting opportunity for musicians to learn what makes him tick. My guess is that the question he gets asked the most often is “What was it like to play with Miles Davis?” He’s probably sick of that one, so we’ll see if it gets asked…and what the answer will be if so.

The master class is 50RMB and will also be at JZ Club.

UPDATE: Erik Truffaz will also give a master class the day after his concert, it will be Friday at 6:30pm at JZ club, admission is free. Here are some more details on the facebook event listing.

to recap:

Erik Truffaz – Thurs May 29, 10pm at JZ Club, 46 w. fuxing rd – 100RMB

Erik Truffaz master class – Friday May 30, 6:30-7:30pmpm at JZ Club, 46 w. fuxing rd – free!

Mike Stern master class – Saturday May 31, 5pm-6pm at JZ Club, 46 w. fuxing rd – 50RMB

Mike Stern quartet concert – Saturday May 31, 10pm at JZ Club, 46 w. fuxing rd – 100RMB

In fact TTing has already been open for nearly four months, but has yet to do a formal grand opening.  Like any fledgling business in Shanghai, it’s their first year so they’re still struggling, but slowly the place is building a following–not just for the jazz-pop band performing in the main room but also for the pool tables and VIP nightclub vibe happening downstairs.

In fact I went in a few weeks ago hoping to check out the band, which is led by former JZ all-star big band tenor saxophonist Tang Ying, but when I showed up I was told they had already finished for the evening.  I was incredulous, as it was barely eleven p.m. at the time, but apparently they play from 7-10 p.m. rather than trying to compete for listeners with the later-night jazz venues.  Fair enough.

So when I returned a few days ago at the appropriate hour, I was disappointed to miss the band’s show yet again–I was told the band is now only performing two nights a week due to the high musician overhead and low revenue situation the club is in.  So if you are ready to check them out, go on a Friday or Saturday night between 7 and 10 p.m.  On Fridays, the show features a female singer who has an eclectic style drawing on jazz, pop, and R&B.  On Saturdays, the show features the electro-jazz-pop-funk sounds of E-Groove, a group Tang Ying has played with for a few years already.

If you make it, let me know how it is in a comment here!  I do still intend to go hear them, I can’t go wrong the third time (hopefully).

TTing, next to Big Bamboo on Nanyang lu, near Xikang lu behind the Portman Ritz-Carlton.  Live music every Friday and Saturday from 7-10pm.

This piano man, who has been gracing Shanghai with his musical and educational presence increasingly over the last few years, will return to Shanghai next week. He’ll run two more jazz piano master classes at the JZ School, as well as performing at JZ Club for a Monday night trio show on the 24th. He will have a few special guests joining the trio as well, so come check it out, especially if you missed him last time he was around.

Here’s the entire schedule of Burnett’s clinics and performances:

March 23, 2008, 2:00pm: Jazz Piano Master Class at JZ School, 270 Wuyuan rd near Yongfu rd. Admission: free (but call 5403 6475 to reserve a seat beforehand)

March 24, 2008 10:00pm: JZ Club. Burnett Thompson, Pianist; EJ Parker, Bassist; Chris Trzcinski, Drums. Performing original works from the “Creation Jazz Suite” and the “Planet Suite”. Admission: free

March 30, 2008, 1300h Jazz Piano Master Class at JZ School, 270 Wuyuan rd near Yongfu rd. Admission: free (but call 5403 6475 to reserve a seat beforehand)