SINICA PODCAST LIVE RECORDING: 
JAZZ IN CHINA

Jess Meider, David Moser

moderated by Anthony Tao
Tuesday, March 13, 8 pm | 60 RMB
 
The Sinica Podcast returns to the city where it all began with this live show. We’re going to take a deep dive into jazz, which first came to China in the 1920s as part of Shanghai's vibrant international nightlife, but disappeared in the fog of war and revolution in the following decades, returning with the wave of foreign cultural imports brought by Deng Xiaoping's Reform and Opening Up. As with many foreign art forms, jazz has had a fascinating evolution in China, as aspiring players slowly absorbed the art of “swing” and improvisation, in the process attracting increasingly hip young audiences. Join host Anthony Tao (Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn send their regards from the U.S.) as he talks to Jess Meider, one of China’s best jazz vocalists, having spent 20 years gracing stages, festivals and music venues all over the country, and David Moser, an academic and author who has played jazz piano in numerous groups and Beijing venues over the past 25 years. The discussion will explore topics such as the first Chinese jazz players, the early jazz venues, the participation of rock stars such as Cui Jian, who was heavily influenced by the form, the rise of astounding new Chinese jazz prodigies, and the search for a "jazz with Chinese characteristics." In association with SupChina.

Jess Meider is one of China’s best jazz vocalists, having spent 20 years gracing stages, festivals and music venues all over the country. She moves between her jazz quartet, her singer-songwriter project and her electronic band, “Chinatown.” A resident jazz artist for Beijing’s acclaimed East Shore Jazz Club for four years, she has also shared the stage with highly popular vocalist Gong Lin Na, sung for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and performed at an event for Quincy Jones. She is currently a resident jazz artist at Beijing’s prestigious Chao.

David Moser is Associate Dean of Peking University’s Yenching Academy. He is the author of A Billion Voices: China's Search for a Common Language, published by Penguin in 2016. He holds a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Chinese Studies from the University of Michigan. In addition to his academic activities and frequent media appearances on CCTV and BBC, he has played jazz piano in numerous groups and Beijing venues for the last 25 years.

Anthony Tao is Asia managing editor of SupChina. He previously coordinated the 9th and 10th editions of the Bookworm Literary Festival, and is the founding editor of the news/society/culture website Beijing Cream. He writes poetry in his spare time (see anthonytao.com) and captains Ultimate Frisbee teams in Beijing. Follow him @anthonytao