Jazz in Shanghai, China: A Study in Contrasts

From Rock in China Wiki

Jazz in Shanghai, China: A Study in Contrasts

Author: J. Robert Bragonier

Published on: May 24, 2004

Published at: All About Jazz

url: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=2073

Introduction

China in 2004 is a land of contrasts: rural vs. urban; ancient vs. ultra-modern; flowering fruit trees and resplendent spring flowers vs. omnipresent, eye-burning smog; profound poverty vs. promise and plenty. The contrast between East and West is particularly evident in musical traditions. The Chinese have been using music in court and religious ceremonies for more than 2,000 years. Traditional music uses the two-string erhu ; seven-string qin ; lute-like pipa ; the sheng (a mouth organ made of seven bamboo pipes); flutes, called the xiao and di ; and percussion, to create music on a basic five-note scale (F, G, A, C, and D); the music has no harmony. The Western world, on the other hand, uses a variety of very different instruments (keyboards, strings, winds, brass, and percussion) to create harmonic music on an eight-note scale. With the creation of a global environment, nearly all countries have experienced the melodies, harmonies and rhythm of American jazz, and China is no exception. Nonetheless, for us, listening to jazz music in Shanghai was an experience in contrasts, as well.

---