GUANGZHOU: Take four cutting-edge musicians - all with years of experience playing live, teaching and touring and joined by a love of jazz - and put them on the road for a month, and what do you get?
A mesmerizing musical experience has captivated audiences across Asia.
The group, a rotating roster of musical geniuses, that goes by the name Lincoln Center All Stars - from the not-for-profit arts organization in New York - played at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Guangzhou's premier music academy on Monday evening, to nearly 500 students and faculty members who packed into the school's performance venue to soak up the atmosphere.
Earlier in the day, the current foursome - Alvin Atkinson on the drums, Ari Roland on the bass, Eli Yamin on the piano and Charlie Porter playing the trumpet - gave a master class on jazz to conservatory students. The class and the show are all part of the Rhythm Road - American Music Abroad Program, sponsored by the US State Department's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, that has seen the group visit Mali and major cities in India and China, to give Asia a taste of real jazz music played by experts, all in the spirit of cultural exchange.
"Jazz music is really America's 'classical' music," says New York based Yamin. "It started and grew in America, and like all the modern genres of music, from R&B and soul to pop and hip hop, has its roots in African music.
"We're on tour to share this part of American culture with China but it's also a chance for us to find out about Chinese culture as well."
The All Stars' visit comes at a good time for the Xinghai Conservatory, which is adding its own jazz music program to its course offerings for the first time. It is also a first for Guangdong province. Already on board are experienced jazz musicians including US instructor Landon Mattox, who teaches the finer points of jazz guitar.
During their visit and the master class, "we've found the students and teachers are very excited about jazz", says Roland, who, like many of the All Stars, has more than 20 years' experience playing jazz. The bass player performs with his own band six nights a week in New York when he is not touring or teaching students at the prestigious Juliard School of Music, also in New York.
"Most of the students here have a classical music background, so they know a lot of the (European) composers, but they are also very interested to know more about jazz."
In the master class, students get a chance to learn how to play jazz, how jazz is played and understand what jazz is - a musician expressing himself through his instrument, just like a conversation - all within the structure of the band, says Roland.
"Many of the students here play the piano, the drums," says Yamin, "but we show them that the jazz style can be put to any song."
"The classical background the students get is good because it teaches technical skills - how to play the instrument well. But they also need to get experience in jazz. Jazz is important because it teaches improvisation. You have to know your instrument and how to play music at a much deeper level - the rhythm, timing, counting bars and knowing all the keys. With jazz you express yourself immediately, rather than memorize patterns."
To be a good musician, "you need both skills", he says.
(By Steven Chen)
Eight Cities in P. R. Delta Named Heavy Acid Rain Areas
Canine Frisbee to be Featured in Pet Festival
HK still a Big Attraction for Mainland Visitors