Alec Haavik at the Oriental Arts Center

Mahler once said that a symphony should be like the world, and Alec had similarly grand intentions for this concert.

A Playlist from Nicholas Bouloukos, Discerning American Gentleman

In addition to being a gentleman, Nicholas Bouloukos is a discerning American badass of the piano. He has performed all over Europe and Asia and has played with many great jazz artists including Stefon Harris, Nick Brignola, and Roy Hargrove. Currently his badassery is most frequently on display JZ Club’s much-maligned piano, with the Big [...]

Alec Haavik Interview Part 2!

After we completed part one of the interview (several months ago. You know how I roll) Alec suggested we do a follow-up as he had more to offer on some of the topics we had gotten into during part one before I realized that my minidisc recorder was busted. So here it is, a mere two weeks after promised. I’m getting better and better at this! It’s kind of long but, ducklings, you are not some short-attention-spanned MTV brats, no, you are the most sophisticated music lovers in the WORLD! Enjoy.

LYBZ: So you said you have some more ideas you are burning with desire to share, about the DVD markets, etc.?
AH: I’ve been thinking about the ingredients that make up a jazz scene, and some pretty amazing particulars in the case of Shanghai’s: one is the vacuum of western music that was here before, before western jazz players started coming. There’s a feeling of

The Long-Awaited Alec Haavik Interview: Part 1

Alec Haavik has been our Featured Artist here at Layabozi for some time, now. You probably already know all about his killin’ saxophone playing and composing already, and that his band plays most every Thursday at JZ Club, and that he also features in that fine institution’s Big Band, Blue Koi Collective, and others. This [...]

The Kandinsky Effect – Instant Kandinsky Review

[Warren Walker played at CJW Xintiandi in late 2006 and early 2007, during which time he was loved by audiences there and at various jam sessions around town for his musicianship, creativity, passionate extended solos, and some extras! He lives in Paris. --ed] The first release of The Kandinsky Effect, is an energetic and honest [...]

Coco Zhao’s sundtrack “Wonder Town”

Coco comes from an art family; his parents were Chinese-opera artists. He naturally creates a familiar environment around jazz, he’s constantly acclaimed and highlighted by the Jazz world as the big star of jazz in Shanghai, he is the precious jazz voice of our big city. Coco has been singing on Shanghai’s stages since the [...]

The Shanghai Jazz Festival is Basically Here

Tonight is the big opening, so get ready. We’ve got the line-up in our live dates page now, so you can check out who’s playing when. It’s been organized by the people at JZ club, and will feature many of their bands, as well as other local acts, and national and international stars. Like many [...]

Music goes MOON in Shanghai

I should have been at the China Now concert today by Huahai rd. and Pu’An rd, I wasn’t. The rain was a good excuse to rest, a pause to continue tonight. The last days had been full of music and there’s more to come. Last Thursday we saw the coming back of Theo Crocker to [...]