Yesterday, I checked out the new Shanghai Exhibit at the Asian Art Museum. Definitely nice to get lost in Shanghai in the 1920s. It was here that I discovered the sweet jazzy sounds of Coco Zhao. Can't wait to check him out live:
April 1 : Shanghai Jazz
Dubbed “the boy Billie Holiday,” Coco Zhao will perform an intimate set of original works and Shanghai jazz favorites in conjunction with special exhibition Shanghai. Jazz thrived in Shanghai’s colorful cabarets and dance halls during the ‘20s and ’30s. Suppressed during the Cultural Revolution, it’s enjoyed a renaissance thanks to a new generation of young jazz musicians. Zhao cross-pollinates Mandarin vocals with the distinct sounds of contemporary American jazz; a unique heritage (both parents were in traditional Chinese opera) is infused his with youthful interpretations. Zhao’s distinctive style transcends cultures, as evidenced by his sensational reception at the 2007 Montreal Jazz Festival and his performance at the Kennedy Center.
There will also be art activities (make your own print), cash bar specials, and docent conversations in special exhibition Shanghai. Don't miss a talk on the birth of jazz in Asia by Cory Combs, Director of Education at SF Jazz.
Click below to hear a Coco Zhao song.