Photo: flgcn.com

The hallowed grounds of Peking University, the Harvard or Oxford of China and the Forbidden City Concert Hall, just two of the regal and grandiose venues for this year’s NineGates International Jazz Festival. Dating back to a small jazz festival on Fragrant Mountain, Nine Gates (named after the nine gates of the old Beijing city walls) has flourished and with it spread a love of jazz unseen in China for many decades.

The 2009 NineGates Festival is about to open from 22nd to 27th, May. Nineteen famous jazz bands from China and foreign countries will appear and present the classic jazz music in Beijing Forbidden City Concert Hall, Peking University Hall and a restored Qing (18th century) granary at Nanxincang (南新仓), Dongsi Shitiao (东四十条), one of Beijing’s newest art spaces.

Nanxincang Art Venue Photo: showchina.org

China's most famous musicians and bands will appear on the scene, bringing their latest works to an even bigger audience. There are bands such as Xia Jia Trio with the exploration of deeper meanings of music, the Red Hand Jazz Band established last year by the newly rising jazz stars, Liu Yue Trio led by China’s most talented jazz guitarist Liu Yue who will bring the audience the long-awaited surprise through the perfect fusion of Chinese traditional music elements with jazz, Zhang Ying Jazz Group which will present its new jazz song composed by Zhang Ying, and of course, the well-known Liu Yuan Jazz Band which will also show their might.

Apart from the local jazz bands, this festival also invites the top jazz musicians and bands all over the world, such as Mike Stern from the United States, the world’s most famous and most outstanding fusion jazz guitarist and recognized ‘King of Guitar’ in the contemporary music circle; ErikTruffaz from France, the world-renowned trumpet player and the top master in the new fields of European jazz; Martin Reiter from Austria; Yannick Rieu, the saxophonist who is praised as the ‘national treasure of Canada’; Geraldine Laurent, a young French female saxophonist who will bring her famous Time Out Trio; and Lawrence Ku from the United Stated, a familiar guitarist for Beijing audience who will come again and present his new works through trio performance.

Master of Chinese Jazz, Liu Yuan Photo: xinhua.net

In addition, the most worth mentioning thing is the performance exchanges by the Chinese and foreign musicians. For instance, ErikTruffaz will perform with the piano prince of Chinese jazz Xia Jia; the world-renowned Chinese suona soloist Guo Yazhi will interpret the artistic integration of the East and the West with Time Out Trio by Geraldine Laurent.

No matter it is from local bands or from bands around the world, these top jazz musicians will undoubtedly bring you the world’s most mainstream and most beautiful modern jazz.

At eChinacities.com we are proud to be the sole online English media partner for the 4th NineGates Beijing Music International Festival.

Following on from our sole English language partnership with 2009 Midi Music Festival, eChinacities.com is continuing the tradition of teaming up with all the best cutting edge music events around China.

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Related Links:

2009 Midi Music Festival

Beijing's Top 5 Live Music Venues

Forbidden City Concert Hall

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