Rooted locally and reaching across the country, Lincoln Center Shanghai is using jazz as a cultural bridge to cross regional boundaries and spark artistic exchange nationwide. From the water town of Wuxi in Jiangnan to the ancient capital of Nanjing and the cultural center of Beijing, the lively sound of Lincoln Center jazz is crossing mountains and seas, lighting up the musical nights of cities across China.
A Jiangnan Encounter: Jazz Meets the Water Towns
In March 2026, Wuxi’s “International Month” and International Cherry Blossom Week opened, welcoming artists from Lincoln Center Shanghai to bring a distinct jazz flavor to the Jiangnan city. On the evening of March 24, the “Wuxi Night” concert took place in the black-box theater of Wuxi Grand Theatre, drawing guests from China and abroad as a centerpiece of the program. Jazz ambassador and Grammy- and Pulitzer-winning musician Walter Blanding led a quintet. Along with jazz standards, the group presented a specially arranged jazz version of “Wuxi Scenery.” The relaxed saxophone meeting the lilting Jiangnan melody created a striking exchange between an international musical language and local culture, showing the audience how tradition and modernity can blend.
The artists continued exploring beyond the stage. They visited the former residence of Abing and learned the stories behind his famous erhu music, toured an erhu workshop to see the craftsmanship behind the instrument, and walked through Jichang Garden to experience the elegance of Jiangnan gardens. The cultural visits brought the Western artists closer to the roots of Chinese folk music and laid the groundwork for a deeper artistic exchange.
On April 30, International Jazz Day, established by UNESCO, Walter Blanding returned with a quartet to perform at Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts as part of the 2026 “Voices of Jiangnan” festival. The lively jazz melodies added a romantic artistic spirit to the holiday and introduced more audiences to jazz’s distinctive appeal.
Heading North: An All-Star Lineup Lights Up Beijing
In May, Lincoln Center Shanghai’s artistic exchange continued north. After their residency performances in Shanghai, renowned drummer Steve Smith and three-time Grammy-winning drummer and Lincoln Center artist Ulysses Owen Jr. headed to Beijing to appear at the sixth Taihu Jazz Festival.
One of China’s most influential jazz events, this year’s Taihu Jazz Festival adopts the theme “Everything Is Jazz.” More than 330 artists from 11 countries and regions will present over 200 performances and special events. The addition of Steve Smith and Ulysses Owen Jr. brings star power to the festival. Their virtuosic drumming and improvisation will channel the spirit of jazz through rhythm and give Beijing audiences a close-up experience of world-class musicians.
From Shanghai’s main stages to Wuxi’s waterside theater and Nanjing’s arts venues, and now to a Beijing festival, Lincoln Center Shanghai is steadily realizing its vision of being rooted in Shanghai while reaching nationwide. Through artistic dialogue across regions and cultural exchange, the program brings the appeal of international jazz to China and sparks new connections between Chinese cultural heritage and music from around the world. Lincoln Center Shanghai plans to keep using music as a bridge between more cities, sharing jazz across the country and supporting the growth of Chinese jazz culture.
Reporter: Gao Lei
Editor: Liu Yunwen
Photos: Lincoln Center Shanghai
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Original article:https://so.html5.qq.com/page/real/search_news?docid=70000021_95869e98a9754652