Young Performers Series Recital – A Bu, piano
- Date
- 30 June 2018 – 8:30pm
- Place
- Auditorium
- Duration
- 2h
Discovered in Beijing, China, by Marc Vincent, then president of Sennheiser Greater China, pianist Dai Liang, nicknamed A Bu and barely 13 years of age, recorded his first album in 2013, 88 Tones of Black and White, in a trio, with help from Mr Vincent. A Bu had already met Chick Corea by this time, a man who served as one of his mentors and even performed a duet with him. He dreamed of enrolling at New York’s Julliard School, which he would accomplish the following year. He began his career as jazz pianist, though he had been a dedicated classical pianist since the age of four. Today, A Bu lives in New York, has recorded his second album, featuring nine original compositions, and is working on a third album. He is hailed on the stages of the world’s music festivals and won the solo piano competition at the celebrated Montreux Jazz Festival in 2015. This “young jazz lion”, to use the description of Michel Camilo, the second of his mentors, will no doubt dazzle you in turn!
Anne Legrand
The artist
A Bu
“It is always a personal thrill to find a ‘fresh voice’ within the jazz continuum. A Bu is a highly creative and accomplished jazz pianist who is also a gifted composer. I regard him as a promising young jazz lion who has a brilliant career ahead of him and will surely be talked about for many years to come” –Michel Camilo.
A Bu, an 18-year-old pianist from Beijing, China. He began studying classical piano at the age of four. Later, at the age of nine, he entered Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing to accept the specialized and systematic classical piano trainings, he also learned music theories, approached jazz and Latin music, and tried impromptu performance at the same time. In 2011, A Bu started to play jazz in jam sessions with many well-known Chinese musicians. In 2013, A Bu joined legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea for a impromptu-duet during the master’s solo concert in Shanghai.
In 2014, A Bu was admitted to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York, where he has studied classical and jazz lessons. In 2015, A Bu won the first Prize and the Audience Choice of Parmigiani Jazz Piano Solo Competition as part of the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, and later, A Bu was invited to play in the Montreux Jazz Academy with Al Jarreau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Yaron Herman and many great jazz musicians.
Following the successful participation of Beijing 9 Gate Jazz Music Festival in 2012, A Bu got the sponsorship from Edifier Musician Foundation; moreover, he was invited to perform together with the famous Rolf Becker Big Band at the press conference for Sennheiser Momentum, and then was signed to Sennheiser China. In 2013, A Bu completed his first album “88 Tones of Black and White”, he invited Jakob Handel, a Grammy winner recording engineer, to join this studio recording. In 2015, A Bu recorded his second album “Butterflies Fly in Pairs” in New York Avatar Studio. This album featured A Bu’s original compositions and arrangements on famous Chinese themes. Tom Kennedy, Ryan J. Lee, Antonio Hart and many great musicians played with A Bu for his second album.
A Bu has been busy in touring in China, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland. In April 2015, A Bu was invited by UNESCO and Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz to play on and participate the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert. In the Head-quarter of UNESCO in Paris, A Bu shared stage together with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Till Brooner and many other jazz stars. He was once again invited by the organizations to join the fabulous event in Havana, Cuba in April, 2017.
In November 2015, A Bu played with the Russian jazz saxophonist Igor Butman and Moscow Jazz Orchestra in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, and Igor Butman’s Jazz Club in Moscow as well. With the passion of loving Nikolai Kapustin’s music, A Bu, along with Igor Butman, held a birthday concert in Moscow November 2016 for the composer’s 79th anniversary, where A Bu was invited to the composer’s home after the show.
In July 2016, A Bu performed his debut performance on Umbria Jazz Festival and 50th Montreux Jazz Festival. In September, A Bu shared the stage w/ Chick Corea on the grand opening of Blue Note Beijing. In addition, A Bu has performed in many famous international Jazz festivals, such as JZ Festival, Jazz à Vienne, Clermont-Ferrand Jazz Fest. A Bu has also appeared as a soloist performing with Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra. In September 2017, A Bu will make his debut performance at the BlueNote New York City, A Bu is currently preparing his third Jazz album, and keeps blooming his Jazz inspirations.
