The Arts Council of Princeton presents Shanghai Nights Princeton, an immersive jazz experience held in collaboration with Princeton Active Circle, on Saturday, May 17 from 7-9 p.m. The event takes place in the Solley Theatre.
Featured performers include Xiaoqing Zhang and Vince di Mura, alongside Sean Decker (bass), Alex Laurenzi (alto sax), Jared Decker (drums), Joshua Roberts (drums), Wesley Rast (percussion), Kurt Coble (violin), and Rachel Massey (violin/viola).
Tickets include the live performance, small bites, and beer and wine. Proceeds support these two nonprofits and their community programs.
Shanghai has a long history of jazz, dating back to the early 20th century. In the 1920s, the establishment of ECO, Shanghai’s first and China’s first radio station, allowed jazz music to spread through the airwaves into the villas and alleyways of old Shanghai. By the 1930s, venues like the Paramount Ballroom became hotspots for jazz, with American and Filipino jazz bands playing an active role in the city’s vibrant nightlife.
At that time, Shanghai was one of the most international cities in Asia, attracting many foreign musicians, especially from the United States and the Philippines. These jazz bands performed in the Bund and the French Concession’s many nightclubs and dance halls, bringing the latest jazz trends to both social elites and ordinary citizens. Chinese singers like Li Lili also began incorporating jazz elements into Chinese music, making jazz an integral part of Shanghai’s pop culture.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, jazz temporarily faded from the scene. However, with China’s reform and opening-up, jazz experienced a revival in Shanghai. The 1990s saw the renovation of Shanghai Concert Hall and the emergence of jazz festivals, bringing new energy to the jazz scene. Today, Shanghai is home to jazz bars like JZ Club and hosts major events such as the Shanghai Jazz Festival, ensuring that the city continues to live up to its reputation as the “Jazz Capital of the East.”
The Arts Council is at 102 Witherspoon Street. Visit artscouncilofprinceton.org or call (609) 924-8777 for tickets.