When The Erhu Met Hip Hop: Shanghai Jazz Re-Imagined

11:57

April 22, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VDoG6Wnozw

Dave Liang always loved Ella Fitzgerald. Then he discovered the voice of Chinese jazz legend Zhou Xuan.

Born to Chinese parents in Lawrence, Kan., the Harvard graduate was exposed to the music of Xuan and the Shanghai jazz scene as a child and eventually explored it on his own while visiting China in college.

Soon, the classically-trained musician with a love for American jazz and hip hop created The Shanghai Restoration Project. Eight albums later, he's still at it and this weekend, brings his unique brand of electronica to the MASS MoCA.

We sit down with Liang for a listen.

Guest:

Dave Liang, The Shanghai Restoration Project

Dave Liang plays the keyboard in The Shanghai Restoration Project (Anna Hiort/Courtesy)

More:

The Shanghai Restoration Project at MASS MoCA

This segment aired on April 22, 2011.