Music soothes the savage soul
By Yang Di and Zhou Chi |
August 22, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE roaring 1920s, also known by some as the "Jazz Age," was the time for experiments and discovering new jazz styles. The music achieved national attention in the United States and then flourished in Shanghai.
Shanghai, the "Paris of the East" in the 1920s and 1930s, became the hot spot for glamour, fashion, lifestyle and its hedonistic nightlife renowned throughout Asia.
It was once considered Asia's "Jazz Mecca," featuring Chinese, Japanese, American and Filipino performers. The earliest jazz in Shanghai was introduced along with celebrity musicians from the US, such as Whitey Smith. Later, local musicians adapted American jazz to local tastes by writing Chinese lyrics or jazzing up Chinese songs.
Jazz music had an amazing effect on the roaring 20s and 30s. Later after 1949, it was labeled as "bourgeois" and many jazz bands were dissolved.
Now, Shanghai is once again a party capital and jazz is back. People visiting or traveling through the city want to see some echo of its greatness in the 1930s should head to the glamorous Paramount Ballroom, the esteemed Old Jazz Bar at the legendary Peace Hotel and the House of Blues and Jazz.
The Paramount Ballroom
The Paramount Ballroom once epitomized the glamor of 1930s Shanghai, housing the trendiest jazz bands, the most beautiful dancing girls and a specially designed wooden dance floor with cantilevered springs. It was not the only dancing hall at the time but was the most famous. Built in 1933, it was frequented by the upper-classes, tycoons, socialites and politicians flaunting their wealth. It also attracted students strongly influenced by Western culture. The Paramount Ballroom's style has changed through the years. Nowadays, the ballroom plays more modern music rather than jazz. Waltz, chacha, slow fox and other kinds of international standard dances are now more common. Professional dancing partners are available. It's now more of a dancing club than a place to enjoy jazz. But when the live band starts to play a piece of jazz, it recalls the golden memories of the jazz age of old Shanghai. Ballroom tickets are from 80-250 yuan (US$11.78-US$36.83), drinks and fruit platter included.
Opening hours: 1pm-midnight
Address: 218 Yuyuan Rd
Tel: 6249-8866
House of Blues and Jazz
Now near the Bund, the House of Blues and Jazz, run by celebrated TV host Lin Dongfu, has been a second living room for those hungry for quality live music and a home for blues and jazz musicians from all over the world since 1995.
With elegant interior decor of dark wooden ceilings, stairs and walkways -- designed by Lin -- that reflect the ambience of old Shanghai, the House of Blues and Jazz provides outstanding food and drinks. Most important though, it offers live jazz and blues music. Lin invites prominent bands -- many from Boston and New Orleans -- every three months to ensure the quality of performance.
Right now, Mike Null and The Soulcasters are rocking the house.
The style of the music is like the bar -- original and authentic. It is a place to relax with a drink, perhaps a fine cigar, sit on an old-fashioned sofa and chat with Lin, all while listening to some of the best blues and jazz Shanghai offers.
The House of Blues and Jazz first introduced live bands in 1996, when a British volunteer from Reuters played guitar on weekends. In 1998, jazz and blues bands from all over the world started to play here regularly.
Peace Hotel Old Jazz Bar
The Old Jazz Bar in the Fairmont Peace Hotel has been a popular place for old Shanghainese and jazz lovers since the 1980.
The founder of the Old Jazz Band, for which the bar is famous, Zhou Wanrong, now 88, wanted to provide entertainment for Shanghai. Jazz was his first choice.
The Old Jazz Bar is well-known all over the world and its members have performed in the United States, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong. After the renovation, with the opening of the Fairmont Peace Hotel, the Old Jazz Bar is given a new lease of life. Wooden ceilings, specially-prepared cocktails and melodious jazz pieces of the 1930s and 40s make it a good place to relax.
Shanghai, the "Paris of the East" in the 1920s and 1930s, became the hot spot for glamour, fashion, lifestyle and its hedonistic nightlife renowned throughout Asia.
It was once considered Asia's "Jazz Mecca," featuring Chinese, Japanese, American and Filipino performers. The earliest jazz in Shanghai was introduced along with celebrity musicians from the US, such as Whitey Smith. Later, local musicians adapted American jazz to local tastes by writing Chinese lyrics or jazzing up Chinese songs.
Jazz music had an amazing effect on the roaring 20s and 30s. Later after 1949, it was labeled as "bourgeois" and many jazz bands were dissolved.
Now, Shanghai is once again a party capital and jazz is back. People visiting or traveling through the city want to see some echo of its greatness in the 1930s should head to the glamorous Paramount Ballroom, the esteemed Old Jazz Bar at the legendary Peace Hotel and the House of Blues and Jazz.
The Paramount Ballroom
The Paramount Ballroom once epitomized the glamor of 1930s Shanghai, housing the trendiest jazz bands, the most beautiful dancing girls and a specially designed wooden dance floor with cantilevered springs. It was not the only dancing hall at the time but was the most famous. Built in 1933, it was frequented by the upper-classes, tycoons, socialites and politicians flaunting their wealth. It also attracted students strongly influenced by Western culture. The Paramount Ballroom's style has changed through the years. Nowadays, the ballroom plays more modern music rather than jazz. Waltz, chacha, slow fox and other kinds of international standard dances are now more common. Professional dancing partners are available. It's now more of a dancing club than a place to enjoy jazz. But when the live band starts to play a piece of jazz, it recalls the golden memories of the jazz age of old Shanghai. Ballroom tickets are from 80-250 yuan (US$11.78-US$36.83), drinks and fruit platter included.
Opening hours: 1pm-midnight
Address: 218 Yuyuan Rd
Tel: 6249-8866
House of Blues and Jazz
Now near the Bund, the House of Blues and Jazz, run by celebrated TV host Lin Dongfu, has been a second living room for those hungry for quality live music and a home for blues and jazz musicians from all over the world since 1995.
With elegant interior decor of dark wooden ceilings, stairs and walkways -- designed by Lin -- that reflect the ambience of old Shanghai, the House of Blues and Jazz provides outstanding food and drinks. Most important though, it offers live jazz and blues music. Lin invites prominent bands -- many from Boston and New Orleans -- every three months to ensure the quality of performance.
Right now, Mike Null and The Soulcasters are rocking the house.
The style of the music is like the bar -- original and authentic. It is a place to relax with a drink, perhaps a fine cigar, sit on an old-fashioned sofa and chat with Lin, all while listening to some of the best blues and jazz Shanghai offers.
The House of Blues and Jazz first introduced live bands in 1996, when a British volunteer from Reuters played guitar on weekends. In 1998, jazz and blues bands from all over the world started to play here regularly.
Peace Hotel Old Jazz Bar
The Old Jazz Bar in the Fairmont Peace Hotel has been a popular place for old Shanghainese and jazz lovers since the 1980.
The founder of the Old Jazz Band, for which the bar is famous, Zhou Wanrong, now 88, wanted to provide entertainment for Shanghai. Jazz was his first choice.
The Old Jazz Bar is well-known all over the world and its members have performed in the United States, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong. After the renovation, with the opening of the Fairmont Peace Hotel, the Old Jazz Bar is given a new lease of life. Wooden ceilings, specially-prepared cocktails and melodious jazz pieces of the 1930s and 40s make it a good place to relax.
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