Jazz.
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Photo: Ninegate |
China is not generally well-known for its jazz music. In fact, the genre was completely banned during the Cultural Revolution of the 60's and 70's. Nowadays, ask anyone in the international jazz scene where the place for jazz is in China and they'll most likely point to Shanghai.
Although minuscule in comparison to a jazz hub like New Orleans and not nearly as cosmopolitan as Shanghai, the nation's capital does have a few surprises up its sleeves.
The number of jazz venues in Beijing is decidedly slim, but there are a few gems out there to be found. The East Shore Live Jazz Café, run by renowned jazz saxophonist Liu Yuan, offers live jazz Thursday through Sunday nights, accompanied by a spectacular view of Qianhai. The second set of the Sunday night ensemble, Quattrology, is always reserved for other players to join them in an open jam session.
Another Beijing favorite is CD Jazz Café, located along the east 3rd ring road. This hip dive features live jazz performances on the weekends by top musicians from the Bejiing jazz scene. Some of the other, less well-known places to catch live jazz are the OT Lounge, CJW, Purple Haze Bistro (Wednesday nights), and occasionally Yugong Yishan.
For those who are more interested in combining their jazz intake with a decadent gourmet brunch, there is a jazz brunch at Kranzler's Bar & Restauarant in the Kempinski Hotel every Sunday from 11:30 am to 3 pm.
And, last but not least, every May for the past three years the international Ninegate Jazz Festival has kept Beijing's toes tapping and fingers snapping. More information can be found at the festival's official website.
Link: Ninegate...
East Shore Live Jazz Café (东岸咖啡)
2nd Floor, 2 Qianhai Nanyan Lu
Xicheng District
西城区地安门外大街前海南沿2号楼2层
Phone: 010 8403 2131
CD Jazz Café (爵士俱乐部)
16 Nongzhanguanlu, Dongsanhuan
东三环农展馆路16号
Phone: 010 6506 8288
OT Lounge
6 Ritan Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区日坛路6号
Phone: 010 6502 5722
CJW (Cigar Jazz Wine)
L-137, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu,
CBD/Guomao
光华路9号世贸天阶L-137
Phone: 010 6587 1222
Link: CJW...
Purple Haze Bistro (紫苏庭)
Rm. 201, Building 3 China View, C2 Gongti Donglu
工体东路丙2号中国红街3号楼201室
Phone: 010 6501 9345
Link: Purple Haze Restaurant & Bistro...
Yugong Yishan (愚公移山)
West courtyard, former site of Duan Qirui Government
3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Gulou
张自忠路3-2号段祺瑞执政府旧址西院
Phone: 010 6404 2711
Link: Yugong Yishan...
Kranzler's Restaurant & Bar (Jazz Brunch)
Inside Kempinski Hotel (Lufthansa Center)
50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chayang District
Phone: 010 6465 3388, ext. 4105
亮马桥路50号北京凯宾斯基饭店
Link: Kranzler's Restaurant & Bar...