The young Chinese musician A Bu bridges the gap between classical music and jazz

Originally from China, A Bu has established himself as a pianist and composer on the international jazz scene despite his young age.

At just four years old, A Bu began playing and studying classical piano, while his jazz studies began when he was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music Affiliated College at the age of nine.

“My dad would often take me to see various shows, and they would have these jam sessions. So I would go on stage and play with the musicians,” A Bu said, explaining how he met so many different musicians growing up.

The young prodigy formed his first jazz trio at the age of 13, putting on a successful show at the Beijing Nine Gates International Jazz Festival.

Two years later, he moved to New York, where he enrolled in the pre-college program at the Juilliard School. In 2015, he won the First Jury Prize and the Public’s Choice at the Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition, just before his 16th birthday. Since then, A Bu has toured extensively in Europe and China.

As one of China’s most promising jazz artists, A Bu has performed many times at the All-Star Global Concert on International Jazz Day, where he has been invited by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Jazz Institute to collaborate with world-renowned jazz stars.

“I was thrilled to receive the invitation…this is perhaps the biggest event in the jazz world, and I got to meet many of the greatest living jazz players,” he said. . “Through the performances, I learned how I should listen to others with a very open mind and ear. Because when you improvise together, you’re not just playing by or for yourself.”

A Bu has previously performed in some of the world’s best-known concert halls, including the Forbidden City Concert Hall and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. He has also performed with various orchestras, including the Moscow Jazz Orchestra, Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and Ningbo Symphony Orchestra. Hundreds of performances have honed his skills and techniques.

“Each time before going on stage, I try to calm down for a few minutes, then I feel better prepared to welcome the audience and see how they react,” A Bu said.

Having devoted himself to his music for more than a decade, A Bu hardly has time for leisure. However, the kitchen seems to be an exception.

“There is a great similarity between serving someone a dish and performing a piece of music for a crowd,” A Bu said. “When you try food, it gives you a memorable taste, and the same can be said of music.”

In addition to his career as a jazz pianist, A Bu is also developing as a composer. The young talent has released several albums, including several of his original compositions. “The inspiration comes from my own life,” A Bu said. “I think the music I’ve been composing, especially in the last two years, has been more involved in other things than jazz.”

Co-released by German label WERGO and NCPA, A Bu’s latest album titled “New Memories” pays homage to the works of legendary composer Nikolai Kapustin.

For A Bu, Kapustin is a past master in the art of fusing classical and jazz, and he has long been a source of inspiration.

“This album is my first official studio recording of his works. I was introduced to his music from an early age and in 2016 I had the privilege of meeting him,” A Bu explained. He said the moment he walked out of Kapustin’s apartment, he felt like he had adopted a new way of seeing the world.

A Bu is unlikely to have a chance to slow down anytime soon. To continue to enrich his musical knowledge, in September he began a master’s degree at the Mannes School of Music at The New School in New York, with a double major in piano and composition.

Bridging classical music and jazz, East and West, it’s safe to say that audiences can expect to see much more of this young jazz pianist and composer on the international stage at the ‘coming.