A key player of all that jazz

In particular, for the 2020 edition of International Jazz Day, he performed Chinese jazz pianist Kong Hongwei's composition, Made in China, a symbolic piece which infuses elements from Chinese music and traditional jazz genres.

"Performing an original composition by a Chinese jazz artist at such a grand event is a great way to introduce contemporary Chinese jazz music to an audience from the US," says Dai. "It is important that my continuous appearances in both China and the US bring forth opportunities in presenting jazz music from both countries to a wider audience."

In June 2020, he also performed tribute concerts at the Blue Note Jazz Club in both Shanghai and Beijing in honor of the American jazz icon Chick Corea, who passed away in February that year.

Back in 2013, Dai was invited onstage by Corea at Shanghai's JZ Festival, where the two played an impromptu session together.

"Chick Corea was a giant figure in the global jazz scene. His music helped both the old and new generations of Chinese jazz musicians to explore the art form further. I am honored to present his music to Chinese audiences and carry on his musical legacy," says Dai.

Dai's professional career as a jazz pianist continues to inspire more Chinese musicians to take an interest in such a distinct art form. Meanwhile, his musical creativity brings a certain frisson to the contemporary jazz scene.

"Ever since his stage debut at 13, he has been a phenomenal figure on the Chinese jazz scene," says bassist Huang Yong, founder of Beijing Nine Gates International Jazz Music Festival, who is also the secretary-general of China Jazz Association of the Chinese Musicians' Association. "Jazz started to appear in the capital during the early 1990s. At the time, few people even knew what jazz was. Thanks to our homegrown musicians, jazz music has been enjoyed by more people, especially young audiences."