Grammy Award-winning US musician puts erhu into jazz

If three straight recent recitals from China's top pianists haven't yet sated your appetite for all the music you haven't been hearing since the last Beijing Music Festival (BMF) was held, American jazz saxophonist and flautist Kenny Garrett will play his first show in China at the Beijing Concert Hall on October 14.

Garrett will reportedly perform his signature song, "Beyond The Wall," written four years ago as a means of motivating himself to visit China. " The song is completely a China-tailored production," he said. "I was inspirited by many signature icons like the Great Wall, traditional Chinese instruments and Buddhism."

Kenny Garrett performs in Beijing as part of the Beijing Music Festival tonight. Photo: Courtesy of BMF

In the song, Garrett tells a story via a mix of parts for saxophone, drums, violins and erhu (a two-stringer traditional Chinese instrument). "You can see the eastern elements everywhere in that piece," said the 50-year-old musician. "So here's a tip: listen to it with your ears and eyes."

Garrett's latest album, Five Peace Band - Live, was given a Grammy for "Best Jazz Instrumental Album" this past January. "To understand his music," said a concert organizer, "you need to be as brave as warriors climbing over the Great Wall, breaking through cultural barriers and appreciating what results."

Wang Nan will accompany Garrett on stage playing the erhu. "[The erhu] makes the prayer in the song more special," said Garrett. "It highlights my approach to mixing Chinese music with my jazz world."