China: Jazz Bridges Western China
Links to videos of this project in You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p13-gegbva8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62dvjmznV14
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8pVhNsW2sh8
The Mike Del
Ferro trio (with Scott Amendola, drums and Paul Berner, Bass) toured Uighur
Western China for one week in May 2007. Under the auspices of the US Embassy in
Beijing and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the American Voices artists were
teamed up with a remarkable Uighur traditional music duo comprised of Ejek and
vocalist. Highlights of the program included Ellington's 'Caravan' with an
enthusiastic Ejek improvisation and Uighur Makkams sung by Mr. AbdulKerim. Also remarkable was our performances at the Teacher's College in Urumchi where over 500 students crammed into a space seating 200 and stood on each other's shoulders for two hours to get a closer glimpse of their first jazz concert!