JZ Big Band is bringing a full 22-piece orchestra to deliver a night of classic jazz straight from Woody Allen’s cinematic universe. Expect timeless swing and sultry blues from films like Midnight in Paris, Manhattan, and Hannah and Her Sisters, performed by some of the best jazz musicians in China. Special guests Lolo, Li Jie, and Liu Kefu will be on vocals, making this one for jazz lovers and movie buffs alike.

Some say Woody Allen is the last great auteur, crafting love letters to romance with jazz as the soundtrack. As he once said, “Jazz is a language that needs no translation. No matter where you’re from, you can feel the emotion and story in it.” Now, China’s premier jazz ensemble, JZ Big Band, teams up with three powerhouse vocalists to present Woody Allen’s Jazz Love Letter, a cinematic jazz concert featuring a stunning 22-piece big band.

This “love letter” penned by a full jazz orchestra will take audiences on a journey through Woody Allen’s romantic universe, carried by passionate and improvisational melodies. Experience the bluesy charm of Midnight in Paris, the freewheeling solos of Manhattan, the warmth of Hannah and Her Sisters, and the nostalgic swing of Radio Days. From the joyful rhythms of swing to the tender embrace of ballads, this concert is an invitation to rediscover Woody Allen’s world through jazz, revisiting timeless screen epics of love, loneliness, and eternity.

Featured Songs:

1. Oh, Lady Be Good – Manhattan (1979)

2. September Song – Radio Days (1987)

3. Sophisticated Lady – The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)

4. Thou Swell – Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

5. You've Got That Thing – Midnight in Paris (2011)

6. You Do Something to Me – Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

7. Ain’t She Sweet – Midnight in Paris (2011)

8. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You – Radio Days (1987)

9. Flight of the Foo Birds – Annie Hall (1977)

10. Night & Day – Radio Days (1987)

11. With Plenty of Money and You – Small Time Crooks (2000)

12. A Sailboat in the Moonlight – Zelig (1983)

13. Cheek to Cheek – The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

14. Lil' Darlin' – Mighty Aphrodite (1995)

15. I've Heard That Song Before – Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

16. You Turned the Tables on Me – Café Society (2016)

17. If Dreams Come True – Stardust Memories (1980)

18. Kiss of Fire – Wonder Wheel (2017)

19. I Got Rhythm – Celebrity (1998)

20. Keepin' Out of Mischief Now – Interiors (1978)

21. Everything Happens to Me – A Rainy Day in New York (2019)

Final setlist subject to change.

About JZ Big Band

Founded in 2006, JZ Big Band is China’s top jazz orchestra, established by JZ Music founder Ren Yuqing. Bringing together elite jazz musicians from China and abroad, they have performed with Grammy winners Dee Dee Bridgewater and John Daversa, as well as Chinese music icons Cui Jian, Tia Ray, Li Quan, and Shunzi. They have played at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, multiple editions of JZ Shanghai Music Festival, and the countdown to the Shanghai World Expo. As the official band for Dutch jazz singer Laura Fygi’s China tours, they have performed in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, earning widespread acclaim.

JZ Big Band has also performed Italian Cinema in Music, a tribute concert to Italian and Chinese film soundtracks, and collaborated with Blue Note Shanghai on the sold-out Cowboy Bebop anime soundtrack concert. In 2023, the band teamed up with composer and producer Wang Kaiqi for an original showcase at JZ Club Shanghai.

In 2024, JZ Big Band debuts a new project at the MISA Summer Festival, presenting a “Golden Age of Shanghai” series. Later that year, they will perform at the China Jazz Power festival, representing the best of China’s jazz scene with their signature big band sound. Known for their improvisational energy and creative arrangements, JZ Big Band continues to be a staple of Shanghai’s jazz scene, delivering unforgettable performances to jazz lovers across the city.

Lineup:

Conductor: Alec Haavik
Vocalists: Lolo, Li Jie, Liu Kefu
Saxophones: Dr. Murray James Morrison, Chen Xinlu, Bao Junrui, Guan Yu, Chen Xuzhi
Trumpets: Jeremy Sinclair, Liu Nanqiao, Sun Yuanlong, Andy Peacock
Trombones: Cao Kan, Dmytro Yatsulyak, Tao Yuchen, Shen Tongzhou
Sousaphone: Kenny Chiang
Piano: Michael Compton
Guitar: Li Cheng
Bass: Danny Zanker
Drums: Charles Foldesh

• Jazz & Concerts
• JZ Festival