New compilation brings Chinese jazz voices to global stage

Blue Note Records China announced Thursday its debut compilation, "Now's the Time: An Anthology of Contemporary Chinese Jazz Volume 1," a showcase of some of the most forward-thinking voices in China's contemporary jazz scene.

The album cover of "Now's the Time: An Anthology of Contemporary Chinese Jazz Volume 1." [Image courtesy of Blue Note Records China]

The first single, "Arc Light," performed by Red Hand Band, was released Thursday. The full album arrives Oct. 23, with physical records available the same day.

Three producers worked on the compilation: Don Was, president of Blue Note Records and a Grammy Award winner; Zhang Yadong, a renowned Chinese music producer; and Ren Yuqing, a leading figure in Chinese jazz and founder of JZ Music. Together they have created a project that bridges China's jazz voices and the global stage, the announcement said.

Don Was traveled from the United States to Shanghai and Beijing to meet each artist and took part in every recording session, from Red Hand Band's improvisational work in a Beijing studio to the interpretations of Shanghai jazz musicians. According to the announcement, his involvement tied the album to Blue Note's "pure jazz" spirit and brought international production standards to the project. Zhang and Ren provided local perspective, capturing the distinctive expressions of Chinese jazz musicians.

"Jazz has flourished for over a century, and today it is blossoming anew," Ren said. "The voice of Chinese jazz is part of that new growth. These colorful and distinctive pieces showcase the imagination, creativity and artistry of Chinese jazz musicians. They represent one possible future for jazz, a new direction for the music. We hope the world will hear the sound of Chinese jazz and feel the creative force behind it. You don't need to understand music; all you need to do is listen, and it becomes yours."

Zhang said the album captures the emotional worlds and artistic explorations of today's musicians. "It was a remarkable encounter and a truly inspiring collision of ideas," he said. "'Now's the Time' preserves their powerful presence, the free and captivating notes, and those fleeting yet deeply moving moments. It also captures Don Was' profound understanding of and deep respect for the music. Unforgettable and truly one of a kind."

Don Was praised China's jazz musicians, among them Red Hand Band. "The incredible depth of talent and musical sophistication that characterizes China's current jazz scene will blow people's minds," he said. "We are looking forward to spreading that musical message across the globe."

The opening track, "Arc Light," was composed by Red Hand Band pianist and core member Xia Jia. Since debuting at Beijing's D22 Club in 2006, the band has become one of the defining forces in China's contemporary jazz scene.

Five other tracks complete the album. Guitarist Zhang Xiongguan's ballad "One Is Too Many" blends pop sensibilities with jazz harmony. Trumpeter Li Xiaochuan's "Harvest" draws on the folk arts of Shanghai's Jinshan district. "Haven of the Wandering Desert," by guitarist Xu Zhihan, drummer Xu Zhitong and experimental electronic artist Gooooose, is rich with Eastern aesthetics and cinematic imagery. Bassist Wang Chenhuai and Italian pianist Moreno Donadel perform a bass-and-piano duet, "Song for My Family." Multi-instrumentalist Eugene Sun's "Where It All Began" explores inner instinct and self-discovery.

The compilation moves through avant-garde improvisation, folk storytelling, cultural fusion, Eastern-inspired soundscapes and personal narratives, painting a portrait of contemporary Chinese jazz and its evolving identity.

Red Hand Band, Don Was (fourth from right), Zhang Yadong (first from left) and crew pose for a photo. [Photo courtesy of Blue Note Records China]

Alfred Lion founded Blue Note Records in New York in 1939, and the label has remained committed to presenting "pure jazz" and preserving the music's authenticity. In May 2025, Universal Music Greater China launched Blue Note Records China to carry forward that legacy, partner with local jazz artists and bring their music to a wider international audience.

Timothy Xu, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Greater China, said, "Since launching Blue Note Records China last year, our ambition has been to create a meaningful platform for Chinese jazz artists, combining Blue Note's extraordinary legacy and artistic values with the creativity of a new generation of local musicians. 'Now's the Time' marks an important milestone in bringing that vision to life."

"It showcases the diversity, originality and confidence of contemporary Chinese jazz, while creating new opportunities for these exceptional artists to reach audiences in China and around the world," he added."This is an exciting first chapter for Blue Note Records China, and for the growing global story of Chinese jazz."