Get ready for a night of smooth sax and killer jazz vibes as Finnish sax legend Pekka Pylkkänen hits the stage at Lincoln Jazz Shanghai with his crew. Joining him are Tony Bott on piano, Ding Rui on bass, and Kevin Gao on drums for a session that’s sure to blow your mind. Don’t miss this one!

Pekka Pylkkänen is a renowned saxophonist and composer, and has become one of Europe's most accomplished jazz artists and saxophonists. His musical talent has taken him around the world, achieving great success in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He has collaborated with many famous artists from various countries, working as a soloist, recording artist, and educator. He has performed in clubs, concert halls, and major music festivals in over 70 countries.

Pekka has participated in more than 2,000 concerts as a soloist and bandleader, many of which were held at major festivals such as the Hong Kong Jazz Festival, Beijing Jazz Festival, Trondheim Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, South African National Arts Festival, Providencia Jazz Festival (Santiago, Chile), Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Yarasum Jazz Festival, Beijing Concert Hall, Pescara Jazz Festival, and Thailand International Jazz Conference.

Early in his career, Pekka worked for several years with the Finnish National Jazz Orchestra (UMO Jazz Orchestra of Finland), performing contemporary music and often taking on solo roles. In addition to his performance and composition career, Pekka has made significant contributions as an educator. He has held multiple full-time positions in Finland and has conducted lectures and masterclasses at over 80 music universities, conservatories, and colleges worldwide. He has also been invited multiple times as an artist-in-residence in Finland, Italy, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, Portugal, Sweden, and the Netherlands. He has served as artistic director and hosted summer jazz workshops in Italy on numerous occasions.

Pekka has released several albums, including Pekka Pylkkänen: Pekka's Tube Factory (1999), Pekka Pylkkänen Tube Factory: Opaque (2001), and Pekka Pylkkänen Tube Factory: Listen! (Pekka Pylkkänen & Eric Ineke, released in June 2022 by Challenge Records International).

In addition to his impressive career, Pekka has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the jazz world. In 2007, he received the IAJE Award in New York, and in 2013, he was awarded the Moods Jazz Award in Switzerland in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a saxophonist and composer. His work as a music and cultural ambassador has also been acknowledged, earning him an honorary award from the City of Buenos Aires in 2009, an honorary award from the Mayor of La Paz, Bolivia, in 2005, and an honorary award from the Finland-Peru Association in 2003.On March 14, Pekka and his friends will make their debut at the Lincoln Jazz Shanghai Center, bringing an unforgettable night of saxophone jazz. Don’t miss the chance to experience it live!

Performers:

Saxophone (Sax): Pekka PylkkänenBorn in 1964, Pekka Pylkkänen is a renowned saxophonist and composer, and has become one of Europe's most accomplished jazz artists and saxophonists. His musical talent has taken him around the world, achieving great success in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He has collaborated with many famous artists from various countries, working as a soloist, recording artist, and educator, and has performed in clubs, concert halls, and major music festivals in over 70 countries.

Piano: Tony Bott
Tony Bott was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and first encountered music through playing the organ. He began learning drums at the age of 7. Later, he moved to Los Angeles, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in classical percussion at the University of Southern California (USC). It was here that his combined interest in drums, percussion, and piano flourished across all musical genres. After his studies, he moved to Japan to pursue his personal goals in performing and composing jazz music. Over 16 years, Tony composed, arranged, and produced music for his own band, theme parks, concerts, commercials, and several albums. He later moved to Guangzhou, where he taught vocal music, band, and jazz at AISG for 11 years, before relocating to Shanghai in 2020.

Bass: Ding RuiA graduate of the Beijing Contemporary Music Academy, Ding Rui is an independent bassist, session bassist, and jazz bassist. He is the bassist for Fishdoll, Trap the Moon, and the Brownie Band. He has collaborated with artists such as Wei Li'an, Hu Xia, Qiu De, Mr. Miss, Yu Jiayun, Shan Yichun, Zhao Zihua, and Su Yunying.

Drums: Kevin Gao (Gao Kechao)
Kevin Gao is a rising star among China's new generation of drummers and producers. He graduated from Berklee College of Music and became the first Chinese undergraduate admitted to Berklee's Global Jazz Institute. With his solid foundation in jazz, he performed with American musicians in jazz bars in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. After moving to Beijing in 2020, he became one of the city's most sought-after drummers. In 2021, he formed his own band, Outlawed Quintet, and won both the individual and band categories at the Shanghai JZ Jazz Competition. Kevin is unafraid to challenge himself, and his immersive, free-spirited performances on stage captivate every audience. His love for rock, jazz, and electronic music has earned him the admiration of Cui Jian, the "father of Chinese rock." His refined sound and unique stylistic sensibility have made him one of China's most versatile drummers. Kevin has collaborated with musicians such as Nathaniel Gao, Wen Zhiyong, Huang Jianyi, Qin Sifeng, Han Han, Lu Xiwen, Xiao Jun, Liu Xiaoguang, Niu Tianyu, Xu Zhihan, Bai Tian, Deng Yameng, Zhang Xiongguan, Fishdoll, and Xi Chenchen. In 2023, he participated in the Brownie Band tour and Chen Jingfei's "Living Elsewhere" tour, and in 2024, he joined the Duck Fight Goose band tour.