Two of Europe’s boldest vocalists in contemporary jazz are teaming up for one night in Shanghai. Grzegorz Karnas from Poland and Manu Domergue from France will take the stage with wildly different styles, both pushing the boundaries of what jazz vocals can sound like.

Grzegorz Karnas (7:30pm)

Trippy, abstract, and totally fearless with the voice. Karnas has been doing his thing since the late ’90s, mixing vocals, bass, and drums in a raw, minimalist setup. He treats the voice like an instrument—chanting melodies one minute, making weird percussive sounds the next. Expect something that breaks every mold of what jazz singing usually looks like.

Manu Domergue (9:30pm)

French vocalist and mellophone player Manu Domergue brings a poetic, almost mythical vibe to jazz. Inspired by Chet Baker, he weaves stories with sound, blending vocals, brass, and eco-conscious performance art. His “Raven” project dives into folklore, and his past tours have included walking from gig to gig with a donkey carrying his gear. For real.

Setlist

7:30pm

• Dwie Wieże - Grzegorz Karnas & Adam Oles
• Black Crow - Joni Mitchell
• Słodka - Džem & Grzegorz Karnas
• Improvisation #1
• Fin d'Été - Michał Tokaj
• One of Us Cannot Be Wrong - Leonard Cohen
• There Is No Greater Love
• Bye Bye Blackbird
• Improvisation #2

9:30pm

• Albedo - Manu Domergue
• À l'Éclaircie - Henrik Wars
• Je Te Sais - Manu Domergue
• Rien Ne Dure - Manu Domergue
• Can't Take My Eyes - Bob Crew
• All Cats Are Grey - Roberts Smith
• Fragment Two - These New Puritans
• D'Ailleurs - Manu Domergue
• Chercheur d'Orage - Manu Domergue
• Sortie de Route - Manu Domergue
• Flowers Never Bend - Paul Simon
• Les Plantes Vertes - Manu Domergue
• Je Me Relève - Manu Domergue
• Glopin' - Manu Domergue
• The Touch of Your Lips - Ray Noble
• Black Crow - Joni Mitchell
• No Moon at All - Redd Evans

(Note: final setlist might change on the night.)

The Band

Grzegorz Karnas – Award-winning Polish jazz vocalist and founder of Voicingers. Has performed everywhere from London Jazz Festival to stages across Europe, Asia, and Africa. He’s also a language nerd and music educator.

Manu Domergue – Mellophone-toting French jazz innovator, head of the jazz vocals department at Didier Lockwood Music Center, and winner of multiple vocal awards. He’s all about storytelling through music—part brass, part myth, all heart.

Scott Dennison (Guitar) – UK jazz guitarist and producer. Based in Shanghai since 2014, he's played with everyone from Karen Mok to TV music shows to lofi hip-hop collectives.

Harrison Wardley (Bass) – Australian double bassist, trained in Melbourne, who’s become one of the go-to jazz players in China. His work blends global jazz influences and he just dropped his first album Short Journey.

Pan Pan (Drums) – Shanghai-based drummer who’s been playing since he was five. Trained by some of the best, he's a regular at top jazz spots like Lincoln Jazz Center and known for his energetic, adaptive style.