Event Pictures
Venue Pictures
Piano Recital by Junyan Chen
@ SHOAC
Jazz Spring Series: “Six Strings, Infinite Worlds” — A Tribute by Six Guitar Masters
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Six guitarists from China, Brazil, and Russia come together for a one-night tribute to jazz guitar legends. The concert moves across styles and influences, featuring music inspired by names like Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, and John Scofield.
“Six Strings • Infinite Worlds” brings together six guitarists—Liu Yue, Zhang Xiongguan, Liang Ying, Xu Zhihan, Evgeny Pobozhiy, and Ricardo Vogt—for a program dedicated to jazz guitar masters. Drawing from different musical backgrounds and styles, the concert pays tribute to figures including Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Guinga, Jesse van Ruller, and Jim Hall.
The performance presents a range of approaches to jazz guitar, moving across different sounds and influences within a single evening.
Guitarists: Liu Yue, Zhang Xiongguan, Liang Ying, Xu Zhihan, Evgeny Pobozhiy, Ricardo Vogt
Music Director / Arranger: Xu Zhihan
Additional Musicians:
Liu Yue
Graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music; national-level performer with the China Broadcasting Art Troupe. Active as a jazz guitarist, bassist, and composer, with multiple publications and recordings. His work blends jazz elements with Chinese musical influences.
Zhang Xiongguan
Associate professor at Shanghai Conservatory of Music and jazz guitarist. Named one of the “Top 10 Outstanding Jazz Guitarists” at the Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition in 2015. Active across concerts, festivals, and cross-genre collaborations.
Liang Ying
Jazz guitarist, composer, and educator at Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Performs widely in China and collaborates across genres, while also focusing on jazz education.
Xu Zhihan
Composer and guitarist, music director of this project. Holds doctoral degrees in jazz composition and guitar, and was nominated for Best Instrumental Composer at the Golden Melody Awards in 2024.
Evgeny Pobozhiy
Guitarist and composer, winner of the 2019 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Guitar Competition. Has performed at major international festivals and venues including Blue Note and Ronnie Scott’s.
Ricardo Vogt
Brazilian guitarist, composer, and producer. Studied at Berklee College of Music and has collaborated with international jazz artists. Active in cross-cultural projects connecting Brazilian and Chinese music traditions.
This is less about one headliner and more about what happens when six very different guitarists share the same stage. Each brings their own approach—different training, different influences, different ways of hearing jazz—and the set moves through all of that in one night. It’s essentially a snapshot of what jazz guitar can be right now, filtered through six distinct voices, all circling back to the same lineage of players. Even if you don’t know every name on the program, the mix of styles and interpretations keeps it moving, and there’s enough variety here to keep both casual listeners and guitar nerds locked in.
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