Cao Zhen caozhen0806@126.com BIG names in jazz such as William Parker and Sugar Blue will join more than 20 bands and artists to gather at the eighth OCT-LOFT Jazz Festival in Shenzhen on Oct. 9-21. Spanning 12 nights, music fans will experience South China’s most popular annual music festival presented by 22 bands from 15 countries. Musicians from China, Italy, Germany, the United States and more will showcase their talent and latest albums. Audience members may be awed by U.S. blues harmonica player Sugar Blue on Oct. 19, who is best known for his virtuosity. His speed and sound appear to be as if two harps are working at once. The Chicago Tribune once wrote: “The sound of Sugar Blue’s harmonica could pierce any night. ... It’s the sound of a musician who transcends the supposed limitations of his instrument.” Another show that should not be missed is presented by prominent free jazz double bassist Parker on Oct. 13. Hailing from New York City, Parker is one of the few jazz bassists who frequently plays the arco-bowing technique. He also plays several other instruments, including the West African kora. He is an influential musician who has regularly appeared at music festivals around the world. Chinese bassist and guitarist Mamer will use his electric bass to turn the stage into a kaleidoscope Oct. 17, projecting an anomalously captivating world of mystery. Mamer has formed six bands and the style of each band varies from ambient, industrial, noise, experimental to doom drone and dark drone. Emerging musicians from around the world, such as German jazz pianist Luca Sestak (Oct. 9), Swiss jazz pianist Colin Vallon (Oct. 16) and Bulgarian singer Ruth Koleva, will also liven up the stage with adept and captive performances. The festival is designed to express the free artistic spirit of jazz, encouraging music lovers to get involved and inspired. There are also plenty of opportunities for the community to enjoy the festival, from participating in free talks to watching documentaries. Full schedule and ticketing information can be found at http://www.octloftjazz.com. | 