AS night fell and a gentle breeze blew, French harmonica player Laurent Maur and his jazz quartet began their gig at an open-air theater in Beijing’s Tongzhou District. Hosted by China’s National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA), the Taihu Jazz Festival 2024 gathered more than 200 jazz musicians from China, France, Hungary, Cuba, and other countries. Between May 22 and 26, they performed over 50 jazz concerts.

With Maur’s lips moving and fingers dancing on the harmonica, the instrument’s sound blended with the melodies of the flute, piano, and jazz drums, creating a cascade of wondrous notes. As their performance concluded, Maur greeted the audience with simple phrases in Chinese and, together with his band, bowed to thunderous applause.

Born in Paris in 1970, Maur has won many awards in international harmonica competitions and has performed across the globe. The 2008 recession cost Maur his job in his home country, France. Wishing to find new opportunities and start afresh, Maur visited China for the first time in 2010. After the initial culture shock, he quickly found a sense of belonging. “No matter where they are from, the moment they play jazz music together, connections are made, and strangers become friends,” he said, adding that he has made many easygoing Chinese friends.

Since then, Maur has traveled back and forth between China and France. In 2018, he visited 24 Chinese cities, including Xi’an, Wuhan, and Guangzhou, during a 28-day tour. Whether in a small club or a large theater, he enjoyed every moment and was deeply impressed by China’s vastness, diverse cuisines, and cultures.

His new experiences and new friends, plus traditional Chinese music, have all provided inspiration for his music. He has incorporated Chinese elements into his arrangements.

The musician is happy to witness the number of jazz fans growing in China, adding that the young audience is enthusiastic and truly engaged during his gigs.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Maur believes that music has played a crucial role in bonding the peoples of the two countries. “Although I can speak little Chinese, I am deeply touched by the beauty of classical Chinese music,” he said. “Fine music compositions and performances can be a bridge between people from different cultural backgrounds.”

Qiu Zeyan, a music lover from Beijing, attended Maur’s show with friends at the Taihu open-air theater last week. “Music transcends national boundaries,” the 29-year-old said. “Their concert got me interested in jazz,” she added.

Maur said that jazz represents a state of mind. “I hope my Chinese audience can enjoy and immerse themselves in my music, forget their worries, and share a wonderful time together,” he said.(Xinhua)