Qi Yu: Guzheng Meets Jazz

Presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center

As part of Chinese Arts Week, we welcome Washington, D.C.–based artist Qi Yu, a guzheng (Chinese zither) performer originally from Inner Mongolia, China. Deeply rooted in traditional Chinese melodies and rhythmic frameworks, Qi Yu’s music reimagines the ancient guzheng through the improvisational energy and rhythmic drive of jazz. Curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Ambassador to JALC Shanghai, Walter Blanding, Qi Yu and her ensemble, featuring piano, bass, and drums, create a vibrant sonic landscape that highlights the rich intersections where Eastern tradition meets Western innovation, weaving together storytelling, improvisation, and cross-cultural dialogue. In her Lincoln Center debut, Qi Yu will present a dynamic program featuring ancient Chinese folk songs, original works, and reimagined classics, offering an innovative performance steeped in multicultural tradition.