$25 / $15 students / 4:30 doors / 5pm start / seated
Join saxophonist and composer Zishi Liu for a special evening celebrating the release of his debut EP, American Anxiety, and new original works. Blending jazz with experimental textures and personal storytelling, the project explores identity, pressure, and resilience in a fast-shifting world. This one-night-only performance will feature Zishi’s full band performing music from the EP — live, raw, and in conversation with the moment. Come early, stay late, and be part of the music.
*Please make sure to bring a copy of your receipt as proof of payment.
*A valid student ID is required for student ticket admission.
Tonight’s Lineup:
Zishi Liu – Saxophone, Composer
Francisco Mela – Drums
Eric Hofbauer – Guitar
Hui Weng – Guzheng
Harold Charon – Piano
Ben Koh – Bass
ZISHI LIU | Shaping Jazz for a Global Generation
Zishi Liu is not just a saxophonist—he is a force in modern jazz, an artist who bridges continents and cultures through sound. As a performer, composer, and curator, his work expands the possibilities of jazz, blending deep tradition with an innovative global perspective. With a sound rooted in the searching spirit of John Coltrane and the meditative restraint of traditional Chinese music, Zishi creates sonic landscapes that are at once deeply personal and universally resonant.
He made history as the first Chinese artist to perform at Boston’s Regattabar in partnership with Blue Note Jazz Club, a milestone that reflects both his artistic vision and his role in broadening jazz’s cultural dialogue. A sought-after performer, Zishi has toured extensively across the U.S., China, Malaysia, and Singapore, gracing venues from the House of Blues to China’s Meeting Jazz Club. His upcoming projects, “American Anxiety” (as a saxophonist and composer) and “When We Sing” (as an arranger and producer), feature collaborations with Francisco Mela and Eric Hofbauer, further cementing his place in today’s jazz landscape.
But Zishi’s impact extends far beyond performance. He is a curator, strategist, and connector, using jazz as a tool to foster community, elevate underrepresented voices, and redefine what a music career can look like in the 21st century. His work has been featured by WGBH and The Bay State Banner, and he has been instrumental in revitalizing Boston’s jazz scene through forward-thinking programming. Whether transforming Wally’s Jazz Club into a sustainable residency, launching the annual Lunar New Year Jazz Concert at Regattabar, or directing the acclaimed “Who We Are” Asian Music Concert, his projects showcase a vision that is both ambitious and deeply human.
Raised in China during a pivotal moment of cultural transformation, Zishi’s musical voice is shaped by both Eastern and Western influences. His compositions explore the tensions between the familiar and the foreign, drawing on the melancholic lyricism of 90s Asian pop, the harmonic sophistication of jazz, and the meditative qualities of Chinese classical music. As he sees it, Coltrane’s later work shares an unspoken kinship with the introspection of the Guqin, a centuries-old Chinese instrument—both embrace emptiness, vulnerability, and raw emotional truth. These ideas form the foundation of his sound.
Zishi is also shaping the next generation of artists through his work at Longy School of Music, where he leads admissions, curates performance opportunities, and mentors students. In 2024, he spearheaded Longy’s China outreach, forging new international partnerships and dramatically increasing applications to the school. His approach to mentorship is hands-on and immersive—he doesn’t just prepare students for careers in music; he helps them carve out their own artistic identities in an evolving global landscape.
For Zishi, jazz is more than a genre—it’s a language of connection. Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the scenes, he is constantly asking, “What if?”, pushing artistic and cultural boundaries, and creating new spaces for jazz to thrive. His journey, from an unexpected start in Malaysia’s Big Band scene to the forefront of contemporary jazz, is proof that music, when approached with curiosity and conviction, knows no borders.