The Best of Chinese Blues Music

A blog dedicated to the best of Chinese blues music. Here you will find information on the latest blues artists, albums, and tracks.

The Origins of Chinese Blues

The origins of Chinese blues can be traced back to the 1920s, when African American musicians travelled to China and introduced the genre to local audiences. Chinese blues developed rapidly in the following years, with many different subgenres emerging. The most popular type of Chinese blues is shidaiqu, which combines elements of Western blues with traditional Chinese music. Other popular subgenres include huangmei diao and Cantonese blues.

Chinese blues has been extremely influential, both within China and abroad. Many Chinese musicians have been inspired by the genre to create their own unique sound. And in recent years, Western audiences have also begun to take notice of Chinese blues, with several festivals and concert series devoted to the genre.

The Evolution of Chinese Blues

The Blues has a long history, and its influence can be felt in many different genres of music today. The blues first originated in the American South, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. African American workers would sing songs while they worked, often incorporating elements of their culture and heritage into the tunes. As the blues spread northward, it began to evolve and change, eventually becoming its own distinct genre of music.

The blues first made its way to China in the 1920s, when American sailors and soldiers were stationed there during World War II. These soldiers and sailors would often go to nightclubs and bars in Shanghai, where they would hear Chinese musicians playing the blues. They were also exposed to other styles of music from around the world, including jazz and Latin music. These influences can be heard in the early recordings of Chinese blues artists such as Xiao He and Wang Feng.

Xiao He was one of the first Chinese musicians to record the blues, and his style was heavily influenced by American musicians such as Lead Belly and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Wang Feng was another early blues recording artist from China, who blended elements of traditional Chinese music with the blues. His most famous song, “Wo De Hougong” (“My Confucian Temple”), is a good example of this blend of styles.

Today, the blues is still popular in China, though it has evolved once again to incorporate elements of traditional Chinese music. The Blues is now an important part of Chinese culture, and has been performed by some of the country’s most famous musicians, including Cui Jian and Zuoxiao Zuzhou.

The Best Chinese Blues Musicians

The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African-American community in the United States. The term “blues” refers to the feeling of sadness or melancholy, and is often used in reference to a specific form of music that developed from this feeling. While the blues can be traced back to its roots in Africa, the genre has been incredibly influential in the development of other genres of music, including jazz, rock and roll, and country.

The blues began to gain popularity in China in the early 2000s, with artists like Li Ying and Wang Xiaojie becoming some of the most popular musicians in the country. While the genre is still relatively new to China, there are a number of fantastic Chinese blues musicians worth checking out. Here are some of the best:

Li Ying – Hailing from Beijing, Li Ying is one of the most popular blues musicians in China. She has released a number of successful albums, and her music often combines elements of traditional Chinese music with the blues.

Wang Xiaojie – Wang Xiaojie is another Beijing-based blues musician who has gained a large following in recent years. His music is heavily influenced by American artists like B.B. King and Muddy Waters, and he is known for his soulful vocals and impressive guitar playing.

Hu Ge – Hu Ge is a Shanghai-based musician who has been playing the blues since the early 2000s. He has released several successful albums, and his music often features elements of rock and roll as well as traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu.

Zhang Weiwei – Zhang Weiwei is a Guangzhou-based musician who started playing the blues in 2006. He has released two albums, and his music often features elements of jazz as well as traditional Chinese instruments like the pipa.

The Future of Chinese Blues

The Chinese blues scene is heating up, with a new generation of artists carrying on the torch of this centuries-old music tradition. While the roots of Chinese blues can be traced back to the country’s folk music traditions, today’s artists are infusing the genre with modern influences, resulting in a unique and exciting sound.

So what does the future hold for Chinese blues? We spoke to some of the scene’s leading lights to find out.

“I think Chinese blues will continue to grow in popularity,” says Chen Si, frontman of the Beijing-based blues band Too Slim. “More and more people are becoming aware of the genre, and there are some great up-and-coming bands making some really interesting music.”

“I’d also like to see more cross-pollination between Chinese blues and other genres,” Chen adds. “We’ve already seen a bit of that happening, with bands incorporating elements of jazz, rock, and even hip hop into their sound. I think that trend will continue, and we’ll see even more experimentation in the years to come.”

Wang Jie, singer-songwriter and guitarist of the Shanghai-based band Dirty Fingers, agrees that Chinese blues is on the rise. “I think people are starting to really appreciate the depth and breadth of the genre,” she says. “There’s a lot more than justoustic guitar and harmonica – there’s a whole world of sounds and styles to explore.”

“And as more people become exposed to Chinese blues, I think we’ll start seeing more cross-cultural collaboration,” Wang adds. “It would be great to see some international artists coming over to China to play shows or even record albums with local musicians. I think that would really help take the genre to the next level.”

So there you have it – exciting times ahead for Chinese blues! Be sure to catch a live show if you can, and keep an ear out for new albums from these talented up-and-coming artists.