Christine Xu: Seek and Find
21st June 2024
Chinese Female Contemporary Jazz Vocal/Composer **Christine Xu **Debut Original Composition Album ''Seek and Find''
Christine Xu, Jazz Vocal/Composer, started from the classical music, knocked on the door of jazz, and labeled ''Seek'' as the theme of her Jazz Composition this time, recording her mood, collecting daily thoughts, and the most suitable outlet for her to express herself has finally spread out and surfaced.
From composing, lyrics writing, arranging to full album independently production, this new generation of female musician's talent is best demonstrated by it. The ability to write singable melodies is an advantage for singers who are also jazz composers. The melodic limitations of her own singing are most suitable for her own singing state, while it is more catchy and easy to model for the audience.
Jazz music allows her to ''Find'' her original voice, willing to reveal those unspeakable internal feelings. The album included five pieces sung without lyrics and in ''onomatopoeia'', in which she believes that her lover's heart and life's energy, which she no longer hides, can be heard. Her story, her sensitivity, is here, and she will sing it for you.
1. Entrance: Head out
2. Tranquil: Anxious, lost on the way, and with a feeling of flinch. But it brings me back to my original mood, searching for serenity.
3. Forest Hills:When I came to New York City, I stayed at a place called 'Forest Hills' and met my landlord, Jennifer, with whom I became good friends, along with her two cats, Bijou (2014-2023) and Arabella. They help me find the rhythm that suits me best.
4. Ask, Seek, Knock
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Christine in Wonderland:In a new tempo, I open the adventure of the unknown. I see the flowers and embrace the thorns . . . . . .
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Love Suffers Long:Love is endurance, not torture. In love there is always tolerance and willingness to give.
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Can Not Deny:Love happens silently, without reason, and it's the most wonderful thing in the world.
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Undefined:'' ''
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From the Rising of the Sun:Sunrise brings 'hope', so that the decayed can find 'new life', the sun always rises, so that life can be stabilized.
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Exit:Love never fails.
PERSONNEL
Vocal - Christine Xu
Guitar - Chris Chen
Bass - Wenjun Wu
Drums - Yongheng Wu
ALBUM CREDITS
All compositions and Lyrics by Christine Xu, except for the music part of ''Ask,Seek,Knock’'(04), which is a musician’s improvisation
Arrangements by Christine Xu(01-10), ''Tranquil''(02), ''Christine in Wonderland''(05), ''Love Suffers Long''(06) arrangements by Chris Chen and Christine Xu
Recorded by You Li, Yuhan Zhang, Tong Xing at 55TEC, Beijing, CN(01/April, 22/June/2023, 25/March/2024)
Edited by Yang Li, Yuhan Zhang, YongHeng Wu, Tong Xing, at 55TEC, Beijing, CN
Mixed&Mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recording, NYC, USA (03/Sep/2023, 15/April/2024)
Produced by Christine Xu
Graphic designed by Hualiang Zhan
photographed by Guofan Li
Cover makeup by Lei Zhang
Christine Xu received a bachelor’s in Music Education from ZheJiang (China) Conservatory Of Music. After graduation, she studied artistic director in Berlin, Germany.
In 2021, Christine received a master degree in Jazz Studies (Vocal) from Queens College, City University of New York, studied under Jazz musicians Chareneè Wade, David Berkman, Jeb Patton, Dennis Mackrel, Antonio Hart, Michael Mossman, Aubrey Johnson.
Christine’s latest work,“Seek and Find” released June.21.2024, is her debut modern Jazz album, which collected her 10 original compositions. The album was recorded at 55Tec in Beijing by Christine with guitarist Zeran (Chris) Chen, bassist Wenjun (Vino) Wu and drummer Yongheng (Bei Bei) Wu. The album was mixed and mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recording in NYC, USA.
Christine has already performed many cities in China. She already played in many major domestic jazz venues in China such as BlueNote Beijing, Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, EastShore Live Jazz (Beijing), De Factto(Beijing). In 2023, she started her album tour.