Coco Zhao

China doesn’t often nurture jazz
musicians, so it’s remarkable that
24-year-old vocalist Coco Zhao is
developing a global reputation.
Born in a small town in Hunan Province, Coco was raised by
musical parents who specialized
in traditional Chinese opera. By
age 10 he was studying Western
classical music, eventually finding
his way to jazz, which captured
his heart. By the time he collaborated
with Betty Carter at the
Shanghai Jazz Festival in 1997,
Coco was well on his way. His
first international performances,
in Paris, earned him the nickname
“the Boy Billie Holiday from
China.” More work followed in
London and Zurich, and Coco
began to create a synthesis of
western and Chinese music. His
first album, Dream Situation, is
an enthralling fusion of East and
West that will delight anyone
with an ear for something new.
He will be performing with Pen
Fei violin/keyboard, Jean
Vanasses vibraphone, Sylvain
Provost guitar and Frédéric Grenier bass.
“Coco’s kid-glove, mellifluous
vocalese is supported by a group
of sympathetic musicians” –Six
Degrees of Jazz