The Rhythm Road Leads American Music to Hangzhou

The Maya Azucena Band performed to full houses in a workshop co-hosted by the Hangzhou Library and at a concert at Hangzhou Normal University on April 20.  These music ambassadors performed works that ranged from hip-hop to jazz and were a huge hit in front of their largest audience on their China tour.  Maya Azucena and her band were in China as part the Rhythm Road Series which showcases American Musicians abroad.  The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad Program is a partnership between Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.   

With musical influences ranging from Earth Wind & Fire to Ella Fitzgerald, The Maya Azucena Band bridges the genres of soul, hip-hop, world and funk music. Through their "raw soul" sound and progressive lyrics, the band seeks to uplift communities worldwide. Best known for riveting tracks and spirited live performances, Azucena and her band recently released their second album, Junkyard Jewel, to wide acclaim.  Hangzhou workshop participants were invited to join Maya's band to learn the basics of several types of music and given a chance to perform with the band.  More than 1,200 students at Hangzhou Normal University were treated to a full concert which had the audience singing and dancing along with the band. 

Click here for videos and photos of the Maya Azucena band in Hangzhou