When recalling his days with famed pianist Bill Evans some 40 years ago, Puerto Rican jazz double bassist Eddie Gomez, who will perform in town on May 2, told the Global Times that it was an unforgettable experience that had made him "musically reach so many beautiful moments."

During his tenure as part of the Bill Evans Trio from 1966 to 1977, Gomez appeared on a number of celebrated works, among them Bill Evans at the Montreux Jazz Festival and The Bill Evans Album, each of which won Grammy awards in 1969 and 1972 respectively.

Puerto Rican jazz double bassist Eddie Gomez will perform in Shanghai in early May. Photos: Courtesy of JZ Club

 

After leaving the trio, Gomez collaborated with other luminaries such as Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Steve Gadd and Michael Brecker, to name just a few.

He also set up his own trios and quartets in the 1990s, among them his trio with Jimmy Cobb on drums and Stefan Karlsson on piano, which has produced five CD projects and is the group he will be performing with in Shanghai.

The hundreds of recordings Gomez has made over the past four decades have covered a wide range of genres that include jazz, classical, rhythm and blues and contemporary music.

"My internal me is all about the swing, song and dance, so any music that moves me is something that I can relate to and be part of musically," said the 69-year-old musician.

As part of the JZ Festival presented by Shanghai-based JZ Club, the veteran musician will lead the aforementioned trio and join with Chinese trumpeter Li Xiaochuan on May 2 at Shanghai Centre Theatre.

Having already visited the city a couple of times, Gomez told the Global Times that he felt an encouraging surge in jazz and curiosity about the music in China.

"The culture, people and food are some things that resonate with me," said Gomez who performed in town in 2009 and 2011. "People seem very open and it's a friendly environment."

When asked about advice he would give to novice jazz listeners, he said that to really appreciate jazz, one should go back and listen to the origins of the music.

"If you channel your listening from the roots, I think you will start to understand its evolution and therefore be better able to appreciate different styles, important innovators, traditional jazz standards, and so on," he said.

Date: May 2, 8:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Centre Theatre 上海商城剧院

Address: 1376 Nanjing Road West 南京西路1376号

Tickets: 80 yuan to 380 yuan

Call 6279-7132 for details