‘Now you has jazz’: New York’s Blue Note expands into China with plans for Beijing club
Blue Note Beijing opens in March – followed later by clubs in Shanghai and Taipei – and will cater to growing demand for live performances among wealthy Chinese
Blue Note, one of the world’s best-known jazz clubs, has announced it is expanding into China as it banks on a growing appetite for live performances among wealthy consumers.
Next year Blue Note will also open a club on Honolulu’s Waikiki beach – a location chosen in no small part because of the popularity of Hawaii among Asian tourists.
The move comes as Western musicians, from veteran pop stars to classical orchestras, look to expand their footprint in China as they eye future growth in the maturing economy of 1.3 billion people.
“Do I believe there is a large demand for jazz in China right now? No, not necessarily,” said Steven Bensusan, president of the Blue Note Entertainment Group “But I believe we can help develop the music and the market.”
Bensusan said the 250-patron club could distinguish itself in China by offering an intimate concert accompanied by food, which would be adapted to local tastes.