Chinese flamenco music is not exactly your standard musical genre, but then again Kerman isn't exactly your standard musician. Hailing from the vast Xinjiang region of western China, he has made a name for himself by combining the rich musical heritage of his home province with the sorts of tones more often associated with the music of Europe's Iberian peninsula.
On October 4th, Shanghai-ites will be able to witness Kerman's remarkable musical spectacle first hand when he brings his latest show to town. The concert will be held at A2 on Huaihai Xi Lu in the city, close to Hongqiao Lu, and doors open at 8:30pm. Tickets are 60RMB in advance, or 80 on the door.
Kerman brings his latest performance to Shanghai
Entitled Legends of Loulan, the performance is a homage to the ancient kingdom of Loulan which flourished in the early centuries BC in what is now modern Xinjiang. Once a vital stop on the legendary Silk Road trade route, Loulan has become one of East Asia's most fascinating archeological sites. Recent digs have turned up fine silks and other astoundingly well-crafted remnants from the region's days as a Silk Road trading post, as well as some stunningly well-preserved mummified remains.
The region also has strong musical traditions, kept alive in part by the Uighur people, the Sino-turkic ethnic group to which Kerman belongs. Traditionally Uighur music relies on framed drums, fiddles and dulcimers, but Kerman has incorporated the altogether more latinised sound of a Spanish guitar into his music.
Best known for scoring the 2008 movie "Missing", by Vietnamese/Hong Kong director Tsui Hark, Kerman is a veteran of live performances both in China and abroad. His latest musical endeavour combines tantalizing subject matter with a diverse enough mix of sounds to keep any audiophile happy, and is not to be missed.
