The beat goes on

After living in Chengdu, Sichuan province, for six years, Morrison moved to Shanghai three years ago with his family and in-laws because of the city's significance to China's music scene.

"Shanghai is an important city in China's jazz history. It has also played a key role in China's pop music scene, which emerged from the combination of Chinese folk music and jazz influences," says Morrison. "We are fortunate to be a part of this story and we are all eager for it to resume."

With his band, Four Grains of Rice, Morrison would often make new arrangements of Chinese pop songs, such as the theme song from the hit TV series, Zhen Huan Zhuan (The Legend of Zhen Huan), which tells the story of an emperor's concubine surviving in a palace full of cunning plots and deceit.

"I just transcribed what was there and it is a beautiful song," Morrison says.

According to Zhu, Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai plans to resume live performances by the middle of June. The new schedule will start with free jam sessions.