This year's Beijing Jazz Festival kicked off Friday in Beijing's Haidian Park, making it the 8th successful term for such a festival.

Fourteen domestic and sixteen international bands will present their music during the three day outdoor gala. Renowned saxophonist Yannick Rieu from the United States and Grammy Award winner Donny McCaslin are among the big names that will attend the festival, according to Friday's Star Daily.

This year's festival will have two different stages, the White stage and the Blue stage. Blue stage performances will feature more traditional bands, playing a wide range of styles including Standard jazz, Swing, Cool jazz and Be-bop. The White stage will be dedicated to more modern styles of Jazz and World Music, such as Fusion, Latin, Flamenco, Rhythm & Blues and Funk. In addition to music, the White stage will also have room for dancing! Audiences are welcome to dance to the music in the White stage or chill out on chairs for traditional jazz pieces.

Beijing Jazz Festival
Time: Friday - Sunday, September 21 - 23
Venue: Haidian Park, Beijing
Tel: 010-6259 0101
 
(CRI.cn September 22, 2007)