The recordings of Whitey Smith, the Jazz-Man who Taught China to Dance

Whitey Smith was one of Shanghai's most cherished jazz bandleaders during the 1920s and 1930s.  His autobiography, I Didn't Make a Million, tells his story.  In a nutshell, as a young jazz drummer, Whitey was "discovered" in San Francisco by the nightclub owner Louis Ladow in 1922, and agreed to sail to Shanghai to form a jazz band to play in Ladow's new club, the Carlton Cafe.  When the club folded he got work playing at the Astor House and later at the Majestic Hotel after in opened in 1925.  It was at the Majestic Hotel ballroom that Whitey taught China to dance (in the words of Pearl Buck) by incorporating Chinese folk elements into his repertoire, and by simplifying the complex harmonies and orchestrations of his tunes.  

He also recorded his own songs.  "Nighttime in Old Shanghai" is his most well-known song, which is available on an album of "Oriental" jazz tunes.  Taking a newsreel from 1929, featuring Whitey's band performing in the garden of the Majestic Hotel to a group of elegant Chinese dancers, I added this song and put it up on youtube.

Recently I found a file online of his complete recordings (as known).  I do have one of his other recordings, "To a Wild Rose," but don't have any others.  Would appreciate if anyone knows where to find them.

 

Announcing our New Book: Shanghai Nightscapes (to be published within the next year or so)

Over the next few months, as we gear it up for publication with U Chicago Press later, I'll be making some more announcements about my upcoming book, Shanghai Nightscapes, co-authored with James Farrer.  This book uses the methods of the historian, sociologist, and ethnographer to trace a century of Shanghai's history through the lens of its nightlife, with a focus on establishments featuring dancing and/or drinking in a public social environment as their main activities.

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Book Talk at Italian Chamber of Commerce in China

The SPWG with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China invites you to our next meeting on April 23th at 18:00 in Shanghai. Our guests Mr. Andrew David Field (Associate Dean at Hult International Business School) will present Shanghai Metropolis - from history to the future and his new book Mu Shiying: China’s Lost Modernist

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Mu Shiying Book Talk at FCC HK

Hong Kongers, please join me this Sunday March 30, for a book talk at the FCC Club in Hong Kong:

 

Foreign Correspondence Club (2 Lower Albert Road, Central,

Hong Kong) Burton Room . Sunday, March 30, 2014

12:30pm to 2:30pm 150 HKD entrance fee

 

A Whirlwind of Talks and Tours in March 2014

This has been a busy month.  In addition to all of my responsibilities with Hult, I've been launching my new book on Mu Shiying, and at the same time I'm putting the finishing touches on our Shanghai Nightscapes book project with Dr. James Farrer.  

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The 2014 Shanghai Literary Festival Begins

The Shanghai Literary Festival is now a cherished institution in Shanghai.  It has been running for over ten years now.  Started by M on the Bund owner Michelle Garnaut, this event brings authors from around the world to Shanghai to promote their new books.  The venue, M on the Bund's Glamour Bar or the Crystal Room above, provides a fun stage for book talks and for shmoozing with Shanghai's literati.

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Local media support for my new book on Mu Shiying

In preparation for my book launch, I've fielded a few interviews with journalists based in Shanghai and Beijing.  Andrew Chin interviewed me for That's Shanghai.  (He's working on an article about Shanghai-based writers, featuring me and Spencer Dodington for an upcoming issue).   I also had an interview with Mike Peters for the China Daily based in Beijing.  Meanwhile there have been some reviews and articles published in Time-Out Magazine and City Weekend.  

It's great to get some local support in the news media for my book on Mu Shiying and I'd like to give a shout-out of thanks to all the folks who wrote up articles for the book launch.  Hopefully this will lead to some good showings for my upcoming book talks!

 

A Review of our Film, Down: Indie Rock in the PRC

Marc Moskowitz's review of our film Down:  Indie Rock in the PRC  has just been published in the journal Pacific Affairs.  I would like to thank Marc for taking the time to view and analyze the film so closely. Overall I am in agreement with his assessment of the film.  I commend his even-handed approach to the subject matter and editing of the film and of course, who could disagree with his concluding remarks?

Here is a PDF file with the full review.

 

The Poseidon Project: A Review of a Locally Produced Indie Doc

Last night I attended a screening of an independent documentary film.  Held at the Apartment, a bar-restaurant on Yongfu Road in Shanghai, the event was organized by the Royal Asiatic Society's Shanghai branch.  The film is called The Poseidon Project.  It tells the story of a British submarine that sank off the coast of Shandong Province near the town of Weihaiwei in 1931, and the efforts of an American journalist and scuba diver based in Beijing named Stephen Schwankert to learn about the fate of the submarine and its occupants.  The locally based British filmmaking team of Arthur and Luther Jones produced and directed the film.  The film is 82 minutes long.

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Some podcasts on my rotation list

I listen to podcasts frequently, especially when I am traveling or commuting back and forth to work.  Since I joined a business school as Associate Dean, my listening habits have changed somewhat.  Here are my current top picks:  

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