Teen pianist has a passion for all that jazz

Music prodigy Dailiang, better known as A Bu, has just released his firt jazz album. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

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Beijing native A Bu celebrated his 15th birthday on July 16, and the biggest gift he received was the release of his first album, 88 Tones of Black and White, from A Bu Trio.

In a black tailored suit, the young musician took a seat in front of a piano. Along with veteran bassist Ma Kai and drummer Shao Haha, he played two tracks from the album, Miles Davis Licks and A Night in Tunisia.

With his fingers effortlessly tinkling the ivories, A Bu astonished his audience.

Indeed, the young boy, whose real name is Dai Liang, has created a buzz in the jazz scene ever since he started to regularly perform at jam sessions at CD Cafe in Beijing in 2011.

His love for music started at the age of 4 when he walked into a music shop in Beijing with his parents and pointed to the biggest instrument that he could see - the piano.

He began classical piano training and, at 9, he was accepted into the primary school affiliated with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

"I knew that I might be different from other children, who learn the piano from a very young age," Dai says, while pushing up his glasses. Instead of playing Beethoven and Mozart, he discovered jazz.

He cites acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Michel Camilo as his biggest idol.