George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue Luo Ning

• 1Rhapsody in Blue (Arr. Luo Ning)30:02
• 2Figure10:42
• 33 Preludes06:01
• 4Love You, Porgy (Arr. Luo Ning)03:56
• Total Runtime50:41

Info for George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue

Pianist Luo Ning released his latest album, Rhapsody in Blue, in conjunction with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra and conductor Jing Huan.

Inspired by the 1924 song by George Gershwin, the new album features adaptations of some of Luo's classic pieces, which combine a variety of jazz.

Recorded in Guangzhou's Xinghai Concert Hall in September 2022, the new album was first proposed by the Chinese division of the Universal Music Group in 2021.

Luo also recorded compositions of his own, including Figure, a piece he wrote in 2006 that was inspired by his stay in Cuba in the 1990s.

The album closes with an interpretation of I Loves You Porgy, another Gershwin track from 1935, in tribute to the great composer.

The pianist started learning classical piano at 4 and studied at the Xinjiang Arts University before arriving in Beijing in 1996 to pursue his jazz dreams. In 2010, he furthered his musical education at the University of Arts of Cuba, where he studied under eight-time Grammy Award winner Cuban pianist, Chucho Valdes.

Luo Ning, piano
Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra
Jing Huan, conductor

Luo Ning
was born in a family of music in China and grew up in the multiracial province Xinjiang with much ethnic customs. In the year when Luo Ning was 4 years old, his father discovered Luo Ning’s talents in music and become the piano abecedarian of Luo Ning. That is how Luo Ning started his journey of music.

He is now one of the most excellent pianists of JAZZ in Beijing. He has his own unique understanding and expression on JAZZ piano and classical music, and he is famous for his consummate playing skill and ebullience and enthusiasm. Since 1998, Luo Ning has frequently played in domestic and international stage of JAZZ, classical, popular or folk music, and he ever worked with JAZZ musician Kenny Garrete, Jens Winther and so on.

Dating back to 1976, the young Luo Ning received the guidance by Chen Taojin from Hong Kong, who is also a returning overseas Chinese pianist, and he learned music theory, theory and phonics from Professor Ma Hui and associate Professor Wang Qingsheng in Xinjiang Arts College. During that time, he was exempted in the course of solfeggio for his excellent aural comprehension. After that, he learned romantic piano from Steven Reeze, the pianist teacher of British Royal Institute of Music. In 1991, Luo Ning passed the entrance exam and entered Art Troupe Of Xinjiang military area as the piano player of the band of the troupe. He came to Beijing at the end of 1996.

It is in an accidental chance that Luo Ning was acquainted with the Saxohone educator and player Lu Tingquan and cognized JAZZ music under his guidance. Within that period, Luo Ning was learning and practicing JAZZ music in Lu Tingquan’s JAZZ band. During the time, he participated in many big shows, such as the 6th and 8th Literature and Art Show of the whole military and gained much experience. Later he joined Liu Yuan’s JAZZ band.

This album contains no booklet.