Alec Haavik, hailing from the New York City area, arrived in Shanghai during 2005. He has led a great many legendary ensembles, including the Friction Five, performing his original fusion music, and the JZ Big Band, performing classic repertoire as well as modern big band music. He regularly performs at The JZ Club, Heyday, Jazz at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Shanghai, among other venues. His most recent album release is the self-titled Alec Haavik & the Shanghai Shindiggers, with his 8-piece group playing classic jazz music from the 20s, 30s and 40s as well as their own genre, which they call "Future Swing". Previous releases in Shanghai include Alec Haavik Friction Alliance, and Alec Haavik Friction Five: Ye Shanghai. Haavik's 2004 debut album with his New York group is entitled Rocks. Haavik has performed, toured and/or recorded with many luminaries of jazz music, including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Victor Wooten, Mike Stern, Jojo Mayer, Han Bennink, Jane Monheit, Ronnie Burrage, Daniel Carter, Taro Koyama, Gregory Hutchinson, Shoko Nagai, and Eric Harland, among many others. In addition, Haavik has performed with many mega-stars of pop music in China, including Shunza, Karen Mok, Li Rong Hao, Jane Zhang, and Cai Xu Kun.

Titus Levi is an Associate Professor at the USC-SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry. Before this he served as a Visiting Scholar at Hong Kong Baptist University, as Visiting Scholar at Shih Chien University’s Graduate Institute of Cultural Industries, Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and as Associate Professor with United International College in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. (Papa was a rollin’ stone, well, well, well…)

Robert Martin has almost 40 years of experience in Asia, primarily in the banking industry. After retirement, his interest in music led him to hosting a chamber music series for 11 years at M on the Bund. More recently he has presented chamber music programs at Yongfoo Elite, a venue on Yongfu Road in Xuhui (directly across the street from The German Consulate General).

Jesse Ouyang works as a sound designer for games, films, and independent animation. She also makes audio art and music using all kinds of tools and techniques. She keeps her ears open 24/7, which keeps her plugged into Shanghai’s music and sound scenes.

Wang Yu Zhen graduated from The Beijing Conservatory of Music in 1967. Upon completing his studies, the government relocated him to Zhengzhou, where he studied and updated Henan Operas. His work included documenting and creating modern scores for various Henan operas. He also wrote original works in the form, including one of the “Eight Didactic Operas” during The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.