Returning to her jazz roots

Shunza performs at Blue Note Beijing, a jazz club.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Speaking about her music, she says: "I fell in love with jazz at 16. Jazz is a very mature style of music. I know very few young people, who love jazz. It takes time to learn and really appreciate jazz.

"Jazz requires so many roots in pop, blues and soul music. So, it's easier for you to play jazz if it's not the first style of music you play," says Shunza.

The singer-songwriter has been working with the Red Groove Project for around seven years, after she was introduced to it by Chinese-American guitarist Lawrence Ku. Shunza met Ku many years ago at the Beijing Midi Jazz Festival.

Ku, who founded the Red Groove Project in 2002, is also Shunza's musical director.

Referring to the Red Groove Project, she says: "They are an amazing instrumental band. Ku kind of took me back to my jazz roots. But I, in turn, introduced them to the pop world, where they can play for big audiences.

"We do the songs differently to give the audience a live experience. We never copy the CD version. We make it really fun onstage, with solos and improvisation.

"When people hear a ballad, they feel moved and think about their own love stories.