Born and raised in Beijing, Wu Fei is a virtuoso composer, vocalist and guzheng (Chinese zither) performer. She spent her formative years at the China Conservatory of Music before coming to the US in 2000.
She holds a M.A. in Composition from Mills College and is a grant recipient of “Meet the Composer”. While at Mills, she began to diversify her sound and experiment widely, working with musicians like John Zorn, Fred Frith, Carla Kilhstedt, Béla Fleck, Pauline Oliveros, and Cecil Taylor.
Wu Fei's compositions for choir, string quartet, chamber ensemble, Balinese gamelan, orchestra, film, and modern dance exhibit her remarkable skill and profound musical understanding. Her commissions include a composition for Percussions Claviers de Lyon that premiered in the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing.
She has also appeared as a guest on Fred Frith's Eye to Ear II (2004, Tzadik) and The Happy End Problem (2006, ReR). Wu Fei has performed in cities around the world, including Beijing, Berlin, Rome, Venice, Milano, Dublin, Oslo, Rotterdam, New York and San Francisco.
Her debut album, A Distant Youth (2007, Forrest Hill), features both Frith and violinist Carla Kihlstedt. In fall 2008, her second album Yuan was released on Tzadik Records. In 2009, after performing in various prestigious music festivals in Norway, Netherlands, and Belgium, Wu Fei met with experimental jazz legend Evan Parker in New York City and presented a duo concert at The Stone. Later in that year, a DVD entitled “Shan Qi” was released (Ozella Music), filmed in the Italian Alps and highlighting the young artist and several outstanding European musicians, including Guo Yue, Giovanni Amighetti (producer), Guido Ponzini, and Helge A. Norbakken. “Shan Qi” is nominated for “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik” (German Record Critique Award 2009).
In 2010, Wu Fei will be giving performances and lectures in the U.S., Europe, Oceania, Asia and Africa.
Press Quotes:
”Soulful, lyrical and powerful music from this remarkable
young composer/performer from Beijing!” - John Zorn,
describing Wu Fei's latest album “Yuan”.
”Fei's playing on the guzheng is breathtaking.” -Fred Frith
”My soul undergoes a meltdown when Wu Fei's delicate
guzheng figures remind us of the frailty of purpose amidst
the often overwhelming forces of life.” - Paris Transatlantic
Magazine
”...Wu Fei, a Chinese guzheng player who shocked the sold-
out crowd with her slashing, skittering mastery of the
zitherlike instrument...” -San Francisco Chronicle
”Composer Wu Fei , as evidenced by the five compositions
on Yuan, occupies a world that straddles traditional Chinese
music and more contemporary styles of writing and
playing.” - All About Jazz New York
” In Wu's work evinces respect for tradition, an interest in
what instruments can do, a strong sense of architecture,
and good old fashioned showmanship. “-All Music
Awards:
Composer Fellowship, the Sally & Don Lucas Artist
Residency by Montalvo
Arts Center, 2009
"Yuan" Best Album of The Week - Alarm Magazine
11/25/2008
Debut record "A Distant Youth" ranked #88 out of 913 on
World Music Chart
Europe (critics pick) 2008
Best World Music Artist (2008) - Westword
Equipment:
Chinese Guzheng, vocalist, old school composer still uses her
pencils & staff
paper even for orchestral music
