Zishi Liu Unveils Bold New Project: American Anxiety

Acclaimed jazz saxophonist and composer Zishi Liu unveils his latest EP, American Anxiety, a deeply personal and politically charged avant-garde jazz statement. Blending ECM-inspired improvisation with traditional Chinese musical elements, Liu crafts a striking soundscape that reflects his evolving experience as a Chinese artist in the United States. The EP will be available on all major streaming platforms starting June 1st, 2025.

From his arrival as a foreigner to his transition into American life, Liu channels the tensions, complexities, and contradictions of his journey into a sonic experience that is both personal and universal. The EP’s title track, “American Anxiety,” serves as its emotional and conceptual core, capturing uncertainty, tension, and reinvention in modern America. Each composition functions as a sonic diary, offering intimate reflections on identity, history, and cultural fusion.

Liu brings together a world-class ensemble to push the boundaries of jazz and improvisation. The recording features legendary drummer Francisco Mela, acclaimed jazz guitarist Eric Hofbauer, visionary pianist Harold Charon, and rising bassist Ben Koh. The addition of Hui Weng, a guzheng virtuoso, bridges ancient Chinese traditions with contemporary jazz, while the Gaia String Quartet introduces lush orchestral textures. Veteran trumpeter Chris Klaxton completes the ensemble, delivering bold melodic statements. The fusion of avant-garde jazz with the 3,000-year-old guzheng creates an unprecedented meeting of East and West, tradition and reinvention—a soundscape that is both timeless and urgent.

“I connected the dots when I heard late Coltrane and the Guqin (古琴), an ancient Chinese instrument,” says Liu. “I realized both share a free, Zen-like quality. This EP is my way of exploring how those traditions can intersect in a world of globalization, uncertainty, and self-discovery.”

American Anxiety will be available on all major streaming platforms beginning June 1st, 2025. The release concert will be on May 23rd at Lilypad. For more information, visit his website and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and/or YouTube.