MAY 2 - Friday - 8pm (Music) China Red Meets Bluegrass: Red Chamber vs The Jaybirds Vancouver Community College Auditorium 1155 East Broadway, Vancouver $15 Adults, $12 Students & Seniors Tickets available at the door, or by calling 778-998-5375 What do you get when you cross a quartet of traditional Chinese plucked instruments with a bluegrass band? The Asian fiery foursome Red Chamber, led by zheng master Mei Han, challenges powerhouse pickers from the west The Jaybirds, led by mandolin guru John Reischman, in China Red Meets Bluegrass. This unlikely meeting of musical minds brings together the high-powered bluegrass melodies and melancholy folk tunes of The Jaybirds with the furiously virtuosic style and gorgeous Chinese melodies of Red Chamber. This musical duel will begin with both ensembles performing separately, and culminate in an unforgettable set of works for all eight musicians, including new compositions by mandolin player John Reichmen and unique arrangements of traditional melodies for this non-traditional ensemble. Highlights of their solo sets will include Red Chamber performing contemporary and traditional Chinese works, and The Jaybirds performing selections from their newest album Stellar Jays, recently nominated for a Juno award for best Roots & Traditional album of the year. About Red Chamber “Red Chamber’s musicians are red-hot sexy, red-hot accomplished” - Georgia Straight Comprised entirely of traditional plucked Chinese instruments, Red Chamber is an impassioned ensemble that spends as much time reflecting on the ancient sounds of the Imperial Court as they do exploring the realms of bluegrass, jazz, and new music. Red Chamber is made up of four of the hottest instrumentalists in Vancouver’s eclectic and culturally diverse music scene: Mei Han (zheng and liu qin), Guiliana Liu (pipa), Zhimin Yu (da ruan and zhong ruan) and Geling Jiang (san xian and zhong ruan). About The Jaybirds “… with a rare ability to produce music that is simultaneously traditional and contemporary… the Jaybirds are a band that continues to hit on all cylinders” -SingOut! Fashioning a stylish and elegant take on bluegrass, The Jaybirds are led by acclaimed musician John Reischman who has been described by Unlimited magazine as “one of the world’s undisputed masters” of the mandolin. They have released four critically acclaimed albums to date, and have received a Juno nomination and two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations. The Jaybirds are: John Reischman (mandolin), Nick Hornbuckle (banjo), Jim Nunally (guitar), and Trisha Gagnon (bass).