About Zishi

Zishi Liu is not just a saxophonist—he is a force in modern jazz, an artist who bridges continents and cultures through sound. As a performer, composer, and curator, his work expands the possibilities of jazz, blending deep tradition with an innovative global perspective. With a sound rooted in the searching spirit of John Coltrane and the meditative restraint of traditional Chinese music, Zishi crafts sonic landscapes that are at once deeply personal and universally resonant.

He made history as the first Chinese artist to perform at the internationally renowned Regattabar, in partnership with Blue Note Jazz Club—a milestone that reflects both his artistic vision and his role in broadening jazz’s cultural dialogue. A sought-after performer, Zishi has toured extensively across the U.S., China, Malaysia, and Singapore, gracing venues from the House of Blues to China’s Meeting Jazz Club.

In June 2025, Zishi Liu released his original EP, American Anxiety—a bold and introspective project featuring collaborations with acclaimed musicians Francisco Mela (drums) and Eric Hofbauer (guitar). The EP was spotlighted by All About Jazz and WBUR, earning praise for its emotional depth, cultural resonance, and innovative fusion of jazz with global influences. In August 2025, as an arranger and performer, Liu will release his arrangement of “Landslide” as part of the When We Sing series. The piece, performed live at WGBH, was described as “spectacular”—a rare commendation that highlights the artistic clarity and emotional impact of his interpretation.

For his upcoming project, Zishi Liu will collaborate with GRAMMY-recognized artists including cellist Mike Block, pipa virtuoso Wu Man, and Eddie Barbash, founding alto saxophonist of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert band, through the Silkroad Global Musician Workshop and Ensemble.

In recognition of his growing international presence, Zishi was named the first North American artist endorsed by Rollings, one of Asia’s top-selling and most respected saxophone makers. This partnership reflects his rising influence as a cross-cultural performer and his role in connecting jazz communities across continents.

Beyond performance, Zishi is a curator, strategist, and connector, using jazz as a tool to foster community, elevate underrepresented voices, and redefine what a music career can look like in the 21st century. He is also an invited keynote speaker at leading institutions in both the U.S. and China, including MIT, Bard College, and top conservatories such as Sichuan, Xi’an, and Xinghai Conservatories of Music. His work has been featured by WGBH, WBUR, WPKN, All About Jazz, and The Bay State Banner, and he has been instrumental in revitalizing Boston’s jazz scene through forward-thinking programming. Whether transforming Wally’s Jazz Club into a sustainable residency, launching the annual Lunar New Year Jazz Concert at Regattabar, or directing the acclaimed "Who We Are" Asian Music Concert, his projects showcase a vision that is both ambitious and deeply human.

Raised in China during a pivotal moment of cultural transformation, Zishi’s musical voice is shaped by both Eastern and Western influences. His compositions explore the tensions between the familiar and the foreign, drawing on the melancholic lyricism of 90s Asian pop, the harmonic sophistication of jazz, and the meditative qualities of Chinese classical music. As he sees it, Coltrane’s later work shares an unspoken kinship with the introspection of the guqin, a centuries-old Chinese instrument—both embrace emptiness, vulnerability, and raw emotional truth. These ideas form the foundation of his sound.

Zishi is also shaping the next generation of artists through his work at the Longy School of Music, where he leads admissions, curates performance opportunities, and mentors students. In 2024, he spearheaded Longy’s China outreach, forging new international partnerships and dramatically increasing applications to the school. His approach to mentorship is hands-on and immersive—he doesn’t just prepare students for careers in music; he helps them carve out their own artistic identities in an evolving global landscape.

For Zishi, jazz is more than a genre—it’s a language of connection. Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the scenes, he is constantly asking, “What if?”, pushing artistic and cultural boundaries, and creating new spaces for jazz to thrive. His journey, from an unexpected start in Malaysia’s Big Band scene to the forefront of contemporary jazz, is proof that music, when approached with curiosity and conviction, knows no borders.

Zishi Liu is not just a saxophonist—he is a force in modern jazz, an artist who bridges continents and cultures through sound. As a performer, composer, and curator, his work expands the possibilities of jazz, blending deep tradition with an innovative global perspective. With a sound rooted in the searching spirit of John Coltrane and the meditative restraint of traditional Chinese music, Zishi crafts sonic landscapes that are at once deeply personal and universally resonant.

He made history as the first Chinese artist to perform at the internationally renowned Regattabar, in partnership with Blue Note Jazz Club—a milestone that reflects both his artistic vision and his role in broadening jazz’s cultural dialogue. A sought-after performer, Zishi has toured extensively across the U.S., China, Malaysia, and Singapore, gracing venues from the House of Blues to China’s Meeting Jazz Club.

In June 2025, Zishi Liu released his original EP, American Anxiety—a bold and introspective project featuring collaborations with acclaimed musicians Francisco Mela (drums) and Eric Hofbauer (guitar). The EP was spotlighted by All About Jazz and WBUR, earning praise for its emotional depth, cultural resonance, and innovative fusion of jazz with global influences. In August 2025, as an arranger and performer, Liu will release his arrangement of “Landslide” as part of the When We Sing series. The piece, performed live at WGBH, was described as “spectacular”—a rare commendation that highlights the artistic clarity and emotional impact of his interpretation.

For his upcoming project, Zishi Liu will collaborate with GRAMMY-recognized artists including cellist Mike Block, pipa virtuoso Wu Man, and Eddie Barbash, founding alto saxophonist of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert band, through the Silkroad Global Musician Workshop and Ensemble.

In recognition of his growing international presence, Zishi was named the first North American artist endorsed by Rollings, one of Asia’s top-selling and most respected saxophone makers. This partnership reflects his rising influence as a cross-cultural performer and his role in connecting jazz communities across continents.

Beyond performance, Zishi is a curator, strategist, and connector, using jazz as a tool to foster community, elevate underrepresented voices, and redefine what a music career can look like in the 21st century. He is also an invited keynote speaker at leading institutions in both the U.S. and China, including MIT, Bard College, and top conservatories such as Sichuan, Xi’an, and Xinghai Conservatories of Music. His work has been featured by WGBH, WBUR, WPKN, All About Jazz, and The Bay State Banner, and he has been instrumental in revitalizing Boston’s jazz scene through forward-thinking programming. Whether transforming Wally’s Jazz Club into a sustainable residency, launching the annual Lunar New Year Jazz Concert at Regattabar, or directing the acclaimed "Who We Are" Asian Music Concert, his projects showcase a vision that is both ambitious and deeply human.

Raised in China during a pivotal moment of cultural transformation, Zishi’s musical voice is shaped by both Eastern and Western influences. His compositions explore the tensions between the familiar and the foreign, drawing on the melancholic lyricism of 90s Asian pop, the harmonic sophistication of jazz, and the meditative qualities of Chinese classical music. As he sees it, Coltrane’s later work shares an unspoken kinship with the introspection of the guqin, a centuries-old Chinese instrument—both embrace emptiness, vulnerability, and raw emotional truth. These ideas form the foundation of his sound.

Zishi is also shaping the next generation of artists through his work at the Longy School of Music, where he leads admissions, curates performance opportunities, and mentors students. In 2024, he spearheaded Longy’s China outreach, forging new international partnerships and dramatically increasing applications to the school. His approach to mentorship is hands-on and immersive—he doesn’t just prepare students for careers in music; he helps them carve out their own artistic identities in an evolving global landscape.

For Zishi, jazz is more than a genre—it’s a language of connection. Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the scenes, he is constantly asking, “What if?”, pushing artistic and cultural boundaries, and creating new spaces for jazz to thrive. His journey, from an unexpected start in Malaysia’s Big Band scene to the forefront of contemporary jazz, is proof that music, when approached with curiosity and conviction, knows no borders.