Werner Tian Fischer

'the jazzy guitarist with a predilection for catchy tunes'

[chapter iv]

I’ll Play The Blues For You

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"But he had been aware that over the last years his playing had become more blues-tinged, regardless of what style he was playing in. It seemed as if life itself had taught him. And yes, he could relate to its underlying bleak view of love - most of the time."

  • "He sat on a bench overlooking the artificial lake in Chaoyang Park. The sky was partly overcast and the temperature had dropped notably. Many of the trees had their colorful leaves blown to the ground as the winds from Mongolia had been strong during the past two days. He felt good here, as he always did ever since he started to explore the park a few weeks earlier. He had found his place of solace, an inspiring environment where the noisy streets were shut out and the air was better, a place that would lift up his spirits whenever he needed them lifted up. Furthermore, since a modest entrance fee was demanded at the gates the park was never overcrowded." (Chinese Soul, p. 35)
  • "He smilingly remembered what had come to his mind when he had first walked thru it. He had linked his sensation to the one John Lennon must had felt when walking thru Central Park for the very first time. However, John had lived in the Dakota west of Central, they lived east of Chaoyang." (Chinese Soul, p. 35)
  • "The park of the ‘Rising Sun’ was located on the site of the former Palace of Prince Jun. Its construction had begun in 1984 and it had with a total area of roughly three-hundred hectares eventually become Beijing's largest park – even larger than Summer Palace itself. More than a fourth of it was covered by water and the majority of land in the park was used as a green space. It featured flower gardens, a wetland area, fairgrounds with rides - including a roller coaster, landscaped areas, several large swimming pools and musical fountains. Bicycles and boats could also be hired at various locations in the park. The Beijing Great Wheel, a 208 meter giant Ferris wheel was its latest addition and attraction. The park also hosted many outdoor music events, including the International Midi Music Festival. Nighttime entertainment had sprung up around both the west and east gates of the park." (Chinese Soul, p. 36)
  • "He also liked to visit Yishu Square near the park’s West Gate which featured a sunken oval fountain and two rectangular fountains. There were several sculptures on display there, one of them being ‘The Knotted Gun’, a large replica in bronze of a 45-calibre revolver, the barrel of which was tied into a knot. The gun was cocked, but the knot made it clear that it would not shoot. Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd had embarked on his ‘Non-Violence’-Project in the aftermath of the Dakota murder. His girl had also been very impressed by it but probably for other reasons." (Chinese Soul, p. 37)
  • "From where he sat he could oversee the now deserted bathing area where Gentle and he had spent the last intolerably hot and humid August days before his return to his native country. The area had been the venue for the Olympic Games’ beach volleyball competition and its sand had been especially transported from Hainan. Gentle had built whole towns with it and he had saved her from drowning in the bigger of the outside pools. She had remembered and told him so when he had taken her to the park for the first time. He was her hero. He loved to take her to the park when she was home from kindergarten for the weekends. Sometimes she would take along her beloved pink Swiss micro, other times her new green Chinese bicycle. Almost always he would end up carrying her on his shoulders all the way back home." (Chinese Soul, p. 37)
  • "In August they had stayed a few days in the Jun Wang Fu Hotel right at the south corner of the park. The hotel’s design had been inspired by the royal courtyards of the Qing Dynasty, its halls and pavilions were linked by long, winding corridors. The hotel was both tranquil and elegant. But what they loved most about it had been its vast Chinese garden with the green pool. Every evening they had spent long hours there, listening to the crickets and gazing at the pale moon. The fresh plantation, lovely waters and hills and the wandering stone path indeed were strong reminders of ancient times. Every night before going to bed Gentle had insisted on being carried thru the short tunnel and the longer canyon that she had aptly named the little and the big ‘angst’." (Chinese Soul, p. 38)
  • "The past weeks had been eventful, maybe even crucial weeks. With mid-November approaching and his girl’s fifth birthday only a couple days away he felt it was time to take stock. So he started to do the math: After a very slow start with his wife posing as his Chinese manager and talking to the personal while he cozied up to the musicians as they went from club to club things had taken a sharp upwardly turn when Zhang Fan, his new boss at the Midi School of Music finally introduced him to his friend Zhang Ling who besides being the former bass player of Cui Jian, the father of Chinese Rock, ran the legendary CD Blues Café. Ling alias Big John, widely acclaimed as China's number one blues musician and gifted with a singing voice that ranged from passionate and edgy to warm and smooth, who put his heart and soul into every note he sang, had immediately taken to his style of playing and before long he was the guitarist in Big John’s house band with a steady gig on Thursdays and many more things to come. That first night he played as if Slowhand had teamed up with the King of the Blues himself. And there was no denying to the fact that in his youth he had also been an ardent listener to Jimi’s and Chuck’s playing. His wife had come to the gig albeit their earlier quarrel. He knew the meaning of the blues and had something to say that night although he had never seriously practiced the vocabulary before. But he had been aware that over the last years his playing had become more blues-tinged, regardless of what style he was playing in. It seemed as if life itself had taught him. And yes, he could relate to its underlying bleak view of love - most of the time." (Chinese Soul, p. 39)
  • "The very first CD (Central District) Café had opened in 1995 and provided a stage for the small but vivid Beijing jazz scene. After a few years it was renamed into the CD Blues Café & Bar by Liu Yuan, Cui Jian’s horn player. Big John had taken over the club about a year ago, making it a new trend but preserving its good old spirit. This cozy, dimly-lit, rather low key club which was decked out with jazz and blues memorabilia had a small stage area with a potent music system and a grand piano, a bar and little tables – not much to say about it other than that it seemed the perfect joint for a genuine jazz and blues evening with a glass of wine, or whiskey." (Chinese Soul, p. 40)
  • "When he took stock on that rather fresh afternoon in the park he realized that he had learnt to wait here. For a month it seemed that nothing was happening and he let it be. Somehow he had known that he would have to wait until the Chinese started to ask him. They were funny in that way and didn’t like to be pressed. But he also realized that the financial side of things didn’t look as promising as the musical." (Chinese Soul, p. 41)
  • "I didn't mean to hurt you I'm sorry that I made you cry Oh no, I didn't want to hurt you I'm just a jealous guy” Big John sang with a deep sorrow in his voice. He had asked him what song they should play for his daughter. Gentle had been very excited all evening long. It was her first night at the club where her father played – and she relished the occasion. After all, she was a big girl now, five years of age. Everybody in the joint, especially Big John’s wife, doted on her. She got a huge piece of cake and ate it too." (Chinese Soul, p. 42)
  • "He went home and tried to catch a couple hours of sleep. He had played the night before until 2.30 AM and felt the tiredness creeping in. When he awoke it was already dark outside. He got his guitar rig ready and hailed yet another cab to drive downtown. He called up Christian on his mobile so she could tell the driver where to drop him off. It was rush hour and they progressed only slowly on the wide highway. He admired the huge buildings they were passing. How he had started to love the skyline! He felt as if he were in the States again – but without the anxiety." (Chinese Soul, p. 44)
  • "They were to dine at a Tibetan restaurant close by the China World Trade Centre. Their girl screeched from happiness when he joined them. The food was spicy but tasted excellent and he would never forget the Tibetan wine – so silky-smooth." (Chinese Soul, p. 45)
  • "After almost a dozen blues nights he finally played his first jazz gig at the CD Café. It featured Coco Rouzier, the gutsy and soulful songstress from Washington D.C. who had travelled half of the world singing in five star hotels and cruises. She proved to be not only a first rate jazz singer but also a resourceful entertainer who turned the joint into a boiling pot that Sunday evening. What started out as a nonchalant classy jazz thing turned into a rambunctious party that lasted until the wee hours of the next day. Coco probably did not know what she was in for when in the middle of her second set she called on the band to play Hernandez’ Hideaway, a tango. She had probably never seen a Kaurismäki film nor heard of the Finnish affinity for that dance… and the joint was packed with the remainder of a choir from Turku that lived fully up to its reputation. It was not until long that everybody was served severe shots of vodka that had lasting effects on the band as well as the crowd." (Chinese Soul, p. 45)
  • "They had all day to themselves. His wife had left early to study at the traditional Chinese medicine center. After they had extensively horsed around in his bed they got up and treated themselves to a hearty breakfast. A few weeks ago she had started not only to play pranks on him but also to utter verbal jokes, ‘witzli’ as she called them. She had found irony and started to explore its possibilities. He was quite astonished that she had already realized they worked only in her father’s but not her mother’s tongue. They had also started to share mutual secrets, little things they did behind her mother’s back that she knew she would disapprove of. That morning she had made him promise not to take away the small green box of green tea peppermint candies she had snatched from of his pocket." (Chinese Soul, p. 46)
  • "They decided to go to Chaoyang Park again where she still hoped to be able to steer one of the little mauve boats. They left their flat, rode the elevator down and exited their building. It was the most beautiful November morning. The skies were high and blue, the air was clear and the sun’s yellow rays warmed comfortably. They had to cross thru the little park on the other side of Nan Shi Li Ju. It was crowded as on any nice day: some people walked their tiny little dogs, a group of elderly people sat on their faded sedan chairs and played mahjong, two middle-aged women had a match of ping pong while a small band accompanied two feisty women singing popular songs. Gentle took her good time and studied it all from afar and from close up. Soon she started to run after the ping pong ball and brought it back whenever one of the two contenders lost it. When they ended their match they enquired her about her origin and presented her the little yellow ball." (Chinese Soul, p. 47)
  • "He left the park with Gentle on his shoulders, crossed the wider Dong Run Feng Jing and ascended the flight of stairs that would lead them to the bridge passing over the ten lanes of the East Fourth Ring Road under which its traffic was flowing slowly yet steadily. They finally entered East Gate No. 5 where he paid the usual five kwai and received a colorful ticket. It was rather windy but not cold. He had now mutated into a horse and Gentle into the fiercest ancient warrior. They rode hard, all across the park’s marble bridge to the harbor where the fear-inspiring vessels were waiting. Alas, no enemy was in sight! As he had anticipated the boats were out of service, probably due to the windy conditions. Gentle took the disappointment lightheartedly. They made a halt next to the harbor and ate some of the nuts and the two bananas they had taken on their exploratory tour." (Chinese Soul, p. 47)
  • "They walked over to the animal sculptures afterwards where she would slide down from every one of them except the huge giraffe and the enormous elephant. She especially loved the rhino’s back which called for repeated action… As the afternoon passed lazily by he asked her if she would like to ride on one of the big bicycles like they had that summer evening once in Italy where shushu Lorenzo lived. It took them quite a while to find the place where they were renting the vehicles. It lay next to South Gate. It was the first time they ventured so far south. There were far more people in the south of the park where there were the fairs, the football fields and many more attractions that had a strong following. They finally mounted an orange bicycle with a rather loud chime attached that would sound incessantly. Not a bad thing since Gentle would insist on steering the vehicle - most of the time." (Chinese Soul, p. 48)
  • "Around five o’clock they stopped next to Yishu Square to enjoy the last rays of the now big orange sun. He remembered that he had promised that Gentle would call up her grandmother and thank for the birthday gift she had received. After the call they started to head back to South Gate. It was already getting dark and the temperature had noticeably cooled off. Furthermore, they were getting hungry… They perfected this most pleasant outing with a visit to Elisa’s, their favorite Italian restaurant where she ordered a bottle of Coca-Cola and helped herself to a big portion of Spaghetti Bolognese. After finishing her Cola she said with an earnest expression on her face that it had not tasted good at all and she would never drink another one… and then she burst out laughing." (Chinese Soul, p. 49)

The Land Of A New Rising Sun / I’ll Play The Blues For You / Jealous Guy / S Wonderful, ‘S Marvelous / Something There Is About You