The Shanghai Pearls

The Shanghai Pearls sound is rooted in Shidaiqu, a vibrant musical style that emerged in 1920s–30s Shanghai—a heady fusion of Chinese folk melodies and American jazz, with songs performed in both English and Chinese.

This remarkable musical form, long celebrated in Chinese culture but largely underground elsewhere, burst back into international consciousness in 2003 when EMI unearthed a forgotten cache of original 78rpm stampers in a Mumbai warehouse—musical treasures from a time when Shanghai was a melting pot of global influence.

Featuring cheongsam chanteuse Nikki Zhao and arrangements by maestro John McAll, the band returns to share this rare and infectious music in its purest form—with flair, fun, and musicianship of the highest calibre.