Tonight Chinese Jazz pianist and composer Sharon Liu will present her graduation recital Renunciant Ascetic · Dharma. The performance blends Taoist philosophy, jazz, and visual art into an immersive musical experience. Liu describes her style as 'Tao Jazz' - a fusion of jazz harmony with Taoist concepts such as Yin and Yang, balance, and the cyclical nature of life.
Sharon Liu uses these ancient philosophies as a framework for her compositions. The music includes original compositions, and arrangements of Chinese folk songs. The program follows a circular structure based on the Bagua (eight trigrams). Each piece represents a phase of life, moving from innocence to darkness to awakening. The title reflects the duality of Yin and Yang: 'Renunciant Ascetic' means retreat from the world-Yin,while 'Dharma' means engagement with truth-Yang. Together they form a complete cycle of departure and return.
