Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Lawrence has made China his home for over 10 years.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Besides the Red Groove Project, Ku also travels a lot since he tours with pop stars, such as Hong Kong singer-actress Karen Mok, and Chinese-American singer-songwriter Shunza. The latter appeared as guest singer when the Red Groove Project performed at Blue Note Beijing on Dec 23, 2016.

With his early musical influences coming from legendary musicians Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ku developed an interest in the guitar, though the first instrument he played was the piano.

"I fell in love with jazz I think because it sounded like freedom to me, such intense expression, but at the same time this freedom and expression was grounded in rigor and discipline. You could only attain the greatest amount of freedom through the greatest discipline. It was such a deep concept and something I really took to," he says.

In his early years in Beijing, Ku taught at the Beijing Midi Music School and at the Beijing Contemporary Music Academy. In 2006, he founded and became the principal of the JZ School in Shanghai, dedicating into contemporary music education.

"I think Chinese musicians and the Chinese in general are starting to become more aware of jazz. I think jazz is taking off in China. I have a lot of students who want to be professional musicians, but I also have students who are amateur musicians and have got the jazz bug. The Chinese are becoming literate about jazz, both as students of music and as music lovers. It is a great thing," says Ku.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn