Europe Jazz Media Chart (May 2020)
Jazz and “Oriental music” may seem incompatible entities, but in this case New York based Annie Chen manages to spice up a seemingly jazzy outfit.
The Sound Track of My Life (Jan 7 2020)
Overall this is an excellent album, full of unusual, highly intelligent music, superb vocals and instrumental performances by all the members of the octet, and most importantly a breath of fresh air in the dull mainstream vocal Jazz produced usually in the US. This gem is definitely worth investigating!
Music Web International (2020)
It is a joyful celebration of musical creativity which crosses the boundaries we too readily seek to impose on it. It is organized but passionate music.
Monarch Magazine (Nov. 2019)
Her international octet featuring guitar, violin, saxophone, trumpet, piano, bass, and drums shines in her innovative and sophisticated compositions. Chen’s voice soars through lyrically charged melodies, Balkan and Middle Eastern- inspired lines, complex rhythms, and thrilling improvisations.
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Big Beautiful Noise (Mar 1 2019)
An exotic and extremely attractive blend of jazz, multi regional eastern, and fusion, from composer, singer, lyricist, producer. and educator, Annie Chen.
Netavissen (Mar 27 2019) - in Norwegian
Blant de mange tinga jeg kan ganske lite om, er kinesiske jazzvokalister blant de mest fremtredende. Annie Chen er i ferd med å rette opp i det.
DownBeat Magazine (Feb 19 2019)
In a recent performance at Brooklyn’s ShapeShifter Lab, the Annie Chen Octet navigated odd meters framing Mongolian folk songs, Balkan and Turkish rhythms driving through-composed compositions and metric-modulation-sourced arrangements supporting Chen’s exhilarating vocals.
Michael Konik - Thoughts of the Day (Feb 5 2019)
This vocal individuality is also one of the charms of Chinese singer Annie Chen, whose new octet recording, “Secret Treetop,” sounds like no one else. Backed by a crew of killer NYC jazz cats, Chen bops her way around catchy melodies and unusual harmonies.
Jazz Espresso (Jan 22 2019)
An espresso with Annie Chen, we have interviewed Annie Chen and we talked with her about her latest project, Secret Treetop.
Jazz Journal UK (Jan 19 2019)
Chen applies a sturdy but supple voice both to her own compositions – music and lyrics – and to these traditional songs, merging their sentiments to suggest nebulous states.
Expose Online (Jan 2 2019)
Chen’s voice, whether interpreting lyrics or sailing free of words, is treated as another instrument, and she’s an extraordinary singer, with good range and intonation.
DownBeat Magazine (Dec 2018)
New York-based, Beijing-born Annie Chen follows her 2014 debut and her prior experience performing funk,soul and jazz in China with a naturally diverse set, showcasing her unique vocal styles and ability to fluidly blend a wide swath of influence and render it as a cohesive whole.
La vocalista y compositora Annie Chen, nacida en Beijing y radicada en Nueva York, es un talento internacional. De niña estudió piano clásico, pero también se enamoró del jazz. Como adulta se interesó en la música tradicional de todo el mundo.
JazzBluesNews (Dec 19 2018)
Jazz interview with jazz singer/composer Annie Chen: The flowing river!
Ivan Rod (Dec 9 2018) - in Danish
Annie Chen Octet - Secret Treetop: Den kinesiske jazzsangerinde, Annie Chen, er nok det tætteste, man i Riget i Midten kommer en jazzdiva. Men selv om der nu om dage både i hjembyen, Beijing...
Composer/singer Annie Chen’s imagination knows no bounds. By any standard, her music is richly layered and often lavishly orchestrated. There’s an unusual majesty and cinematic sweep to much of her work, especially for a vocalist.
This exciting album, her second, is wonderfully eclectic and filled with so many fascinating ideas that come from both classical and jazz. Her poetry is the bridge between the media, full of distinct imagery that is on a very different level than mere lyrics in an ordinary song. I've called this poetry.
Πρώτη φορά θα γράψω για έναν δίσκο κινεζικής jazz, ή, εν πάση περιπτώσει, για ένα τζαζ άλμπουμ, που έρχεται από την Κίνα – κινεζικής παραγωγής εννοώ, ασχέτως αν αυτό είναι ηχογραφημένο στην Αμερική. Τούτο το κρατώ για αρχή, επειδή οι πρωτιές, οι πάσης φύσεως πρωτιές, πάντα θα έχουν ένα (κάποιο) νόημα.
«Secret Treetop» er blitt en annerledes plateinnspilling, hvor øst møter vest på en ganske fascinerende måte. Kanskje ikke en plate for «hvermandsen», men en spennende plate å sette seg ned med.
The Vinyl District (Nov 1 2018)
Arts Journal (Oct 25 2018)
Chen is a singer and composer born in China who lives in New York and has an eclectic musical palette with colors from sources as disparate as Turkey, Taiwan and Mongolia. With a rhythm section augmented by guitar, violin, saxophone and trumpet, she employs her robust voice in nine original compositions.
New York City Jazz Record (Oct 2018)
Traditional Asian music has influences a variety of jazz improvisers over the years and the folk traditions
of China and neighboring countries are a prominent influence on Annie Chen's Secret Treetop, which underscores her talents as a vocalist, composer and bandleader.
ABC Jazz (Oct 22 2018)
Hear a unique new recording from the Chinese-born, US-based vocalist and composer Annie Chen.
The Art Music Lounge (Oct 16 2018)
Annie Chen has more of a mezzo-soprano voice than a soprano one, rich and full, and sings out joyously, and her backup band plays in a quasi-bop style with a mixture of backbeats and shuffle rhythm. Her scatting, to my ears, shows the dual influence of Middle Eastern music and bebop, and her compositions are fascinating in their cross-cultural references.
Republic of Jazz (Oct 16 2018)
Vocalist/Composer Annie Chen's sophomore recording Secret Treetop heralds the arrival of an innovative, sophisticated composer with globe-spanning musical influences. Chen leads a New York-based octet that includes pianist Glenn Zaleski, guitarist/arranger Rafal Sarnecki, trumpeterDavid Smith, saxophonist/flutist Alex LoRe, violinist Tomoko Omura, bassist Mat Muntz, and drummer Jerad Lippi.
TerRa Magazine (Oct 2018)
Vocalist/composer Annie Chen, born in Beijing and based in New York, is both musically and geographically international. As a child she studied classical piano but also fell in love with jazz. As an adult she became interested in traditional music from around the world. All of those influences emulsify into a unique style of Chen’s own on her second album, Secret Treetop.
New York Music Daily (July 2017)
Annie Chen’s music is as individualistic as it is ambitious – and it is very ambitious. Being one of the few Chinese jazz singer/bandleader/composers out there might have something to do with it. Her show last week leading a first-rate quintet…
China Global Television Network America ( June 2017)
Beijing native Annie Chen has captured the sound and made it her own. Now, she’s taking her talents to one of the most competitive jazz scenes — New York. CGTN’s Liling Tan reports that Chen is striking a chord with American audiences...
New York Music Daily (June 2016)
Annie Chen sings with a resolute, purposeful alto voice, often with a sense of suspense. But her greatest strength right now, as she becomes more comfortable with her adopted English language, is as a composer...
上海爵士节 Shanghai Jazz Festival (2014)- in Chinese
毫无疑问的，这是一整张属于夜晚的唱片，至少肯定不是写给白天的忙忙碌碌和喧闹的。“双鱼梦想家(Pisces the Dreamer)”是这张唱片的主题，也是爵士歌手陈宣羽的专辑名称，是她生活的心情，也是她对爱情的理解和倾诉...