So I finally bought the book, “Big In China” by Alan Paul, who is a journalist & musician. Alan Paul writes for the Wall Street Journal, Slam magazine (yes, the basketball magazine), and Guitar World. He is also a guitar player and jazz/blues musician.

This book is about Alan Paul who moves to Beijing, China because his wife was offered a job there and she accepted. While living in Beijing, China, they explore the country, trying to get used to a new place. Along the way, Alan ends up forming a blues band there with Chinese musicians called, Woodie Alan. The band Woodie Alan, became big & famous there. The band line up includes, Alan Paul, Woodie Wu, Dave Loevinger, Zhang Yong and Lu Wei. The story tells how the band was formed and how they get their popularity in China. Their anthem song that made them big is a song called, “Beijing Blues” which is a song that I absolutely love.

I read a lot of books, and I would have to say that, “Big In China” was the most inspiring book I’ve ever read. It’s really amazing, and well written. The story was incredible and I couldn’t put it down. There is music everywhere in this world and I never realized music was this big in China until I’ve read this book. I was never really into world music that much, but hearing the music of Woodie Alan, really moved me. It makes me want to get their CD soon.

I really hope Woodie Alan will become big in the “USA” too. They deserve recognition in the United States, and I think that band will get recognition here once Ivan Reitman makes that movie about them.

Back to the book, it’s not just about music. Alan teaches you about Chinese culture and what it’s like living over there. It certainly is different there. He explains how it’s different living in China than in the United States. Once you live in China, it’ll make you want to like living there more than the U.S.

To learn more about Alan Paul and Woodie Alan, check the band’s website, here.

Get the book, and be inspired. This is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I hope he keeps writing these stories and there will be sequels up ahead?

Kev

Beijing Blues studio track video