Min Xiao-Fen

Min Xiao-Fen is a groundbreaking Chinese pipa virtuoso and vocalist who’s spent decades bridging traditional and experimental music. Born in Nanjing, China, she mastered the pipa (a four-stringed lute) under her father’s guidance and later performed with the Nanjing Traditional Music Orchestra. After moving to the U.S. in the 1990s, she became a trailblazer in cross-genre collaborations, working with jazz legends like Wadada Leo Smith and avant-garde composers like John Zorn. Her work—including albums like *Dim Sum*, *The Floating Box*, and *White Lotus*—mixes ancient Chinese folk melodies with free improvisation, spoken word, and even psychedelic rock. Recent releases like *Metta* and *Anicca (Impermanence)* showcase her ability to turn the pipa into a vehicle for meditative, genre-defying storytelling. Whether reimagining Thelonious Monk or reciting Tang Dynasty poetry, Min’s artistry is a celebration of cultural fusion and fearless creativity.