Formosan Groove performed at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, filling the River Pavilion and drawing more than 2,000 livestream viewers.
Led by Taiwanese American musician Shinyi Lee (right), Formosan Groove blended jazz, funk, and world‑music rhythms into classic Taiwanese‑language songs.
The band blends Eastern and Western instruments, including the erhu (二胡) and the zhongruan (中阮), a traditional plucked string instrument.
The band is composed of a diverse, multicultural ensemble of musicians from Taiwan, Japan, Spain, and the United States.
Formosan Groove, a jazz ensemble led by Taiwanese American musician Shinyi Lee (李欣怡), performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The conert was part of the center's Millennium Stage series, and the River Pavilion at The REACH was packed. More than 2,000 people also watched the livestream.
The concert was also the first of four performances planned for September and November in the D.C. area, sponsored and presented by the Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, which operates under Taiwan's Ministry of Culture, in partnership with Formosan Groove.
Formosan Groove reworked classic Taiwanese-language songs with jazz, funk and world-music rhythms. The band blends Eastern and Western instruments, including the erhu (二胡)and the zhongruan (中阮), a traditional plucked string instrument. The setlist for the night included "Harbor Farewell" (港邊惜別), "If You Open the Window of My Heart" (阮若打開心內的門窗), "Peach Blossom" (桃花過渡), "Southern City" (南都之夜), "Spring Breeze" (望春風), "Hot Rice Dumpling"(燒肉粽), and "Dark Sky" (天黑黑).
The band is composed of a diverse, multicultural ensemble of musicians from Taiwan, Japan, Spain, and the United States. Between songs, host Jean Han shared the story behind each piece and the social and economic conditions in Taiwan when it was written, giving American listeners historical context.
For Lee, performing at a major American venue like the Kennedy Center was a meaningful chance to introduce Taiwanese culture and music to a wider audience. She hoped the song selection would help Americans understand Taiwan's history and the resilience of its people, who overcame hardship as the country grew from an agrarian society into a technological and cultural leader.
Audience members said the performance left a strong impression. Some said it was their first time hearing Taiwanese music, and they were moved by how traditional instruments were paired with fresh, modern arrangements. Many also said the host's explanations of each song's background helped them connect with the music and understand what the artists wanted to express.
The Kennedy Center describes Formosan Groove as a group that blends jazz improvisation with the spirit of Taiwanese folk music and contemporary Asian influences, creating a sound that is "rooted in tradition and boldly modern."
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