Taiwan meets Pittsburg! Chien Chien Lu is the Taiwanese vibraphonist whose debut album, "The Path" made huge waves in 2020 with a Downbeat critics poll naming her the "vibraphone rising star". Richie Goods is the award-winning bassist, whose incredible talent and experience playing with international stars such as Alicia Keys and Common, has secured him a position as the youngest musician to ever be inducted into Philadelphia's Jazz Hall of Fame. The two meet in an explosion of talent on their newest LP, "Connected"; also featuring a host of talented musicians such as Sy Smith (vo.), David Frasier Jr. (ds), and BIGYUKI (pf.). The album was born from conversations held during lockdown, where Lu and Goods, both residing in New York, contemplated their roots and the connotations a global pandemic, and social movement were making apparent. Despite the often heavy subject matter that inspired it, the music is light and groovy, with the two leaders shared love for 90s R&B and soul apparent throughout. Lead single "Rain" is a cover of the classic track by SWV (which itself sampled Jaco Pastorius's "Portrait Of Tracy"), and where SWV's version was all laid-back drum beats and thinly-veiled innuendos, Goods and Lu's version is forward-thinking jazz; with atmospheric chords, and what may just be one of Lu's best solos ever. Opener "Water/H2O", featuring acclaimed R&B singer Sy Smith takes that a step further, with Smith's soulful vocals perfectly complementing a jazz band at the height of their powers. Don't miss what's sure to be one of the hottest jazz records of the year, complete with an obi-strip, only from P-VINE Records!
