Credits:

Richie Goods & Chien Chien

Description:

Taiwanese vibraphonist Chien Chien Lu and African-American bassist Richie Goods, who has played in Alicia Keys' band, have completed a jazz album that transcends identities, with BIGYUKI as a guest! Chien Chien Lu, a rising star in the world of vibraphone, and Richie Goods, a bassist who has played in the bands of Alicia Keys and Common, and also the producer of her debut album "The Path", have collaborated on this album. Richie Goods, a bassist who has played in bands such as Alicia Keys and Common, and the producer of her debut album "The Path". The album, titled "CONNECTED," was created during a lockdown when Chien Chien Lu and Richie Goods exchanged opinions on topics such as BLM and hate crimes against Asians while talking about their respective roots.Richie, who is African American, and Chien Chien, who is Asian, have been thinking about the stereotypical gap that exists between their respective communities, and have come up with the concept of Love & Peace, in which people with different identities unite to fill the gap. The album is the result of their friendship. The album opens with "Water/H20" featuring Sy Smith, another NYC-based R&B singer, which opens with over 7 minutes of soulful, euphoric vocals and a gentle vibraphone sound. The third track, "Embrace the Now," features Japanese keyboardist Bigyuki, a pure Asian who has been active in the same position as Chien Chien Lu in terms of competing at the forefront of the NYC jazz scene. In particular, Bigyuki's synth sound that creates a spacey and psychedelic atmosphere, which gradually enters the vibraphone, bass, and drums-only part in the latter half of the song, takes your attention away from the music.Of course, this album is a work that is sure to make you enjoy jazz music, and the cover of "Rain," the fifth track, which is loved as a standard song for rainy days, is truly calming, but there are also songs with important messages, such as "2021 Interlude," a recorded conversation between two people about hate crimes against Asians over a jazz cafe-style slow jazz sound, and "Rain Interlude," in which the two talk about the motivation for making this album, with gentle background music. The songs "2021 Interlude" and "Rain Interlude," in which the two are talking about their motivation for making this album, also accompanied by gentle background music, are also characteristic of this album and leave a lasting impression on the listener.