Goods, Richie & CHien Chien
Richman Music, 2023, CD
Instrument: Guitar
Issue: 29.4
Jazz Ruler Type: Fusion
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 78
O’s Notes: Taiwanese vibraphonist Chien Chien Lu and African American bassist Richie Goods are leading musicians on the contemporary jazz scene. They coalesced during to pandemic commiserating about Asian hate crimes and the Black Lives Matter movement. They listened and learned from each other with deep conversations and ultimately some great music forming a band called Connected. Sy Smith adds vocal color to “Water/H2O”, Brett Williams (keys), David Frazier (d), and Danny Sadownick (perc) anchor a strong foundation on the syncopated “Treasure Mountain”. They chill on “Embrace the Now” featuring Japanese keyboardist Big Yuki, and on “Rain” with Shedrick Mitchell (organ). Jamison Ross adds vocals on “Someday We’ll All Be Free”. Lu and Goods visit social justice during the interludes bringing us in touch with DEI evolution and/or the lack thereof.
Publicist: Lydia Liebman Promotions
