Chien Chien Lu is a vibraphonist, contemporary percussionist, and composer whose Taiwanese upbringing, classical music education, and passion for grooves crystallize into a fresh and distinctive approach to contemporary jazz.

In her time as a classical percussionist, Lu has collaborated with composer Ching-Mei Lin and performed her marimba concerto for six-mallet marimba entitled Pulsing Wave, performed a solo percussion concert at Taipei Novel Hall, and in 2014, was named “Emerging Young Artist” for her work with her marimba duo at Taipei University of the Arts. In 2015, Lu came to the United States to study jazz vibraphone with Philadelphia’s Tony Miceli, and graduated with a Masters of music in Jazz Studies from University of the Arts in Philadelphia shortly thereafter. In 2017, she attended the prestigious Banff Jazz Residency under the direction of jazz pianist Vijay Iyer, where she first met jazz trumpeter Jeremy Pelt. From there, Lu began to perform regularly in the U.S. and was invited to join the esteemed Jeremey Pelt Quintet.

She recently released her sophomore solo project Built in System live from New York and it has been selected by The Times of London as one of the best jazz and world albums of 2023.
 

Music is the fulfillment of Richie’s destiny—it’s in his DNA. The youngest person ever inducted into the Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame, bassist Richie Goods got an early start playing in church and clubs while still attending Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School. After graduating from the prestigious jazz program at Berklee College of Music, Richie moved to New York, where he studied under jazz legends Ron Carter and Ray Brown.

Richie credits jazz luminary Mulgrew Miller for helping him hone his jazz skills early in his career. Richie toured and recorded with Mulgrew for nine years. That opportunity brought Richie to the attention of many in the jazz community and afforded him the opportunity to record and tour with a variety of jazz and popular artists ranging from the Headhunters, Lenny White, Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band, Milt Jackson, Russell Malone, Vincent Herring, the Manhattan Transfer and Walter Beasley to Brian McKnight, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Whitney Houston, and Christina Aguilera.

Richie’s lengthy discography also includes Grammy Award–winning and platinum albums of Alicia Keys and Common. Richie most recently toured with Grammy Award–winning trumpeter Chris Botti and Sting. When not on tour, he can be found in his Westchester, NY, studio, producing records for his company, RichMan Music, Inc. His first three solo projects with his fusion/funk band, Richie Goods and Nuclear Fusion, Live at the Zinc Bar, Three Rivers, and My Left Hand Man all received critical acclaim.