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Chien Chien Lu

Chien Chien Lu is a jazz vibraphonist, contemporary percussionist, and composer from Taiwan. She recorded on trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's latest record “Jeremy Pelt The Artist” and toured with the band to France, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, and UK. Chien Chien has recently stepped forth as a composer and leader with her own quartet.

Chien Chien Lu had her first exposure to music when she started learning the piano at the age of six. At the age of ten, she developed a passion for percussion. In 2008, She joined world renowned Ju Percussion Group and performed throughout Taiwan, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore. Chien Chien collaborated with composer Ching-Mei Lin and performed her marimba concerto for six-mallet marimba, entitled “Pulsing Wave.” In 2012, she played percussion accompaniment for the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s rendition of “Legacy,” and in 2013, she had a solo percussion concert at Taipei Novel Hall. In 2014, Chien Chien was awarded as “Emerging Young Artist” for her work with her marimba duo.

Chien Chien graduated from Taipei National University of the Art with a master's degree in classical music in 2015. After that, she came to the USA to study Jazz in Philadelphia with vibraphonist, Tony Miceli. Shortly after, she taught a few jazz workshops alongside Tony Miceli in Taiwan. In 2016, she received a monthly residency at Chris' Jazz Café in Philadelphia. In September, Chien Chien performed with Vertical Current at Silkcity. The concert was a tribute to Roy Ayers. In the same month, Chien Chien performed with Chris Stevens Quintet as part of the John Coltrane Memorial festival in Philadelphia.

In 2017, she graduated with a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of the Arts. In August, she attend the prestigious Banff Jazz Residency under the direction of well-known jazz pianist, Vijay Iyer. In October, Chien Chien Performed at The Stone with Okkyung Lee. The Stone is a non-profit experimental music performance space located in New York City. In 2018, Chien Chien joined in Jeremy Pelt's Quintet and recorded on his critically acclaimed record “Jeremy Pelt The Artist”. That band has has toured extensively through out Europe getting rave reviews. They have also appeared at well-known NYC jazz clubs including Smoke, New School's Glass Box Theater and Jazz Standard. She also led her quartet performed at NTCH Summer Jazz festival, Sappho Jazz Live in Taiwan and The DiMenna Center in NYC, The BeanRunner Cafe.

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Radio & Podcasts

Chien Chien Lu, Ronald Shannon Jackson and Tim Buckley

Read "Chien Chien Lu, Ronald Shannon Jackson and Tim Buckley" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


This show includes folksingers doing jazz, a Sesame Street song, and several up-and-coming younger players. Musicians heard include Chien Chien Lu, Roy Nathanson, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Amanda Gardier, and Tim Buckley.Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Record Label) 00:00 Phil Haynes & Free Country “Here Comes The Sun" from 60/69: My Favorite Things (CornerStore Jazz) 00:59 Roni Ben-Hur “Fair Weather" from ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Another Simple Sunday - New Releases, Part 2 of Favorite 2022 Recordings & More

Read "Another Simple Sunday - New Releases, Part 2 of Favorite 2022 Recordings & More" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


This broadcast continues to celebrate 2023 with new releases from Lisa Hilton, Richie Goods & Chien Chien Lu, birthday shoutouts to Jazz Capricorns Anat Cohen and Myra Melford, plus Part 2 of some favorite releases of 2022. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by purchasing their music during this time of pandemic so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke and inspire.Playlist Amina Figarova “Green Blues" from Joy (AmFi) 00:00 Somi (feat. Gregory Porter) ...

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Album Review

Jeremy Pelt: Soundtrack

Read "Soundtrack" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Although Soundtrack is the name of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's latest album (more about that in a moment), there is another selection that more readily summarizes Pelt's lyric philosophy: “I Love Music." And while there is ample contrast, camaraderie and color on the album, there is no doubt that Pelt's clear and creative commentaries are the focal point. As for that title, “Soundtrack" is simply the name of a twenty-year-old ballad written for but never recorded by one of Pelt's earlier ...

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Interview

Chien Chien Lu: On The Right Path

Read "Chien Chien Lu: On The Right Path" reviewed by William H. Snyder


Chien Chien Lu is a vibes and marimba player who lived the first quarter of a century of her life in Taiwan. This year she is closing in on 32 years of age. One of three children, she went to church with Dad and temple with Mom--her father being a Christian, and her mother a Buddhist. Now she's a self-avowed spiritual person, but not particularly religious. Years of Chinese classical music training as a percussionist led her to complete her ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Four Brand New Heavies

Read "Four Brand New Heavies" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


Four recent releases by four artists new to the boys--two offering their debuts to the world. We've got a couple of vibe-meisters (is that instrument getting hot all of a sudden?), a disciple of Darcy James Argue, and a good old-fashioned small-group jazz album with a thematic thing going on. Oh yeah, and in a completely scientific poll of one listener, we beat out the brilliant classical minds on the Gramophone podcast, so there's that. Playlist Discussion of ...

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Album Review

Chien Chien Lu: The Path

Read "The Path" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


For vibraphonist Chien Chien Lu, the path to jazz wasn't direct. She rode a contemporary classical percussion track into her twenties in her native Taiwan, but, as it turned out, that drive was less about reaching a destination than it was about the act of discovery: A growing desire for musical freedom and adventure eventually set Chien Chien on a different course, steering her toward jazz and a life in New York. Now, after making herself comfortable in the jazz ...

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Bobby Hutcherson
vibraphone
Steve Nelson
vibraphone

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Built In System

Giant Step Arts
2023

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Soundtrack

HighNote Records
2022

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The Path

Self Released
2020

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Special Things

From: Built In System
By Chien Chien Lu

Videos

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