Chien Chien Lu

Let me tell you about Chien Chien Lu!! She’s an incredible jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer who brings a fresh and unique energy to contemporary jazz. Born and raised in Taiwan, her music is this amazing mix of her classical training, Taiwanese roots, and a deep love for groovy rhythms. She’s been making waves lately, earning a spot in DownBeat Magazine's "25 for the Future" and being named one of the "10 Emerging Jazz Artists of 2023" by the Recording Academy. Oh, and her collaboration with bassist Richie Goods, Connected, just snagged "Best Instrumental Album" at the 34th Golden Melody Awards!

Her debut album, The Path (2020), is something you don’t want to miss. It stayed on the JazzWeek Top 20 for 20 weeks, won "Best Jazz Song" at the Golden Indie Music Awards, and got a ton of award nominations. She’s been called a "vibraphone rising star" by DownBeat Magazine, and her band has played at big-name festivals like the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival and DC Jazz Festival, not to mention tours across Europe, Asia, and the U.S.

Before jazz took over her life, Chien Chien was a classical percussionist, doing things like performing a six-mallet marimba concerto by Ching-Mei Lin and giving solo concerts in Taiwan. She was even recognized as an "Emerging Young Artist" back in 2014.

Her jazz journey really took off in 2017 when she joined the Banff Jazz Residency, directed by Vijay Iyer. That’s where she met Jeremy Pelt, which led to her becoming a regular in the U.S. jazz scene and joining his quintet. Fast forward to now, her sophomore album, Built In System (2023), has been named one of the best jazz and world albums of the year by The Times of London.

Chien Chien’s vibe is all about authenticity, creativity, and pushing boundaries. You’ll want to keep an eye on her. She’s definitely one to watch!