I was impressed by Chien Chien Lu’s debut a few years ago, and her promise is revealed here as she is caught in concert at the Hunter College’s Ida K. Lang Hall.
She’s teamed up with trumpet giant Jeremy Pelt along wit Richie Goods/b and Allan Mednard/dr for a collection of originals. Without Pelt, the three are nimble and kinetic on the feisty “Percussion Song (The Wheel of Fate” with Pelt in glowing form on a fluid “Boulanger’s Variation” featuring Goods. Lu’s touch is warm and honeyed, bouncing well with Medard on ”Chun Yi” and soft and fluffy with Pelt during ”Hslu Chin”. Pelt bops well on the fun “Just Listen” and glows around Lu for “Traumerel”. Pastoral mallets.