Music is the world’s universal language – and pianist Dongfeng Liu underscores that notion in an ambitious and unusual way on his new CD. China Carib is just what the name says – a fusion of musical influences from the leader’s native China, bubbling Latin rhythms and jazz harmonies. With support from both Chinese and Latin musicians, Liu meshes the various musical influences and sounds into a seamless tapestry of originals.
The Latin musicians aboard are John Benitez on acoustic and electric bass, his son Francis Benitez on drums, and Roberto Quintero on percussion. Min Xiaofen performs on two lute-like Chinese stringed instruments, the ruan and the pipa, on three tracks. Feifei Yang plays the erhu, a bowed Chinese string instrument, on another. The Beijing-based Mongolian folk-rock band Hanggai adds its sound, including Mongolian throat singing, to the exotic opener, “In the Clouds.” Favorite track: Liu’s “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon,” which features Chinese melodies and strings over a propulsive Afro-Cuban beat. This one defies easy categorization, but it is exceptional from start to finish.