Description
DJ KAWASAKI's new release [Sunshine Madness] is set to be released by KAWASAKI RECORDS on December 24, 2025!
Four years after the release of the original album "ONE WORLD" in 2021, DJ KAWASAKI's new track is being released on 7" Vinyl. Featuring Taiwan-born, New York-based vibraphonist Chien Chien Lu and Takeshi "TICO" Toki, a steelpan player from Japan's leading instrumental dub band LITTLE TEMPO, this top-tier instrumental boogie fusion is cut as a single on 7" Vinyl!
Side A is the original version featuring Taiwan-born, beautiful vibraphonist Chien Chien Lu, who has a deep respect for Roy Ayers. Chien Chien Lu gained significant attention for her cover of Roy Ayers' "We Live in Brooklyn Baby," included on her 2020 debut album "The Path." With a thrilling, modern, and luxuriously ambient performance, she elevates DJ KAWASAKI's melody into a more sophisticated and mature sound.
Side B features an exclusive version featuring Takeshi "TICO" Toki, a steelpan player from LITTLE TEMPO, Japan's No. 1 instrumental dub band, active at various festivals and live venues both domestically and overseas. Thanks to the deep and distinctive resonance of Takeshi "TICO" Toki's steelpan, the jazz and fusion-flavored original is transformed into a tropical, breezy summer boogie that evokes the Caribbean Sea surrounded by Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The track was co-produced by Shuuya Okino (KYOTO JAZZ MASSIVE / KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET), whom DJ KAWASAKI regards as his mentor.
The seasonal, fresh design was created by DJ KAWASAKI's fellow DJ, Yusuke Yoshinaga (solla Inc.).
The musicians who participated in the track production include Rhodes: Shinji Nakamura, Percussion: Hidero Nishioka (CENTRAL/VenueVincent), Bass: Leo Nanjo (CENTRAL/tropico), Guitar: Tetsuta Otake, and Drums, soki-Sosei Kimura (Osaka Monaurail), bringing together DJ KAWASAKI's close friends who also support him in a band setting.
DJ KAWASAKI himself handled the mixing and mastering. Both versions are being released on 7" Vinyl ahead of their digital release! It is finished as a dance track for the floor that lets you feel DJ KAWASAKI's ongoing sound!
Chien Chien Lu
Chien Chien Lu is a jazz vibraphonist, contemporary percussionist, and composer whose Taiwanese roots, classical training, and love of groove shape her innovative approach to contemporary jazz. She began classical piano at six and percussion at ten, later performing with the world-renowned Ju Percussion Group for five years and touring Asia before shifting her focus to jazz in 2015.
Raised in Taiwan's classical music tradition, Lu mastered precision and discipline but longed for freer expression. That search led her to the United States, where she discovered jazz and improvisation as true means of self-expression.
Her artistry has gained international recognition. Named one of DownBeat Magazine's "25 for the Future" and the Recording Academy's "10 Emerging Jazz Artists of 2023," she has become a dynamic presence in the contemporary jazz scene. Her collaborative album with bassist Richie Goods, "CONNECTED," won Best Instrumental Album at the 34th Golden Melody Awards.
Lu's debut album "The Path" (2020) spent 20 weeks in the JazzWeek Top 20, won Best Jazz Song at the Golden Indie Music Awards, and received multiple nominations at the Golden Melody Awards and Golden Indie Music Awards. She was also voted a vibraphone rising star in DownBeat Magazine's 69th Annual Critics Poll. Her group has performed at major festivals including the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival and DC Jazz Festival, as well as across Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
Her transition to jazz accelerated in 2017 after participating in the Banff Jazz Residency under Vijay Iyer. She met trumpet icon Jeremy Pelt and later joined his quintet. Her second album "Built In System" (2023) was praised by The Times of London as one of the best jazz and world albums of the year.
In Lu's early classical music career, her solo recitals at Taipei Novel Hall and acclaimed performances of Ching-Mei Lin's six-mallet marimba concerto "Pulsing Wave" stood out, and she was recognized as an "Emerging Young Artist" in 2014. This classical sensibility continues to shape her unique sound today.
Currently, she focuses on her unit "CONNECTED" with Richie Goods, performing at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Stanford Jazz Festival, and Taipei International Percussion Convention. Upcoming highlights include SFJAZZ (2025), the National Concert Hall Jazz Festival in Taiwan (2025), and a new project with the WDR Big Band (2026). The album "CONNECTED Vol. 2" is set to be released soon.
Takeshi "TICO" Toki
Steelpan player. From Kunitachi City, Tokyo.
As a member of LITTLE TEMPO, MACROBIOTICTS, Chieko Beauty & Nyahmans, Mame Daifuku, and Timamoo, he is touring across Japan to expand the harmony of steelpan sounds.
Tracklist:
Side A
1. Sunshine Madness Feat. Chien Chien Lu
Side B
1. Sunshine Madness Feat. Takeshi ''Tico'' Toki (Little Tempo)
About Chien Chien Lu
Chien Chien Lu is a jazz vibraphonist, contemporary percussionist, and composer whose Taiwanese heritage, classical training, and love of groove define her fresh approach to contemporary jazz. She began classical piano at six and percussion at ten, later performing with the world-renowned Ju Percussion Group for five years and touring Asia before shifting her focus to jazz in 2015.
Raised in Taiwan's classical tradition, Lu mastered precision and discipline but longed for a freer voice. That search led her to the United States, where she discovered jazz and improvisation as a true form of self-expression.
Her artistry has since gained international recognition. Named one of DownBeat Magazine's "25 for the Future" and the Recording Academy's "10 Emerging Jazz Artists of 2023," Lu has become a dynamic force in today's jazz scene. Her collaborative album with bassist Richie Goods, CONNECTED, won Best Instrumental Album at the 34th Golden Melody Awards.
Lu's debut album The Path (2020) spent 20 weeks in the JazzWeek Top 20, won Best Jazz Song at the Golden Indie Music Awards, and received multiple Golden Melody and Golden Indie nominations. She was also voted a vibraphone rising star in DownBeat Magazine's 69th Annual Critics Poll. Her group has performed at major festivals including Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Festival, and across Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
Her transition to jazz accelerated at the 2017 Banff Jazz Residency under Vijay Iyer, where she met trumpet icon Jeremy Pelt, later joining his quintet. Her second album Built In System (2023) was praised by The Times of London as one of the best jazz and world albums of the year.
Lu's earlier classical career featured solo recitals at Taipei Novel Hall and acclaimed performances of Ching-Mei Lin's six-mallet marimba concerto Pulsing Wave, earning recognition as an "Emerging Young Artist" in 2014. This classical sensibility continues to shape her unique sound.
Currently, Lu focuses on CONNECTED with Richie Goods, which has appeared at Monterey Jazz Festival, Stanford Jazz Festival, and Taipei International Percussion Convention. Upcoming highlights include SFJAZZ (2025), the National Concert Hall Jazz Festival in Taiwan (2025), and a new collaboration with the WDR Big Band (2026). CONNECTED Vol. 2 is set for release soon.
About Takeshi “TICO” Toki
Steelpan player from Kunitachi City, Tokyo.
As a member of groups such as LITTLE TEMPO, MACROBIOTICTS, Chieko Beauty & Nyahmans, Mame Daifuku, and Timamoo, he continues to perform throughout Japan, sharing the unique sound of the steelpan and spreading its joy to audiences everywhere.
