Richie Goods

Artist Information

Biography

RICHIE GOODS' BIOGRAPHY:
The youngest person ever inducted into the Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame, bassist Richie Goods got an early start playing at clubs while still attending the Pittsburgh performing arts high school, CAPA. After graduating from the prestigious jazz program at Berklee College of Music, Goods moved to New York City, where he studied under jazz luminaries Ron Carter and Ray Brown. Goods made a name for himself through recording and touring with a variety of jazz and popular artists ranging from Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band, Mulgrew Miller, Milt Jackson, to Brian McKnight, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Whitney Houston, and Christina Aguilera. Goods’ lengthy discography even includes Grammy award-winning and platinum albums of Alicia Keys and Common. Most recently, Goods has become the new bass player for the world-famous Headhunters and The Lenny White band. When not on tour, he can be found in his studio, producing records for his company, RichMan Productions, Inc. His latest project is his debut solo album with his Fusion/Funk band, Nuclear Fusion, recorded live at New York City’s famous Zinc Bar.

ABOUT RICHIE GOODS & NUCLEAR FUSION:
I have always enjoyed science and appreciated how many of its principles translate to music. One of the best examples I know of this is the principle of fusion in which separate components come together to make a powerful reaction much bigger than the individual parts. That’s how good music should be made. And when I decided to put together my Fusion Jazz band, I knew I needed the right components to get that perfect balance.
 
The first component to be added was the drums. There was no doubt in my mind who I wanted on drums. A Fusion Jazz innovator, Mike Clark has one of the funkiest grooves on drums I have ever heard. I first played with Mike Clark in 2005 when I made one of several appearances with pianist Michael Wolf’s band. I had heard Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters records with Mike on drums. And after playing with him, I knew he was a key ingredient for the music I wanted to make.
 
No matter what project I’m involved with, I always want Jeff Lockhart on guitar. Jeff is a Funk master from Boston who I first met when I was at Berklee School of Music, and we played together in my band. The way he makes the guitar talk Funk is electrifying. When Jeff said he was down, I had another key ingredient to the recipe.
 
Only keyboards was missing. I’ve played with some of the greats on the keys and piano. One of them was Helen Sung. I met Helen when she first moved to New York City. I loved the sounds and textures she could get out of the piano and wondered if she could get those same sounds and textures out of the keyboard. Over the years we have worked together often and exposed each other to different types of music. In 2007, she won the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Competition, playing primarily straight-ahead jazz. When I approached Helen about playing with Nuclear Fusion, I knew I was asking her to step a little out of her element; but I also knew for her, being the classical & jazz virtuoso she is, it wouldn’t be a problem. She didn’t disappoint.
 
When the four of us played together for the first time that night at the Zinc Bar, I knew the equation was balanced. I could only marvel as this perfect mix of talent and energy became like a nuclear explosion, igniting the stage and exciting the audience in one beautiful chain reaction. The best way I can describe what moved through me as we played was that Holy Ghost feeling you get after a good sermon in church. Just like the chemical reaction for which the band is named, the members of Nuclear Fusion create an energy that is so much more than any of us individually. That’s how good music is made.

Instrumentation

Richie Goods - Electric bass
Mike Clark - Drums
Helen Sung - Keyboards
Jeff Lockhart - Guitar

Discography

Platinum, the Headhunters, bass, owl studios, 2011
Anomaly, Lenny White, bass, Abstract Logix, 2010
Jazz meets Hymms, Young Joo Song, Bass, 2010

Live at the Zinc Bar, Richie Goods & Nuclear Fusion, Bass, 2009
Early Trane: The John Coltrane Songbook, Various Artists, Bass, 2008
Magnet, Pamela Luss, Bass, 2008
Catalyst, DJ Gomi, Bass (Electric), 2008
Your Eyes, Pamela Luss, Bass, 2007
Jazz After Midnight [Highnote], Various Artists, Bass, 2007
There’s Something About You I Don’t Know, Pamela Luss, Bass, 2006
Vibrate, The Manhattan Transfer, Bass/Arranger/Bass (Acoustic), 2006
Jazz Christmas: That Special Time of Year, Various Artists, Bass, 2006
Love and Destruction, Michael Wolff, Bass (Electric), 2006
Maximum Firepower, Louis Hayes & the Cannonball Legacy Band, Bass, 2006
Telarc SACD Sampler: Sound and Vision, Various Artists, Bass, 2006
All Too Real, Vincent Herring, Bass, 2004
Blues for Hiroshi, Anthony Wonsey, Bass, 2004
Mr. Wizard, Vincent Herring, Bass, 2004
Songs in A Minor [Japanese Bonus Tracks], Alicia Keys, Bass (Electric)/Bass (Acoustic), 2003
Push, Helen Sung, bass, Fresh Sound,
3 Generations Walking, 3 Generations Walking, Bass, 2003
Songs in A Minor, Alicia Keys, Bass (Electric)/Bass (Acoustic), 2002
Got Swing!, Erich Kunzel/Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Bass, 2002
Sequel, Mulgrew Miller and Wingspan, Bass, 2002
Shadows of Dreams, Aika, Bass/Producer, 2002
Songs in A Minor [Expanded], Alicia Keys, Bass (Electric) Bass (Acoustic), 2002
That’s Old Fashioned, Masahiro Nakagowa Trio, Bass, 2001
Ama Tu Sonrisa, Antonio Hart, Bass, 2001
Garage City, Various Artists, Bass (Electric), 2001
Saturday, Jerome Sydenham & Kerri Chandler, Bass, 2001
Simple Pleasure, Vincent Herring, Bass, 2001
Sterling Place All-Stars, Vincent Herring & Ronnie Matthews/Richie, Bass, 2000
Calyn, Calyn, Bass, 2000
Contemporary Standards Ensemble, Don Braden, Bass, 2000
I Learned from the Best [US CD/Vinyl Single], Whitney Houston, Bass Programming, 2000
I Learned From The Best [US CD5/Cassette Single], Whitney Houston, Bass (Electric), 2000
Like Water for Chocolate [Clean], Common, Bass, 2000
Like Water for Chocolate, Common, Bass, 2000
Look Who’s Here, Russell Malone, Bass, 2000
Memories of New York: Thru Jazz & Photography, Various Artists, Bass, 2000
Persuader, Nick Rolfe, Bass, 2000
Summer Days, Eddie Allen, Bass, 2000
Why You Wanna Be Like That?, Patti Austin, Bass, 1999
Box of Chocolates, Kevin Aviance, Bass, 1999
Language of Love, Vanessa Rubin, Bass, 1999
Language, Joe Claussell, Bass (Upright), 1999
New Horizons, Vanessa Rubin, Bass, 1998
Alone Together, Heidi Martin, Bass, 1998
You’ve Got to Pray, Joi Cardwell, Bass, 1997
Change the World, Vincent Herring, Bass, 1997
"Dance for Me: Eightball Records House Mix, Vol. 5", Various Artists, Bass, 1997
Din Da Da [US], Kevin Aviance, Bass, 1997
Heat and the Sweet, Norman Simmons, Bass, 1997
Joi Cardwell, Joi Cardwell, Bass, 1997
Spirit of Love/Burning Love, Sing Like Talking, Bass, 1996
Getting to Know You, Sunny Sumter, Bass, 1996
Minor Thang, Tony Reedus, Bass, 1996
You’ve Got to Pray (Remixes), Joi Cardwell, Bass, 1996
Thirteenth Moon, Philip Harper, Bass, 1995
Getting to Know You, Mulgrew Miller, Bass, 1995
With Our Own Eyes, Mulgrew Miller, Bass, 1994
Passion Dance, Roseanna Vitro, Bass, 1994
I’m Looking for the One (To Be with Me), DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Bass, 1993

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
Detroit International Jazz Festival - September 4, 2011
Festival Internacional de Jazz de Punta del Este - Uraguay - January 5-8, 2012

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Richie Goods Youtube

Audio

• Snake Oil
  Listen  
• Sorceress
  Listen  
• Desert Song Intro
  Listen  
• Palm Grease
  Listen  

Video

Richie Goods and Nuclear Fusion _dark_ berklee concert.mov [www.keepvid.com]_1

Richie Goods and Nuclear Fusion Live at Berklee 2010 _snake oil_.m4v [www.keepvid.com]_2

Photo Gallery

Press

• Detroit Jazz Festival 09/05/11 • By Russ Davis [+ Show ]
  

  09/05/11 • By Russ Davis Detroit Jazz Festival MOJA radio's Russ Davis reports on performances ...09/05/11 • By Russ Davis
  Detroit Jazz Festival
  MOJA radio's Russ Davis reports on performances by… Richie Goods
  
  I had been asked by the festival to introduce Richie Goods and his band Nuclear Fusion on the stage of the concrete amphitheatre that is my favorite venue at the festival, the Pyramid Stage… Richie is an aggressive, young bassist with great credentials, from Pittsburgh to Berklee to New York City. He’s studied with Ron Carter and Ray Brown and loves all forms of jazz but as he told me, “Nobody’s playing this music too much!” The music he was talking about is electric funk and fusion for the 21st century. He wasn’t going to get any argument from me as I love this stuff as much as, if not more than, any form of jazz that has ever existed. To help him get to where he wanted to be musically on this night he made a great choice in drummers, the legendary Mike Clark of Headhunters fame as well as his own many projects as a sideman and leader. Xavier Davis manned an electric piano-synth combo and Tom Guarna cranked out some chunky, funky, fiery guitar lines to complement Mr. Goods’ thunderous bass. At times I felt like I was hearing what Jimi Hendrix might be doing were he alive today. Other times I felt I was hearing what Return To Forever in their classic quartet configuration might sound like if Stanley Clarke were the leader. The crowd, and I, loved it…
  

• Richie Goods and Nuclear Fusion Zinc Bar NYC March 10, 2009 [+ Show ]
  

  By Christopher Lams A few weeks ago I received a press copy of the new release from bassist Richie ...By Christopher Lams
  A few weeks ago I received a press copy of the new release from bassist Richie Goods and his new project Nuclear Fusion. The CD titled “Live at the Zinc Bar” is a live recording at the New York City venue. The group is made up of Goods on bass, Mike Clark on drums, Helen Sung on piano and Jeff Lockhart on guitar. From note one, the CD is a master class in professional musicianship with groove – so when the opportunity came to go and witness this band live at the Zinc Bar, I did not hesitate.
  
  Richie Goods is a master musician whose tenure with many of music’s greatest names clearly has worn off on him as a leader - his candor to the audience, his approach in developing a set list, and most of all his bass playing are all top of the line. This evening’s set opened with a programmed computer introduction describing what Nuclear Fusion was. The mood was very Star Trek, but I must say it worked. It was so refreshing to see something distinctive on the stage of a jazz venue. While the introduction played one look at the stage and you knew this spaceship was going to take off any moment. Sure enough the intro moved into the opening number titled “Soul Glow” which gave the entire ensemble room to spread out and flatout lock it up. Up next was an incredible version of the Lenny White classic “Sorceress.” While Goods and Clark held down the fort, pianist Helen Sung provided an absolutely mesmerizing solo that appeared to captivate others in the audience as well. This all colored in by the incredible Jeff Lockhart on guitar.
  
  Next up, Goods described the origin of his original composition titled “Desert Song” as an image he had of a Fusion band performing in the desert. He was right on the mark with the imagery, and if this band had played this cut in the desert no one would have walked away alive. Extraordinary drum grooves backed by Good’s astonishing soloing made for this to be a highlight of the set.
  
  A song followed that I knew sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite grab what it was. Was it a standard? Was it an old fusion classic? It was “Shout” by Tears for Fears. Imagine this - an all star fusion group playing a funky version of a Tears for Fears classic. At last! - Some jazz cats not taking the whole process so seriously. Sung and Lockhart added their touch to the classic hook melody and made an old 80’s pop classic into a funk standard on this evening. The set closed out with “Snake Oil” which was made famous by the late great Tony Williams. Once again this ensemble did not disappoint. A classic session of grove and funk and musicianship - the way it ought to be. If you get the chance to catch this group do yourself a favor and do so. In the mean time pick up the new release, which is a snap shot of this group doing what they do best until the next live show.
  

• Richie Goods and Nuclear Fusion Zinc Bar [+ Show ]
  

  by Glenn Astarita According to the press notes, bassist/producer Richie Goods is the youngest perso...by Glenn Astarita
  According to the press notes, bassist/producer Richie Goods is the youngest person ever inducted into the Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame.  As the artist leads this jazz-fusion/funk gala that is brilliantly transferred to disc via the quartet’s 2007 performances at New York City’s Zinc Bar.  First off, accolades are in order for the audio engineering team.  It’s been awhile since I’ve heard such a near flawless live recording which of course, always adds a realistic coating to high-impact electric jazz. 
  
  Funk-fusion superhero and Headhunters drummer Mike Clark instills his magical polyrhythmic grooves, where the quartet covers the electric side of Herbie Hancock and an assorted bag of works steeped in funk and fusion.  More importantly, Goods is musical bassist who does more than simply slap the strings or delve into guitar-like single note licks.  He’s the director of operations while employing restraint and astutely-placed dynamics when required.
  
  The band launches the fun-filled festivities with Wayne Shorter’s “Elegant People,” which is culled from Weather Report’s Black Market album.  On this piece, the musicians pay an upbeat homage to the original rendition, spiced up with keyboardist Helen Sung’s multihued progressions and Clark’s slippery, over-the-top pulses.  Among many other highlights is the unit’s take on the Tony Williams Lifetime piece titled “Snake Oil,” which was composed by Lifetime bassist Tony Newton.  Here, guitarist Jeff Lockhart deals the proverbial knockout blow via his stinging crunch chords and resonating riffs.
  
  
  Goods contributes two comps along with one co-written by Sung.  And while the quartet’s line of attack insinuates a retro outlook, the overall sound and stylizations are uplifted with a nouveau hook, complete with toe-tapping vibes and a signature group sound.  Chalk it up as a hip and supremely entertaining jaunt that is enhanced by the quartet’s energized and well-regimented live persona.  (Essential listening for advocates of electric-jazz). 

• RICHIE GOODS & Nuclear Fusion/Live at the Zinc Bar [+ Show ]
  

  by Chris Spector It’s jazz, but it comes with a welcome, whole big lot of dose of funk.  Leader and...by Chris Spector
  It’s jazz, but it comes with a welcome, whole big lot of dose of funk.  Leader and crew, including Mike Clark on drums, know about the funk and love to deliver it uncut almost with a passion we haven’t heard for a while.  Simply hot stuff that let’s the fur fly, certainly encouraging it to do so, and really let’s the good times roll.  This cat is certainly in the short list to be one of the major domo bass ace’s of tomorrow, with tomorrow getting here a lot sooner than you think.
  

• Richie Goods and Nuclear Fusion, Live @ the Zinc Bar [+ Show ]
  

  by Pete Menting Four stars "Live at the Zinc," Richie Goods & Nuclear Fusion (RichMan) Few mode...by Pete Menting
  
  Four stars
  "Live at the Zinc," Richie Goods & Nuclear Fusion (RichMan)
  Few modern jazz musicians are willing to attempt a live recording, except for some living legends.
  But Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame bassist Richie Goods is up to the task with a disc from New York City's Zinc Bar. It helps that Good picked out a selection of songs from greats such as Wayne Shorter, "Elegant People," and Herbie Hancock, "Sly" and "Palm Grease."
  And like all great fusion albums, "Live at the Zinc" has the right amount of funk yet keeps things loose enough for improvisation, as on Lenny White's "Sorceress."
  But Goods own songs really shine, such as the hypnotic "Desert Song" and the drum-roll-sprinkled "King Jaffe Joffer." No wonder he was selected as the new bassist for the Hancock-founded band The Headhunters.
  
  

Setlist

The set list is always changing, and includes songs from the golden era of jazz fusion (originally recorded by The Headhunters, Return to Forever, Tony Williams' Lifetime, etc.), originals (such as Desert Song), and covers (such as songs originally recorded by Led Zeppelin and Tears for Fears), done with a unique point of view.

Sets typically run about an hour, with 2-3 sets per night.

Basic Requirements

Calendar