Richie Goods

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…
- Jazz Times

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.
- Jazz Improv NY

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).  - jazzreview.com

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.
- Midwest Record

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.

- Visalia Times-Delta (CA)