For those not in the know, maestro Dongfeng Liu is back and this time he brought a friend, mentor, and genius collaborator in Gonzalo Rubalcaba on their collaborative new album China Afro Cuba.

In his 2018 ZOHO release China Caribe, Liu explored the music of the China and the Caribbean, a remarkable opus that awakened many not only to a new sound but fresh way of thinking. There is an often-overlooked history of Chinese immigrants coming to the Americas, including Cuba, stretching back to the nineteenth century.

Liu’s musical initiatives are vintage and at the vanguard. China Afro Cuba is indeed music at the front line of composition and harmony, but also interchange and friendship.

There is an ancient Chinese saying, Lofty mountains and flowing water meet a kindred spirit -- and colorful clouds chasing the moon meet a bosom friend. It comes from a philosophical text written some 2,000 years ago.

Liu believes the symbolism of this line represents his musical friendship with Rubalcaba. Indeed, Rubalcaba is one the greatest artists of his generation.

What may seem like an unusual pairing - Cuban and Chinese musicians - is anything but. They flow together as kindred spirits. We are two pianists having an exploratory and innovative musical conversation. We’ve made a non-traditional interpretation of traditional music, says Liu.

1. Jasmine Flower
2. Kangding Love Song
3. The Moon Represents My Heart
4. Lofty Mountains and Flowing Water
5. The Butterfly Lovers/Over the Rainbow
6. Gloria’s Steps
7. Ode to the Yellow River
8. Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon

This wondrously enigmatic new recording opens on the delicate gossamer, at first, grooved and free flowing latterly Chinese folk song (which originates from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, 1736-1795), Jasmine Flower and cheerfulness abounding within Kangding Love Song and then we are brought forth the veritably shimmering The Moon Represents My Heart and the quietly sterner fare of the strident Lofty Mountains and Flowing Water.

Up next is the free flowing musical majesties found driving The Butterfly Lovers/Over the Rainbow which is in turn backed seamlessly by the playfully flirtatious Gloria’s Steps, the album rounding out on the dynamically sculpted Ode to the Yellow River, closing on the fervent elegance of Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon.

Official Purchase Link

www.liudongfeng.com