Recently, legendary guitarist , songwriter and composer Gary Lucas released “The Edge of Heaven Vol. Two”, the second installment of his album series, in collaboration with acclaimed Chinese string virtuoso, singer Feifei Yang and fellow artists Jason Candler. This second edition is complimented by the follow up album “The Edge of Heaven—Gary Lucas Plays Mid-Century Chinese Pop”. The first installment managed to rise to #1 on the World Music Charts.
The former Captain Beefheart guitarist has written over 300 compositions included co-writing Jeff Buckley’s “Grace” and “Mojo Pin”, the first two songs on Buckley’s platinum “Grace” album; composed scores for film and television; released over 50 acclaimed albums to date in his own right in a variety of genres—jazz, rock, classical, folk, blues, dance, electronic, avant-garde and world music—and has performed in over 40 countries. Gary has received several Lifetime Achievement awards for his songwriting with Jeff Buckley and many honors—including performing solo before the General Assembly of the UN to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. He has performed and collaborated with a who’s who of musical luminaries including Captain Beefheart, Lou Reed, Jeff Buckley, Nick Cave, Thurston Moore, John Zorn, Chris Cornell, Joan Osborne, Nona Hendryx, Bryan Ferry, Van Dyke Parks, and many others.
It is interesting to note that Feifei is a well-known mezzo-soprano, Chinese string virtuoso and voting member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMY Awards). The instrument she is known for playing the erhu which she has showcased at major cultural venues worldwide. Aside from these accomplishments she is also a Global Music Award and Berlin Music Video Award winner and has appeared on such media giants like CBS, NBC, and AFP. Feifei not only sings in Chinese but also in English with much conviction. She collaborated with Jason Candler who wears many hats as a musician, producer, sound designer for films, and recording engineer. He has worked with the other collaborator on the project, Gary Lucas in many ensembles dating back to the 90’s.
The tracks were originally recorded at the Pathe Studios in Shanghai which at the time of recording was in the 30’s and 40’s when the area was known as the “the Paris of the East”. The project has been released on 140 portals globally with key platforms like Amazon Music, Apple Music, and YouTube. The current and original album is peppered with Chinese pop songs which are known as shidaiqu, Mandarin for “popular songs of the era”.
Gary Lucas: “I have been deeply engaged with Chinese music since living in Taipei in the mid-1970s. Over the years, I developed a strong interest in shidaiqu—the unique fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions that emerged in 1930s and 40s Shanghai, then known as the “Paris of the East”. I later saw Feifei Yang perform at Carnegie Hall with an ensemble of young Chinese musicians and was immediately struck by the beauty and expressiveness of her voice, as well as her artistry on the erhu. After the concert, I introduced myself and proposed that we collaborate. Having worked with many vocalists on this project over the years, I felt she brought a rare depth and authenticity to the music.”
So far, both Feifei and Gary have performed around the world but if there was a place they both felt gave off a positive vibe it would be Joe’s Pub in Manhattan, especially during the Global Music Festival where there was energy in the crowd that made it unforgettable for them both. The albums are a tribute to the Seven Great Singing Stars of China as Gary explained:
“The motivation was to reintroduce and revitalize these extraordinary songs for contemporary audiences. I wanted to reinterpret them through my own musical language—drawing from Americana, folk, and blues guitar traditions, particularly acoustic guitar in open tunings—while respecting and integrating the original Chinese tonalities and scales. The melodies from this era are remarkably strong and enduring. Many of the original recordings featured big bands that included European refugee musicians who had fled fascism and Nazism to Shanghai, then a free port. That unique cultural convergence shaped a sound that was already hybrid and cosmopolitan.”
As of this writing the project has received positive feedback as is indicated in this review by music critic Arthur Levy –
“the album as “hypnotically compelling,” noting that even listeners unfamiliar with mid-century Chinese pop may find themselves deeply drawn into the music. He highlighted the enduring allure of these 1930s and ’40s Shanghai songs and spoke to the emotional resonance they continue to carry nearly a century later.”
At this point they are gearing up to perform the project to a live audience with a first show slated for May 23 at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The evening will begin with Gary performing his live solo guitar score to the 1934 Chinese silent film classic The Goddess, directed by Wu Yonggang and starring Ruan Lingyu. Following the screening, Feifei and Gary will present a mini concert together, featuring selections from the Edge of Heaven series. Feifei and Gary are planning on touring international as a duo and bringing music to audiences everywhere. In addition, they are looking to release Volume 3 of The Edge of Heaven, which will feature Mandarin interpretations of Western classics. To keep up with their work check out the links below.
https://www.garylucas.com
https://www.feifei-yang.com
https://garylucas.com/www/edgetwo/edgetwo.shtml