陳穎達

Chen Ying-da (Darrell Chen) is a distinguished jazz guitarist and composer whose musical journey spans from the Amsterdam Conservatory, where he studied jazz guitar performance from 2008 to 2012, to the vibrant jazz scenes of Taiwan and New York. Upon returning to Taiwan, he formed the Chen Ying-da Quartet, producing a series of critically acclaimed albums including 'R.E.M Moods', 'Sentimental Animal', and 'Off-Peak Hours', all of which received recognition at the Golden Indie Music Awards (GIMA). Currently based in New York, Chen continues to push the boundaries of the genre, recently releasing his new album, 'Have You Ever Heard of Beige?'. His approach to the guitar is marked by a deliberate departure from traditional jazz aesthetics; rather than using standard archtop guitars, he favors unique instruments like his 1966 Goya Rangemaster Model 116 SB and the Fender Stratocaster. This choice reflects his desire to avoid the 'polished' sound of modern high-end guitars in favor of a more raw, expressive, and diverse sonic palette. Chen views jazz as a specialized language and culture defined by rigorous practice and spiritual pursuit, advocating for a contemporary spirit that values individual path-finding over imitation. His latest work, 'Beige', explores the 'pain of the soul' through a trio format, creating a space where the music exists between the natural and the man-made, best experienced in the quiet, focused moments of the night.