Tue Jan 28
Jihee Heo on Piano
Alex Claffy on Bass
Aaron Kimmel on Drums
Now, nearly 15 years into her vibrant New York City journey, South Korean jazz pianist Jihee Heo has flourished as she immerses herself in the city’s magnificent jazz piano legacy. Her rich experiences living in various countries have beautifully shaped her unique musical style before she found her home in New York. Now a steady presence in the city’s clubs, her quartet is featured on her recent album “Flow,” which was appropriately recorded at the historic Rudy Van Gelder Studio with Joe Farnsworth, Alex Claffy, and Vincent Herring. Today, Jihee invites you to indulge in the joy of her music, where fresh and vivid colors come alive, supported by the strong rhythm section of Alex Claffy and Aaron Kimmel. Grounded in a deep respect for traditional jazz, Jihee beautifully intertwines its rich history with her innovative spirit. As Vincent Herring aptly states, “She is a promising voice at the piano, pointing to the future of jazz.”
Jihee Heo is a jazz pianist and composer based in New York City. Heo has showcased her talents at renowned festivals and venues, including Smalls, Mezzrow, Birdland, Zinc, Django, Sunset Sunside in Paris, and Jacques Pelzer in Belgium, as well as prominent events such as The Washington D.C. Jazz Festival, Leverkusen Jazz Festival, The International African Arts Festival, The Jersey Shore Festival, Bergen PAC, and Harlem Stage, among others.
Her nonet album, “Passion” (2015, self-released), along with “Are You Ready?” (2020, featuring Marty Kenny and Rodney Green, Origin Records), has garnered attention in esteemed publications such as DownBeat Magazine, All About Jazz, France Music and many others.
Heo's latest album was recorded on September 21, 2023, at the historic Rudy Van Gelder Studio, featuring distinguished jazz musicians Joe Farnsworth on drums, Alexander Claffy on bass, and Vincent Herring on saxophone. Her music has been highlighted in various magazines and radio stations, and she is currently touring internationally to promote her recent work.
“Pianist Jihee Heo has a beautiful legato touch that builds on sturdy lyricism and lustrous harmonies but her work also is filled with delicate, detailed figures”-Downbeat
“Fluid single note runs join colorful chordal voicings, as Heo establishes where this unit fits into the great tradition of the jazz trio”- All About Jazz