JOHN CHIN, JEONG LIM YANG, JONGKUK KIM

 

 

 

iM

JOURNEY OF HAN

Jinsy Music

John Chin, piano/keyboards/programming; Jeong Lim Yang, bass; Jongkuk Kim, drums.

“The Journey of Han” is a Korean cultural notion that embraces a range of emotions from sorrow, resentment, resilience, to longing, loss, and liberation. For John Chin and his bandmates, this becomes an exploration of the Korean American identity.  Consequently, the trio’s music explores history, culture, their sense of belonging and jazz.  They open with pianist, John Chin’s composition titled, “The Longing of the Wind.”  It is very European classical in nature and features solo piano.  It’s a beautiful composition, melodic and full of passion. But I was really blown away by the Chin arrangement of “Midnight Sun.”   It was stunning!

Next, the upper register piano notes paint a picture of “The Shimmering Veil” that John Chin is talking about.  The soprano notes tumble over each other, a slow waterfall of tones that cascade into my listening room and demand attention.  It’s only a brief one and a half minutes of solo piano, but still quite captivating. This is followed by the Wayne Shorter tune, “Lady Day.”   Act One of this recording concentrates mostly on the piano and the talents of John Chin, as both pianist and composer. But on tunes like “Lady Day” you hear the importance and subtle talent of Jeong Lim Yang on double bass, along with the sensitive accompaniment of Jongkuk Kim on drums.  Yang takes a serious bass solo during this presentation of Shorter’s tune.

On Chin’s tune called “ATL” Jongkuk Kim lays down a funk beat that changes the complexion of this production.  This time Chin employs keyboard and a more modern, contemporary, electric jazz sound.  This trio wants me to know they play it all and play everything very competently and with much emotion.

“The Constant Foreigner” is rooted in the blues and an original song by Jeong Lim Yang called “Promising World” features her prominently on upright bass.

The ‘Act Two’ part of this album showcases the compositions of drummer Jongkuk Kim and more of Chin’s awesome composer skills. The song “Loom” is a Kim composition and features his amazing drum chops.  I enjoyed the trio’s take on standard jazz tunes like “Never Let Me Go,” “Stardust” and “Lush Life.”

This is an album plush with talent, sincerity and emotion.  Each of these three gifted individuals bring the very best they have to the pleasure of my ears.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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