SOL JANG TRIO

19-29

Unit Records

Sol Jang, piano/composer; Jort Terwijl, bass; Max Hering, drums.

Sol Jang celebrates ten years of growth and creativity with this album called “19 – 29.”  She has spent time developing her style and composing skills, while reflecting on the amazing inspirations born from travel, cultures, and life lessons in her native South Korea. Also included in this growth period is her time spent in the United States, and finally in her new home inside the Netherlands.

Sol Jang is a classically trained pianist. She found personal growth when incorporating her classical study into a jazzier realm.  Jazz stands for freedom, and allows musicians to throw away standards, expand rules and regulations, and widen their horizons musically and creatively.

Her first two compositions are very classically arranged, with some Korean language conversation pinned on the tale of her original titled, “Intro.”  On “Subway In Seoul” bassist Jort Terwijl steps forward, walking his double bass ahead of Jang’s arpeggio phrases on the piano.  She soon double-times her piano part over his steady bass steps. Max Hering swings on the drums and the piece becomes very interesting in arrangement and texture. This is modern jazz that flies into my listening room like an uncaged bird, free and determined.

Jang’s emerging style and jazz freedom continues on her tune called, “Philadelphia.”  This quickly becomes one of my favorite songs on this album, with its changing tempos and expressive piano solo. This song showcases Sol Jang’s amazing talents on her instrument.  There is a drum solo towards the end of the arrangement that calls attention to the drum mastery of Max Hering.

This year, (2024) is a milestone celebration for Jang.  She received the prestigious “Women in jazz Festival Competition Award,” as well as the Jazz Prize of the City of Halle.  Now, with the release of this album, she prepares to embark on a worldwide tour.

The only criticism I have of this wonderful jazz project is the album design.  Inside, with white letters against a white and pink swirl makes the writing hardly legible.  The design of an album cover is so important and often artists forget about that important artistic part.  Your fans and the press want to be able to easily read all about you, including a notation that you are the composer of all the music.  I didn’t see that information anywhere on the album cover.  Also, I wish I understood the Korean language so I could know what the spoken word is all about on Jang’s album, especially on the tune she penned called, “My Father.”  Perhaps an English language translation could have been a part of her compact disc package. “19 Days” brightly features her bassist and Jang’s love of melody.

Sol Jang closes with a tune called “Things I Used to Know” that combines her classical training with her creative approach to modern jazz.  Jang is always very melody conscious.  On this tune she uses the soft, rhythmic sound of drum mallots to infuse her arrangement with drama.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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