A true citizen of the world, South Korean born composer, arranger and bandleader – and let’s say this up front, true musical visionary - Hyeseon Hong’s mastery of East meets West jazz orchestra excitement comes naturally to her as a musician who received her Bachelors of Music from Yonsei University, her Masters of Arts in Jazz Performance from NYU, studied improvisation and composition at City College and later served as an assistant professor at Dae Gu Art Music College in her home country.
Though she released her debut recording EE YA GI in 2017, Hong’s long-awaited follow-up, Things Will Pass, introduces her vast artistry in a whole new way as she leads her 15-piece jazz orchestra through nine eclectic compositions that capture different moods, styles and her unique Eastern-Western aesthetic. The one prominent holdover from Hong’s first project is tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, who adds his powerhouse improvisational horn excitement most prominently to “Memories of Ladies,” which begins in a gentle, ambient Asian soundscape before evolving into an adventurous big band excursion.
Perry also adds dashes of jazzy soul via his colorful solo on “Run Away,” a high energy jazz orchestra blues rock jam featuring the emotional lead vocals of Aubrey Johnson. Hong’s high adventure begins with the funky, buoyant and delightfully bumpy “Road To Hana” and later includes the hypnotic, lyrical and whimsical, Asian and classical music influenced “Raindrop’s Journey,” the subtly charming “Waltzing with Dad” and the haunting, suspense filled “Dance With Dracula,” which naturally sounds like a jazzy horror movie score and features the great Matt Panayides’ dazzling electric guitar solo.
With the concept of personal reflection and resilience in the face of a major loss driving the wonderfully unpredictable narrative, Hong establishes herself as a promising large ensemble leader working with the best and brightest jazz cats NYC has to offer.
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